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
Cuba remains a steady, nearby buyer of U.S. poultry, pork, dairy, and staples, but legal and compliance risks could still affect shipping and payment channels.
Tight cattle supplies favor poultry and pork while keeping beef margins under pressure.
While access to China remains uncertain, U.S. beef exporters are finding resilience and opportunity in other global markets, which could help maintain industry value and expand export opportunities.
American Farmland Trust shares guidance, research, and policy solutions to help farmers navigate the growing threat of PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” contaminating U.S. farmland.
Dr. Jeffrey Gold, president of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, joins us on Rural Health Matters to discuss winter safety reminders and preparedness.

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:

The closure of Lubbock Feeders highlights mounting pressure on the U.S. cattle supply, according to the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, as border restrictions and costs strain feedyards.
From projected drops in input costs to biofuel expansion and the USDA’s new “One Farmer, One File” initiative, Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins shared key policy priorities at Commodity Classic that put farm issues back in the spotlight.
NCBA Chief Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart discussed the legal process behind delisting the prairie chicken, the challenges ranchers faced under the bird’s previous protections, and the benefits of cooperative habitat management for both livestock and wildlife.
U.S.-Mexico agricultural trade faces uncertainty in 2026 as tariffs and cartel violence threaten farmers and ranchers. Congressman Henry Cuellar and Texas leaders weigh in on impacts and risks.
At Commodity Classic in San Antonio, growers explore new herbicide options, John Deere’s latest 8 Series tractors, and cutting-edge ag technology shaping the 2026 planting season. Here are some of RFD NEWS’ highlights from the event so far.
Farm CPA Paul Neiffer provided insight on updated PLC rate estimates, the role of base acres, and the upcoming enrollment window for ARC and PLC programs.