The Cattlemen’s Congress is a stock show for cattlemen and women managed by cattlemen and women. The Cattlemen’s Congress is an opportunity for breeders across North America to showcase their top genetics and connect with fellow beef producers in a central location, in the heart of cattle country. Set for January 4 – 16, 2025, in Oklahoma City, the event is not one to miss.
Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster, Ron Hays, is catching up with Chairman of the Board for Cattlemen’s Congress Tyler Norvell in this episode of Beef Buzz, talking about the fifth annual Cattlemen’s Congress and the value it adds to the Southern Plains cattle industry.
Norvell compelled every beef producer near enough to drive to spend at least a day at the show. “It is an awesome place to see the most elite genetics in the United States,” Norvell said. “If you need to buy a bull, there will be a bull there that you need or that you want to see in person. If you need some bred heifers, come meet the people who are putting them in the sale. Come talk to the elite purebred breeders from across the United States in one place.”
The Oklahoma State Fairgrounds is centrally located, and parking is free as is admission.
He described the event as the Super Bowl for cattlemen and emphasized that if the Superbowl was within driving distance and free, lots more folks would go.
Also important to the Oklahoma City economy, the show’s placement in January has brought a welcome flood of commerce to Oklahoma City business during what was previously a slow season.
“Everybody involved in the visitor’s bureau here – and the hotels and restaurants around Meridian – say that January was their slowest time of the year,” Norvell shared. “Not only the amount of money we brought but the time of the year that we brought it, makes us the most impactful event they have ever had started here. We know we are around a $50 million economic impact at Oklahoma City and if you calculate in the time of the year that it is in, the impact is significantly larger than that for these businesses.”
He expresses gratitude for the partnership of the Oklahoma City municipality and the Visitors Bureau.
This year’s event will be the last to be held in the iconic Jim Norick arena as it is scheduled to be demolished after its replacement is ready for use in 2026.
“It’s going to be exciting to break that building in next year at the 2026 Cattlemen’s Congress, and the 2026 Oklahoma Youth Expo,” Norvell said. “There will probably be some challenges the first year as we try to figure out how to use it and how to make it the most efficient and the most exhibitor friendly, but I think folks will enjoy the new changes and be patient with us as we adapt.”
For more about the 2025 Cattlemen’s Congress, view yesterday’s BeefBuzz with Norvell for part one of the conversation.
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 at the top of the story for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
