Farm Director KC Sheperd spoke with Troy White of the 580 cattle conference, which is back for its second year, following a strong debut in 2023. “Last year was our first year, and it was a tremendous success,” Troy White shared. “A lot of people showed up and listened to some very powerful speakers.” reinforced by the positive response, the organizers have worked to build an even stronger lineup for this year’s event. “I’m not so sure that our speaker lineup this year isn’t even better than last year,” Troy said confidently.
Among the headliners is the return of Dr. Temple Grandin, whose reputation speaks for itself. “She understands animal movement, animal behavior better than anybody has probably in the last 50 or 60 years,” Troy noted. “She was Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world.” Dr. Grandin’s continued advocacy for humane livestock practices and neurodiversity makes her a key draw for attendees. Troy added, “The knowledge that Dr. Grandin has in her head is fantastic—and it’s hard to keep up with her too.”
The speaker lineup also features experts across various specialties in the cattle industry. Dr. Sonja Swiger will speak on New World screwworm research, while Dr. Darrell Peel will return with his insight on beef market trends. “Dr. Peel is such a wealth of knowledge,” Troy said. “He’ll talk about economics and market trends and everything that matters to us out here in the beef industry.” NCBA’s Kent Bacus will also appear to discuss federal legislation and how it affects producers. Additionally, new names have been added like Dr. Ramon Tostra and Dr. Brett Hicks, covering topics from reproduction and bull selection to beef nutrition.
This year’s event is set for the Woodward County Event Center, and Troy emphasized the practical, grassroots nature of the conference. “We want to bring good, solid, down-to-earth information that matters to people,” he explained. “Anybody can come—anybody that has any interest in Dr. Grandin, autism, beef, animal health. There’s really going to be something for everybody.” Attendees can also expect an expanded trade show, with companies like Warren CAT, Lanco, and Barbara Dyson Ford, all offering products geared toward beef producers.
Beyond the learning opportunities, the conference will wrap up with food and entertainment. “Like last year, everybody’s going to have a steak,” Troy said, noting the evening’s musical guest will be Jake Tankersley, a recent contestant on The Voice. The fast-paced event opens at noon, kicks off at 1 PM, and aims to wrap up around 7:30 or 8:00 PM. “We don’t want people to get bored—we want them to learn as much as they absolutely can,” Troy concluded. “It’s going to be a great event, great time, lot of knowledge, and we’re really proud to be a part of it.”
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