Trends in animal rights movement activity will be front and center at the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2026 Stakeholders Summit. The event, set for May 5-7 in Kansas City, Mo., is themed “High Steaks: Navigating Pressure on Animal Protein.” Registration for the in-person event is open through May 1. By popular demand, a recording-only pass is now available for those unable to attend live. Register or purchase a recording pass here.
“Monitoring the activities of adversarial groups remains at the forefront of the Alliance’s work,” said Abby Kornegay, director, issues and engagement. “Part of this includes sharing key findings and insights to keep agriculture stakeholders informed – and there’s no better place to learn more than the annual Summit.”
When farms are targeted by physical intrusions, cyber incidents, or viral misinformation, the impact can be immediate and overwhelming. During a fireside chat at the 2026 Summit, agricultural futurist Andrew Rose, cybersecurity strategist Kristin King, and farmer Jonathan Lawler will share firsthand experiences navigating crisis and recovery. Through candid discussion, the session will explore how awareness, decisive leadership, and coordinated response can turn moments of disruption into resilience, equipping attendees with practical insights to recognize threats early, respond effectively, and rebuild trust across their operations and communities.
Following the fireside chat, a panel of speakers will address activism pressure bubbling under the radar. This session will spotlight emerging and less visible activism fronts that create real operational, legal, and reputational risk for animal agriculture. Challis Hobbs, executive director at Fur Commission USA, will share practical approaches to preparedness and on-farm security amid growing scrutiny of farming practices within the fur community. Kosher and halal expert Joe Regenstein, PhD, will examine legal and regulatory pressure following increased interest in religious processing practices. Tom Albert, government affairs lead at the Zoological Association of America, will share the overlap in activism pressure impacting zoos and aquariums—highlighting why early awareness and proactive risk management matter.
A recording pass has been made available to purchase for those who are not able to attend the 2026 Summit in person. Session recordings will be posted within two weeks after the event and will only be available to registered attendees and recording pass holders.
Get involved:
Help us bring fresh perspectives to the table at the 2026 Summit. Invite a friend to join the conversation by referring someone who’s never attended Summit before. Both parties need to be registered and will be entered to win a $100 gift card. More details here.
The 2026 Summit would not be possible without the support of sponsors, including U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, Farm Journal, Meatingplace, Watt, Cargill, Perdue Farms, Zoetis, American Feed Industry Association, Dairy Farmers of America, U.S. Soy, Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc., Amick Farms, Aviagen, CoBank, Dairy MAX, Farm Credit Council, Mountaire Farms, National Pork Board, National Pork Producers Council, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Lamb Board, Cal-Maine Foods, Cobb-Vantress, LLC, Empirical, Hendrix Genetics, National Chicken Council, North Carolina Farm Bureau, Progressive Dairy, Trans Ova Genetics, Tyson Foods, United Egg Producers, Vivayic, Eggland’s Best, and Eocene Environmental Group.
Check the Summit website for the most up-to-date information. You can also follow the hashtag #AAA26 for periodic updates about the event on social media. For general questions about the Summit, email summit@animalagalliance.org or call (703) 562-5160.
