Almost 9,000 cattle producers, industry partners and stakeholders from around the country are in downtown Nashville this week for CattleCon 2026, the largest cattle industry event of the year.
NCBA President-Elect Gene Copenhaver of Virginia says there is a lot of excitement in the industry right now after some big wins. “I think maybe the biggest one that happened was recently with dietary guidelines, you know, not only putting proteins, beef and pork and other good proteins back in the pyramid, but turning the pyramid upside down,” said Copernaver.
Cattlemen will get to hear from the Trump administration official most responsible for that food pyramid change tomorrow at CattleCon when Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. will join National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Buck Wehrbein for a fireside chat to talk national nutrition priorities and the recently released Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
CattleCon 2026 has some new activities this year including “Next Generation Day” and the Emerging Leaders event on Thursday, as well as a “Career Crawl” with companies at the NCBA Trade Show to explore internships, job openings and career opportunities while engaging in meaningful conversations with agriculture professionals.
Copenhaver says it is critical right now for the industry to look ahead ti the next generation. We have a smart, innovative technology-wise generation coming forward,” he said. “And I think we have to develop more tools as an association in the industry for them to come in. And the transition part, we got to get some tools for the older generation and make it easier for them to be able to move out the operation to them and not be so hard on them tax wise or otherwise.”