In today’s beef buzz, senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays speaks with the board Chairman of the Cattlemen’s Congress, Tyler Norvell. The 2026 Cattlemen’s Congress is gearing up for another exciting year. Norvell recalled the event’s miraculous beginning in 2020 when the National Western Stock Show in Denver was canceled due to COVID-19. Thanks to leadership from the Oklahoma State Fair, the city of Oklahoma City, and Jarold Callahan, organizers were able to launch the first-ever Cattlemen’s Congress. “We told everybody we were doing it one year,” Norvell said, “and here we are six years later.” He described how everything had to align perfectly to make that first show happen, and now it’s become a staple in the cattle industry.
Producers quickly embraced the event for its convenience, affordability, and cattle-focused mission. Norvell emphasized that Cattlemen’s Congress is “a show for cattlemen, ran by cattlemen,” distinguishing it from traditional fairs that include carnivals or rodeos. The show’s board is made up entirely of cattle producers, ensuring that it remains true to its agricultural roots. This authenticity, Norvell explained, is what drew people in and helped the event thrive. Over the years, the show has grown and evolved, adding new features and improving logistics while staying centered on serving the beef industry.
To continue improving, Norvell and the organizing team have established a new advisory committee made up of cattle producers. This group provides direct feedback on how to enhance the event’s structure and experience. One major suggestion from the committee was to move the sale facility from the Super Barn to Barn 3, bringing it closer to the cattle and making it more accessible to participants and buyers. “Sometimes you don’t see the trees for the forest,” Norvell admitted, crediting the committee with fresh ideas that improved efficiency and convenience.
A major highlight for 2026 is the brand-new Coliseum, which Norvell described as a state-of-the-art facility unmatched anywhere in the country. Built with support from the Oklahoma State Fair, the city of Oklahoma City, and OG&E, the Coliseum provides modern amenities for livestock shows of all types. Norvell noted that the old arena has been demolished and construction is underway for a new connector arena, called the Promenade, expected to be finished by the end of next year. If all goes as planned, it will debut during the seventh Cattlemen’s Congress.
Looking ahead, the 2026 show will run January 4–14 and promises to be bigger than ever. The trade show is already sold out, and attendees can expect a packed schedule of sales, exhibits, and cattle showcases. Norvell shared excitement about the return of the bred heifer sale, organized by Matt Sims, which could feature nearly 1,000 head this year. From its humble pandemic beginnings to its growth into one of the nation’s premier cattle events, Cattlemen’s Congress continues to prove itself as a show “built by cattlemen, for cattlemen.”
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.
