Cattlemen's Congress Conversation: Recent Episodes
Ron Hays
The Cattlemen's Congress was founded in 2021 and is 'The Largest and Most Elite Show in the World' featuring the best genetics North American cattlemen have to offer. Join us for our monthly podcast with industry leaders and cattlemen to talk all things Cattlemen's Congress.
This Cattlemen's Congress Conversation podcast has the Execs from three of our breeds offering insight into their experience at Congress and where their breed fits into today's beef cattle industry. Listen to Ron talk with Montie Soules of the American Shorthorn Association, Dustin Hurlbot of the American Chianina Association and Blake Nelson of the American Maine Anjou Association.
This Cattlemen's Congress Conversation spotlights the Jarold Callahan Memorial Collegiate Livestock Judging Contest at Cattlemen's Congress- the winning team in 2025 was Texas Tech while Oklahoma State was Reserve Grand Champion in the Senior Division- the winning Junior College team was from NEO- Northeastern Oklahoma State in Miami, Oklahoma. Two guests- first is Lexi Hunt of Texas Tech who was the high individual in the Senior Collegiate Division- and then we talk with the Superintendent of the Contest, Dr. Mark Johnson of OSU about the value of this contest to the participants and the industry.
Today's Conversation features a deep dive into all things Angus with American Angus Association CEO Mark McCully- then a look at the premiere branded beef program with Bruce Cobb, Executive VP of Production for Certified Angus Beef.
On this episode of Cattlemen’s Conversation, host Ron Hays sits down with Jack Ward, CEO of the American Hereford Association, to discuss the future of the Hereford breed, industry trends, and more.
Today's Conversation features two of our Breeders Club members- Linz Heritage Angus and GKB Cattle. We feature comments from Ben Weis, Ranch Manager for Linz and Owner Fred Linz. Dennis Bucholz of GKB Cattle, that he operates with his wife Kathy, provides his philosophy and wisdom in the cattle business that he has spent his entire life involved in.
Our Conversation is with Matt Sims, owner of MCS Auction, who helps cattle producers across the country market their cattle and genetics. He is the lead for the first ever Cattlemen's Congress Commercial Heifer Sale coming up on January 9th. Ron and Matt talk about how the sale came about- and how Matt has been engaged in marketing cattle at Cattlemen's Congress since it began five years ago.
Today's conversation features four talented and enthusiastic cattle raisers- First- we feature Dad Nick and Daughter Lily Judd from the Judd Ranch of Kansas- who have Gelbvieh, Balancer and Red Angus on their Ranch- Next is Oklahoman Seth Locke talking Texas Longhorns and finally we spotlight a guest from Australia- 19 year old Makayla Saunders who is a champion for the British White Breed.
Tune in to Season 3 Episode 2 as we kick off the 2025 Cattlemen's Congress! Hear from Executive Vice President and International Liaison about special events, show schedule, new improvements and more for this year's show.
Ron Hays sat down with Dr. Mark Johnson to discuss all things Cattlemen's Conference. Join the conversation and we hope to see you in Stillwater, May 22 & 23 to help us write the blueprint for the future of the cattle industry.
Ron Hays sat down with Joel Cowley and Bray Haven to talk all things Cattlemen's Congress.
Ron Hays serves up two guests- first Texas Brangus Breeder Allen Goode talks about Brangus at Congress as well as their plans here in 2024 to celebrate 75 years of the International Brangus Breeders Association- then he talks with Erin Dorsey- Congress Consultant and the lead on working with International Guests who come to Cattlemen’s Congress.
Ron Hays talks with two gentlemen who participated in an Angus hosted panel during Cattlemen’s Congress looking at balancing the maternal traits we want in a beef cow and the terminal traits needed to produce a great eating experience for the consumer- listen to Dr. Mark Johnson of OSU and Kansas/Oklahoma Rancher Jesse Luckie consider our options and opportunities. As a Bonus- Mark previews the second Cattlemen’s Conference Coming in May 2024!
Sit down with host Ron Hays and Blake Nelson of the American Maine Anjou Association to discuss the breed and all of their activity at the 2024 Cattlemen's Congress!
Ron Hays talks Shorthorns at the 2024 Cattlemen’s Congress with the Executive Secreatary/CEO of the American Shorthorn Association Montie Soules- Shorthorn breeders have shown up with big numbers at Congress and Montie talks about the show and where the breed is going as we start 2024.
