NCBA CattleCon 2026 Offers Expanded Educational Opportunities for Cattle Producers
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) will host its annual CattleCon in Nashville, Tennessee, February 3rd through the 5th, bringing together cattle producers from across the country for education, networking, and industry updates. In addition to the traditional trade show and classroom-style sessions, NCBA is expanding hands-on learning opportunities this year by taking education beyond the convention center.
We caught up with Michaela Clowser with NCBA to learn more about what producers can expect. According to Clouser, “We have a multitude of educational opportunities for attendees, and what we’re really excited about this year is after attendees are in the convention center all week, they have the opportunity to get out onto a farm.”
One of the featured additions for 2026 is a grazing management workshop designed to give producers real-world, practical experience. Clouser explained, “So we have our grazing management workshop that is available for folks. So they’ll get out and get to go to Red Hill Farms and learn from experts on sessions focused on cover crops, winter feeding strategies, cattle nutrition.” These sessions are aimed at helping producers improve efficiency and sustainability in their own operations.
A key benefit of the workshop is that participants won’t just listen—they’ll actively apply what they learn. “They’ll get to build out their own grazing management plan and go home with that plan to put into practice,” Clouser said. This hands-on approach allows producers to leave CattleCon with tools they can immediately implement on their farms and ranches.
In addition to the grazing workshop, NCBA is also offering a farm tour option for attendees. “And then there’s also a tour for attendees to sign up for to Deer Valley Angus Farm,” Clouser noted. These tours provide an opportunity to see successful cattle operations firsthand and learn directly from fellow producers.
Clouser strongly encourages early planning to take full advantage of these offerings. “So really encourage folks to check out the convention website and attend a tour if they’re able to, and certainly get registered and come to cattle con and attend some of these cattlemen’s college sessions.”
With its mix of classroom education, hands-on workshops, and on-farm tours, CattleCon 2026 is shaping up to be a valuable event for producers looking to sharpen management skills, explore new ideas, and connect with the broader cattle industry. Nashville’s central location and strong lineup of educational opportunities make this year’s convention one producers won’t want to miss.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.