NCBA’s Cattle Con 2026 Heads to Downtown Nashville
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is shaking things up for Cattle Con 2026, bringing the premier beef industry convention to downtown Nashville for the very first time. Traditionally held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort, this year’s event promises a fresh experience for attendees.
We caught up with Buck Wehrbein, NCBA President, who shared his excitement about the new location.
“We’ve always been out at the Gaylord facility, the Opryland Hotel, and this year we’re gonna be downtown and so we’re all excited about that and I have not experienced that myself and looking forward to it.”
Buck and his wife had a sneak peek during an NCBA exhibitor summit earlier this year:
“Looks like a really great venue and of course downtown Nashville is second to none so it should be a lot of fun.”
A Convention for the Whole Cattle Industry
Cattle Con is known for bringing together all sectors of the beef industry, from ranchers to feeders to suppliers.
“I like to say that we’re not just big feedlots, we’re not just big ranches, we’re everybody and so there’s something for everybody at the Cattle Con convention.”
Networking is a cornerstone of the convention experience.
“One of the great things I think of is networking, making new friends and seeing old friends that you don’t maybe see but maybe once a year… it’s really effective that way and the trade show is second to none.”
Attendees can expect to explore the latest cattle industry products, equipment, and technology.
“There’s the products and equipment that we all use are represented there and you can see tried-and-true things and also brand-new things.”
This year’s opening general session will feature a high-energy keynote from Dale Earnhardt Jr.
“We got Dale Earnhardt Jr. That should be really fun. I have not got to hear him speak so I’m really looking forward to that myself and that’s gonna be a lot of fun to see the energy that he brings.”
Plan Your Trip
Cattle Con 2025 runs from February 3rd to 5th in downtown Nashville. Visit convention.ncba.org for registration and full event details.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.