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
Quinn Rutt of Upstream Ranch previews the Nebraska cattle operation’s 49th Annual Production Sale where buyers can expect standout sire groups and a blend of long-standing ranch practices with modern genetic selection.
Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, provides new updates on winter storm impacts and the outlook for rural power reliability.
Jessi Grote from the AgriSafe Network provides winter safety guidance for rural communities still recovering from the recent winter storm.
CattleCon 2026 officially kicks off Tuesday and continues through Thursday, bringing producers together to shape the future of the U.S. cattle industry.
The federal government’s status is far from the only factor moving the markets on Friday. Two critical reports released today on producer inflation and the status of the U.S. cattle herd are also top of mind.
Record milk output looks strong today, but shrinking replacement numbers mean future supply adjustments could be faster and more volatile.

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:

Ranger Road Fire has burned 283,000 acres across Kansas and the Oklahoma Panhandle and is nearing containment, as ranchers begin assessing cattle and infrastructure losses as they look toward recovery.
Fed cattle numbers are down two percent in February, according to the latest USDA report. Marketings fell 13 percent, signaling continued pressure on beef prices in 2026.
Galynn Beer of Tidal Grow Agri-Science joined us to discuss challenges in fertility management, the benefits of Align-N, and what growers can expect at Commodity Classic next week.
Iowa farmer Derek Hommer joined us to discuss grain bin safety, ongoing prevention efforts, and the importance of community preparedness during Nationwide’s Grain Bin Safety Week.
Congresswoman Celeste Maloy of Utah joins Champions of Rural America to discuss her new leadership role in the Western Caucus and her perspective on the Supreme Court’s ruling on President Trump’s tariff policy.
National FFA Secretary Lilly Nyland talks about the significance of National FFA Week, member engagement, and the influence FFA continues to have on students nationwide.