Here’s our conversation with Jack Ward, Executive Vice President of American Hereford Association.We talk how this past year has been for the Hereford Breed, Genomics, Gene Editing, the Certified Hereford Beef Program, how Cattlemen’s Congress has been beneficial to Hereford breeders, and more!
Ron Hays sat down with Bray Haven of Cattlemen's Congress and Mark Anderson of the Limousin Association to discuss Cattlemen's Congress and what's happening within the Limi breed.
Dive into the latest Cattlemen's Conversations podcast featuring the newest Saddle and Sirloin Portrait gallery inductee, the legendary Mr. Jarold Callahan! 🎙️🤠 Join us as we celebrate his remarkable journey and contributions to the agriculture industry.
We're back with another season of Cattlemen's Conference! In our first episode of Season 2, we talk with University of California - Davis professor and director of the CLEAR Center, Dr. Frank Mitloehner. Mitloehner served as the 2023 Cattlemen's Conference keynote speaker and addressed all-things livestock and climate/environment.Today's episode includes his keynote speech, complete with data and insight Mitloehner has collected over his decades involved in the research side of agriculture.
In our final episode of Season 1, we talk Brangus with two of the producer leaders of the International Brangus Breeders Association, Association President Jeremy Jackson of northwest Arkansas and Briana Hicks, the Brangus Junior Association President, who’s from College Station, Texas. Jackson says today’s Brangus offers a powerful combination of maternal and carcass traits and explains how the Ultra program has further enhanced the breed. Hicks says her passion is encouraging younger participants in the Junior program, and she hopes to see many of them make a difference in the cattle industry in the years to come.
Two guests today! We first talk with Board Chairman, Jarold Callahan, about how the 2023 Cattlemen's Congress has gone. He points to large numbers showing, significant increases in the many different sales associated with the show, and the very positive feedback in the location, as well as the facility. Jarold also reflects on his career in the cattle business and how he has been involved in several “big picture” type meetings in previous decades about where the industry is and where it needs to go, saying he thinks it’s time to do that type of conference again. Thus, the reason for Cattlemen’s Conference coming in May 2023. We also talk to Hugh Aljoe of the Noble Research Institute about their participation in this event, as they are majoring on regenerative ranching here in 2023 and beyond.
Dustin Hurlbut, CEO with the American Chianina Association, is our guest for this conversation from the Third Cattlemen’s Congress- Dustin says the breed leaders were very happy with the shows and sale for the breed at Congress. Dustin says that the Chianina breed has recently celebrated being in the US for a half century- and that their cows with even a small percentage of Chianina heritage have tremendous maternal traits and longevity. Feedlots also love cattle with Chi blood- as that gives those animals a leg up in feed conversion.
Our guest today is Montie Soules, CEO of the American Shorthorn Association. Montie says that over 450 Shorthorns were shown at this year’s Congress- and that Cattlemen’s Congress is one of two Super National Shows that the breed hosts each year. As one of the heritage breeds in the US- Shorthorns remain very popular across the country- and in fact have had a tremendous influx of new members in the last five years. Montie offers insight into the importance of Cattlemen’s Congress to the Beef Cattle industry and believes it has a bright future ahead.
Cattlemen's Conversation met up with CEO of the American Angus Association, Mark McCully, to discuss Angus activities here at Cattlemen’s Congress, including a celebration of Angus being in the US for 150 years. Mark talks about the genomic EPD revolution underway in the cattle industry and how Angus breeders are embracing the data, and their continued success with Certified Angus Beef. Host Ron Hays also spoke with Mark Gardiner of Gardiner Angus of Ashland, Kansas, one of the leading Angus ranches in the US.
Today on Cattlemen's Conversation, Ron sat down with Megan Slater, the Executive Director of the American Gelbvieh Association to discuss the breed here at Cattlemen’s Congress and how they are working to be a great part of a commercial cattlemen’s genetic strategy!Ron also talked with one of the vendors at the 2023 Congress, Kay Knight Designs of Mason, Texas.
Host Ron Hays talks with the Mark Anderson, Executive Director of the North American Limousin Foundation- We caught Mark in between shows at the 2023 Cattlemen’s Congress and we talked about a great year in 2022 for the breed- and the efforts to take full advantage of the attributes of Limousin and Lim-Flex cattle- offering calving ease, feed efficiency, muscling and superior yield grades to commercial cattle producers. Mark also bragged about how Limousin breeders have embraced Cattlemen’s Congress and how successful the 2023 National Sale was here in Oklahoma City.
