CattleCon 2026 Breaks Attendance Record, Closes with Kennedy Keynote and Vince Gill Performance

The fun continues in Nashville next year at CattleCon 2027!

NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD NEWS) — The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is preparing to wrap the biggest CattleCon in history here in Nashville — but the final day of the world’s largest beef conference promises to be a big day for the record 9,400 cattle producers in attendance.

“It is exciting to see thousands of producers gather together with the common goal of moving our business forward,” said NCBA President Buck Wehrbein. “This record attendance demonstrates the dedication our producers have to driving beef demand and creating policy that secures a bright future for the next generation of producers.”

On Thursday, guests will get a chance to hear from a member of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., will join NCBA leadership for a fireside chat on Thursday at 3:30 CT.

Kennedy is attending CattleCon to discuss nutrition priorities through the Administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative and share his take on the recently announced dietary guidelines.

But before that, CattleCon is all about policy — from biosecurity talks surrounding the outbreak of New World Screwworm in Mexico to trade deals and the creation of a thriving market for cattle ranchers. RFD NEWS Markets Specialist Tony St. James sat down with NCBA’s Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Ethan Lane, to learn his perspective on those topics and his thoughts on the year ahead.

Later on Thursday evening, NCBA is hosting two back-to-back country music performances, “Cowboy’s Night at the Opry,” in the Historic Ryman Auditorium, the Opry’s original location and “Mother Church” of the Nashville Sound.

Headlining tonight’s performances is none other than country superstar Vince Gill and supporting act, The Castellows.

While CattleCon will soon be over for the year, NCBA officials promise to pick up the fun again in 2027, announcing that next year the conference will once again be held in Nashville.

Related Stories
Cattle producers face mounting pressure as U.S.-Mexico trade talks resume, but expanding drought, rising input costs, and policy work to improve the long-term industry outlook.
Students in 4-H share how prior planning helps set themselves up for success in state fair showing season.
JBS representatives told Reuters that the original deal has not changed and that they welcome employees back to the facility.
Charly Cummings with Superior Livestock Auctions provides a real-time look at cattle market activity, demand trends, and what lies ahead for upcoming livestock auctions in Texas.
North Carolina Farmer Trey Braswell joined us to discuss the White House Easter Egg Roll, his company’s continued involvement, and efforts to expand access to eggs nationwide.
Researchers with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture are studying the clouded plant bug, which causes millions of dollars in damage to crops such as corn, soybeans, and cotton growing across the state.

Marion is a digital content manager for RFD News and FarmHER + RanchHER. She started working for Rural Media Group in May 2022, bringing a decade of digital experience in broadcast media and some cooking experience to the team.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Catch the double-episode premiere of Prairie Prophets, Tuesday night at 9 PM ET on RFD Network and RFD+
Strong corn and China-driven demand support the pace of U.S. grain exports. RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney discusses Canada-China agricultural trade talks.
UNL’s Dr. Dirac Twidwell discusses wildfire recovery efforts in Nebraska and what producers should keep in mind in the days and weeks ahead.
Rich Nelson with Allendale joined us to break down early planting progress, market expectations, and what producers should keep an eye on as the season moves forward.
Tight global supply is likely to keep fuel and fertilizer costs elevated.
Dr. Michael Langemeier with Purdue University provided perspective on the improving farmer sentiment and the trends shaping the agricultural economy moving forward.