In today’s Beef Buzz, senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays continues his conversation with Bray Haven, executive vice president of Cattlemen’s Congress, about the scale, growth, and momentum surrounding the event as it heads toward 2026. Haven notes that sales connected to Cattlemen’s Congress topped $10 million last year, including more than $1 million from the Denim and Diamonds Sale, underscoring the Congress’s role as a major hub for seedstock and genetic commerce.
Haven says expectations are high again for 2026, driven by both quality and variety in how sales are conducted. “Some of them will sell 60 live lots. Some of them will sell 10 or 15 live lots. Some of them will be live and online,” he explained, adding that others are entirely online with a live presence. Beyond established sales, Haven says interest is growing from breeders who want to host their own events around Cattlemen’s Congress because of its broad reach. “People want to host their event around Cattlemen’s Congress… not just because of the people that we capture, but the nationwide — or really North American–wide audience that we have.”
While public sale figures are impressive, Haven emphasized that they only tell part of the story. “We sold over $12 million worth of cattle through the sale rings,” he said, quickly adding that those numbers don’t reflect the extensive private-treaty business happening behind the scenes. “That doesn’t even begin to quantify the amount of sales that go on back in the barns, and the amount of commerce that happens back there.”
One of the fastest-growing events is the Commercial Female Sale, which debuted last year with a $2 million gross and returns in 2026. “Thursday, January 8, will be our second annual commercial female sale,” Haven said, noting there will be 600 to 700 head sold live and online in groups of 10 head. “We’re really excited about the response that we got from that last year, and we’re going to continue to grow on that.”
And outside groups have also been attracted to Oklahoma City during Congress. The nation’s largest online feeder and stocker cattle auction, Superior Livestock, will hold their annual Bellringer Sale in Oklahoma City for the sixth time in January. The auction transitioned to Oklahoma City in 2021 when the National Western Stock Show was canceled and has been held there annually since. It will happen January 6th thru the 8th in 2026.
Haven also highlighted the continued strength of the trade show and the overall experience for attendees. “Every year we have a wait list. It’s incredible to see,” he said of exhibitor demand. With cattle from across the country, diverse breeds, multiple sales, shows, and daily activities, Haven encourages visitors to explore it all. “There’s plenty to do, and I promise you won’t get bored.” Full schedules and details are available online, with Cattlemen’s Congress running January 4–14 at the OKC Fairgrounds.
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.
