In today’s Beef Buzz, senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays speaks with Andy Holloway, who says it’s not too late to register for the 2026 Hemphill County Beef Conference set for next Tuesday and Wednesday in Canadian Texas. Holloway says interest remains strong, with a record-setting trade show and producers coming from across the country.
Record Trade Show and Broad Attendance
Holloway said the conference has already attracted participants from 17 states, with more registering daily. He added that “there will be 130 trade show exhibitors,” marking a new record for the event. He said the gathering has continued to grow into a destination for cattle producers from many segments of the industry.
Reflecting on last year’s turnout, Holloway noted, “We had people from Australia, Canada, Ireland and South Africa,” adding that 24 U.S. states were represented. He said the conference now draws mostly cow-calf producers, but also dairies involved in beef-on-dairy, stocker cattle operators and some feedyard participants.
Regenerative Agriculture Headlines the Program
This year’s theme focuses on how beef cattle fit into regenerative agriculture. Holloway said, “We’ve got an amazing group of speakers for two days” covering topics ranging from pasture management and increased stocking rates to genetics and marketing concepts.
Among featured speakers, Holloway highlighted Troy Applehans of CattleFax, saying producers come “far and wide” for market outlooks. He also pointed to John Haskell of Ranchonomics and Dr. Jason Rowntree of Michigan State University, whose work centers on regenerative agriculture.
More Than a Conference
Holloway believes the event has endured because of strong community support and shared passion for the cattle business. “I love beef cattle, and I love the people in the beef cattle business,” he said. “The whole community, the whole area, has gotten into it.”
He added that networking is one of the biggest draws. “People are so busy these days… they don’t even have time to talk to their neighbors.” Along with education and fellowship, attendees can also expect barbecue, prime rib and steaks fresh off the grill. “We eat good, we network, we have fun. We learn a lot.”
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR above for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
