Conference dates: August 18–20, 2026, at the RBC Convention Centre, Winnipeg, MB

Abstract Submission Deadline: June 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM MT                               

[SUBMIT HERE]

The poster competition is open to all post-secondary students and will be divided into two streams:

• College / Undergraduate / Diploma students
• Master’s / PhD students

Research must address an industry challenge aligned with one of the five pillars of the National Beef Strategy: sustainability, connectivity, productivity, beef demand, or competitiveness (http://beefstrategy.com/)

Competition Format

• Posters will be presented to a beef producer audience, and judging will prioritize clarity, relatability, and accessibility of the content.
• Poster evaluations, including a Q&A session with your judges will take place in person at CBIC on Wednesday, August 19.
• From these evaluations, the top three students in each stream will advance to the final round on Thursday, August 20, where they will deliver a three-minute verbal presentation summarizing their research on the main-stage to compete for cash prizes

For students applying in the Master’s / PhD stream, the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) is awarding two Graduate Student Sponsorships, covering travel, accommodation and registration expenses. Click here for more information.  

Participation Timeline

• April 1st – June 1, 2026: Online abstract submission period
• June-July 2026: Notification of accepted abstracts
• August 19, 2026: Poster presentations
• August 20, 2026: Finalist presentations
  • Top three students in each stream present 3‑minute summaries on the main stage
  • Winners for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place announced

Registration

All students particpiating in the Poster Competition are required to register for the conference prior to the event and ALL Students will be provided a reduced rate ($400).  

Abstract Requirements

An abstract is a short communication that allows readers to evaluate the contributions of a scientific study, method, industry solution, extension program, or research technique. To ensure clarity for a producer audience, abstracts should use clear, direct, and uncomplicated language.

• Word limit: Maximum 350 words (excluding the title).
• Title: Must be concise, relevant to a producer audience, and no longer than 25 words.
• Keywords: Include five keywords that reflect the primary themes of your abstract.
• Objective: The first sentence must clearly state the main objective of the work.
• Methodology: Provide essential experimental or program details, such as:
  • Population or sample
  • Experimental design
  • Housing or environmental conditions (if applicable)
  • Data collection procedures
  • Statistical analyses performed
• Results: Present results that directly address the stated objective, including appropriate statistical inferences.
  • One table or figure may be included if it is the most effective format for presenting results.
• Conclusion: Provide a clear conclusion outlining the effectiveness and/or practical application of the results.
• Authorship: The submitting student must be the presenting author.

[SUBMIT HERE]

Poster Requirements

• Poster size: Landscape orientation, 36″ × 48″.
• Fonts: Use sans‑serif fonts (e.g., Arial, Calibri). Minimum font size: 28 pt.
• Image quality: All images must be 300 DPI or higher for suitable print quality.
• Authors: List authors in the following order: competitor → supervisor → committee members.
• Headshot: Including a headshot of the competitor on the poster is encouraged.
• Audience: Sections must be written in language for a cattle producers and industry audience. View BCRC Research Summaries for guidance (example)
• Students are responsible for printing and bringing their posters to the conference.

For questions, please contact Jenna Sarich at [email protected]