The American Wagyu Association annual conference is set for September in Oklahoma City, bringing Wagyu producers and other beef industry members together for education, networking and a look at new developments across the cattle industry. American Wagyu Association Executive Director Jerry Cassady spoke with Associate Farm Reporter Carli Davenport about what attendees can expect from this year’s event.
Conference Combines Annual Meeting With Educational Opportunities
Cassady said the association’s annual convention serves two purposes: conducting the organization’s business while providing educational opportunities for members and beef producers. “Our annual convention is basically twofold,” Cassady said. “It’s an annual general meeting for our membership, where we conduct all the business of the American Wagyu Association, and it’s also a conference.” The event will feature guest speakers, a trade show, learning opportunities, networking and a fundraising event.
Breed Improvement, Technology and Meat Science on the Agenda
A wide range of educational topics will be covered, including breed improvement, technology, product development and meat science. Cassady said attendees will hear about “EPDs and indexes and the use of those selection tools,” along with product development and the use of different beef grades. Speakers will also discuss artificial intelligence and other technological advancements. “It’s going to be pretty in depth when we talk about the Wagyu breed,” Cassady said.
Meat science and the end product will be another major focus of the conference. Cassady said a group from Oklahoma State University will discuss meat science, while attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in beef fabrication demonstrations. “One of the things we like to focus on is meats and meat science,” he said. “So we have a crew from Oklahoma State coming down to talk about things like that, and then we’re also going to have some beef fabrication demonstrations for the audience to participate in.”
Beef Fabrication Demonstration Among Conference Highlights
Cassady said the beef fabrication demonstration is one of the sessions he is especially looking forward to because of its popularity with members. “We’ve done this before, and it’s very popular with our membership,” he said. “We have a meat scientist that comes in and makes it fun to learn about beef fabrication.” He also said he is looking forward to hearing about new research and developments from Oklahoma State University.
The conference will also connect Wagyu producers with information from across the broader cattle industry. Gracie Smith, director of communications, said the first day will include industry updates designed to keep members informed about developments beyond the Wagyu sector. Speakers and updates are planned from the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, the World Wagyu Council, USDA and NCBA.
Oklahoma City Chosen Following Headquarters Relocation
Cassady said Oklahoma City was selected as the host city following the association’s decision to relocate its headquarters from North Idaho to Oklahoma City. “The board of directors was interested in having our headquarters office in cattle country and much more member-centric,” Cassady said. “So we chose Oklahoma City.” He added that holding the annual convention in the new headquarters’ city made sense for the association’s first year in Oklahoma.
New Everything But Steak Contest Showcases Wagyu Products
A new event this year will highlight the many ways Wagyu products can be marketed beyond traditional steak. Smith said the association will continue its Best Wagyu Steak in America contest but has added an Everything But Steak contest to give members additional opportunities to showcase their products.
“Wagyu product is so good that every part of it’s valuable,” Smith said. The new contest will include four categories: trade show booth decor, edible products, non-edible products and merchandise. The edible category could feature products such as beef jerky, beef sticks, Wagyu tallow chips and summer sausage, while the non-edible category could include Wagyu tallow, soaps and candles. The contest will use People’s Choice voting, allowing the general public to participate.
Post-Conference Tour to Visit Oklahoma Wagyu Operations
Following the conference, attendees will have the opportunity to tour several Oklahoma locations connected to the Wagyu industry and beef production. Cassady said the tour will include visits to Genesis Enterprises near Davenport and Grasslands Wagyu southwest of Oklahoma City. Participants will also visit the association’s new headquarters near Stockyards City and Oklahoma State University.
Cassady said the OSU stop will provide another educational opportunity, with university personnel preparing programming in the meat laboratory. “Those folks have really gone above and beyond to prepare a really fun educational stop right there on campus in the meats lab,” he said.
The annual conference is designed to bring together Wagyu producers while also connecting them with the larger beef industry through education, networking, research and hands-on demonstrations.