Our guest on this Cattlemen’s Congress Conversation is the COO of the American Hereford Association, Shane Bedwell- talking about the latest from the Hereford breed- and the fact that once again- Congress is the largest of the National shows when it comes to Hereford Breeder and Junior participation- Ron and Shane also talk about the effort to engage commercial cattlemen across the region- offering a free ribeye steak sandwich and a chance in a drawing for a WW Cattle Handling Chute to cattlemen who come Thursday January 5th for the Hereford Pen Show, starting at 11 AM.
Host Ron Hays talks with the Executive Director of the American-International Charolais Association, Dr. Clint Rusk, about the breed and their involvement here at the third Cattlemen’s Congress at the OKC Fairgrounds. Rusk says 2022 was a excellent year for the breed and that there is a lot of interest in using Charolais genetics with several of the British breeds to deliver a cross with lots of muscle and growth.
Host Ron Talks with Longhorn Breeder Walker Hance about the Longhorn breed here in North America and the cattle that have been brought from multiple states to this year’s Cattlemen’s Congress. This is the second year that Longhorns are a part of Cattlemen’s Congress and several new events are a part of their time in Oklahoma City- including a non- Halter show on New Year’s Eve.
Today’s Conversation has host Ron Hays talking with Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur, who is also very happy to be a Show Mom to Kelton and Kennedy. The discussion looks at how Cattlemen’s Congress was established from a State of Oklahoma viewpoint and how it has quickly become one of the best Beef Cattle events in North America because it is a cattle show put on by cattlemen and cattlewomen. Ron and Blayne talk about many of the aspects of Congress- from the open shows and National Sales to the Junior show which continues to grow and attract families from all across the US. Blayne, as Oklahoma State Secretary of Ag, extends, on behalf of Governor Kevin Stitt, an official welcome to Oklahoma and Oklahoma City to be a part of the third Cattlemen’s Congress at the OKC Fairgrounds.
Jarold Callahan is no stranger to Cattlemen's Congress. He is the Board Chairman and also the President of Express Ranches. On this episode of Cattlemen's Conversation, Callahan sits down with host Ron Hays to discuss the 2023 show.
Anne Kimmey is a Red Angus breeder from Marietta, Oklahoma. Her and her family have exhibited at Cattlemens Congress but understands the importance of balancing the show world, with the production, commercial cattle world.
Host Ron Hays talks with another of the sales managers that helped produce some of the sales at Cattlemen’s Congress. Greg Burden owns GB marketing and has produced sales for the Simmental and Red Angus breeds at Cattlemen’s Congress. Greg offers some great advice to cattle producers about how to get your cattle herd ready to participate in your own production sale or a spotlight sale like is seen in a major national show like the Congress. He also reports that the producers in the breeds he is working with are really excited about the upcoming Cattlemen’s Congress- and hope to bring their best animals yet to year three of the show.
Greg, like Matt Sims who we interviewed earlier, is another of the Sales Managers that have had a hand in helping Cattlemen’s Congress become a huge success in the first two years of the show.
In today’s podcast, host Ron Hays talks with Sales Manager Matt Sims of Matt C. Sims Auction, Inc about his work with several breeds at the first two Cattlemen Congress’s in Oklahoma City. Sims works with purebred producers in several states as he manages their sales and marketing efforts and he offers a lot of insight to the mood of the seedstock business in the US in the final quarter of 2022. Matt explains his perspective on the success of Cattlemen’s Congress the first two years when it comes to the sales that are part of the show- and what he sees ahead for 2023 at Cattlemen’s Congress.
Looking ahead- we will feature a conversation with Greg Burden next week on our Podcast- Greg is another of the Sales Managers that have had a hand in helping Cattlemen’s Congress become a huge success in this part of the cattle show.
Joining us on Cattlemen's Conversation is the COO of the American Hereford Association to discuss the impact Cattlemen's Congress has had on the cattle industry.
A South Africa native, PJ Budler has traveled the world and believes Cattlemen’s Congress is unlike any other show in the show in the world. A fifth-generation cattleman with extensive involvement in both cattle and business, Budler explains why he believes Cattlemen's Congress will be a premiere destination for international guests that want to see the very best of the beef cattle industry within the United States.
Ron Hays sat down with Michael Kelsey and Chisolm Kinder of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association to discuss the genetic hub that Cattlemen's Congress has become for cattle producers on a global scale.
Join us in our first episode of Cattlemen's Congress Conversation where our host, Ron Hays, sat down with Shorthorn CEO, Montie Soules and Cattlemen's Congress Executive VP, Bray Haven to take a first look into the 2023 Cattlemen's Congress