In today’s Beef Buzz, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays speaks with Bray Haven, Executive Vice President of Cattlemen’s Congress, who reflects on the success of the most recent show held this past January. He noted that “our entries and the numbers shown were up five to six percent across the board, sales were up about 15%,” and highlighted the debut of their first-ever commercial female sale, which he called “incredible” and something they plan to continue. Haven explained that their focus is on attracting more producers from the countryside, saying, “That’s what this show’s about, connecting the cattle industry.”
Haven described Cattlemen’s Congress as a premier event in the livestock world, comparing it to a championship setting. “It really, truly is kind of like a Super Bowl,” he said, noting that they draw participants from “45 plus states, even other countries like Canada.” He emphasized that no other cattle show in the U.S. has the same level of entries, which makes winning at Cattlemen’s Congress especially prestigious.
He also discussed unique elements of the show that set it apart, including the implementation of open female and open bull supreme drives in addition to the junior drives. “You do kind of get this Mecca, the best in the world type of event,” Haven explained. This, he said, brings excitement not only for exhibitors and cattle owners, but also for spectators who come to watch.
The Oklahoma setting, Haven emphasized, plays a big role in the show’s atmosphere and identity. “Cattle are part of our heritage in Oklahoma,” he said. With visitors driving past stockyards and fields of cattle on their way into Oklahoma City, Haven shared that many attendees express appreciation for what Oklahoma and the event mean to the cattle industry in North America and beyond. “It really is fascinating, and it’s been humbling to be a part of it,” he added.
Looking ahead, Haven pointed out the strong presence of American breeds as a key factor in the show’s growth. “We’ve had really strong numbers, and we’ve really seen that be a big part of our growth at Cattlemen’s Congress,” he said, noting that they even host a separate supreme drive for American-influenced cattle. He explained that Oklahoma’s central location and abundance of these cattle make it an ideal host. Preparations for the next show are already underway, with entries opening in November for the upcoming event set to begin January 4, 2026.
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 for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
