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
This quick and easy beef recipe comes together in under 30 minutes and celebrates peak-season summer produce.
Ready for grilling season? Throw beef Strip Steaks and corn covered in a spicy, smoky seasoning mix on the grill for an easy, flavorful Mexican-inspired meal.

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:

In a call with reporters on Tuesday, RFD-TV News reporter Lily Raby asked Senate Ag Committee member Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) for his opinion on Des Moines school leaders’ decisions to halt ag education programs, which also threatens the future of the city’s FFA chapter.
Trinity Barth and Liliann Tjaden-Duff joined us on Market Day Report to express their concerns about the future of the program that has, for 50 years, given students of all backgrounds a path to agriculture careers.
Citi Bank is sounding the alarm about a convincing new banking scam leaving customers confused and cashless.
The California Farm Bureau introduces us to Aussie, its 2024 Farm Dog of the Year! Aussie’s proved nothing—not even the loss of a limb—can stop her from protecting her farm and family.
The Mississippi Farm Bureau honors farmer and longtime state legislator Rep. Bill Pigott with the 2024 Distinguished Service Award.
RanchHER Jessie Jarvis is a third-generation Idaho cattle rancher and an esteemed figure in the ag industry and Western world. She seamlessly balances her roles as a business owner, influencer, podcast host, public speaker, rancher, wife and mother.