Beef Cattle Roundtable set for Dec. 2 at Amarillo Farm and Ranch Show
Event to feature USDA chief economist keynote; industry panel discussions on marketing, genetics and policy
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will host the 2026 Beef Cattle Roundtable on Dec. 2 at the Amarillo Civic Center Grand Plaza, 401 S. Buchanan St., in conjunction with the Amarillo Farm and Ranch Show.
The roundtable, scheduled from 3:30-7:30 p.m., will bring together beef cattle producers, industry leaders and stakeholders for an in-depth look at the topics shaping the future of the industry, including genetics, marketing and policy.
Attendance options include individual tickets with dinner for one for $100; a table purchase with dinner for eight for $1,000; table reservations and sponsorships that include dinner for eight and marketing recognition for $2,500.
Dinner will be prepared and sponsored by Chef Bud Anderson, with proceeds benefiting the Working Ranch Cowboys Association.
On the agenda
Delivering the keynote address will be Justin Benavidez, Ph.D., chief economist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The program will also feature three panel discussions covering key sectors of the beef cattle industry.
The marketing panel will feature Corbitt Wall, commercial cattle manager/livestock market analyst, DV Auction, Amarillo; Trevor Caviness, president of Caviness Beef, Hereford; and Kirk Donsbach, risk management consultant, Stone X, Roy, Montana.
The genetics panel will feature Lauren Kimble, communications specialist for Select Sires Inc., La Crosse, Wisconsin; Ian Wheal, founder and CEO of Breedr, Austin; Kimberly Ratcliff, philanthropist and CEO of Ratcliff Premium Meats, Oakwood; and Leoma Donsbach, founder and owner of Data Genie LLC, Roy, Montana.
The policy panel will feature Benavidez; Ben Weinheimer, Texas Cattle Feeders Association president and CEO, Amarillo; and Bart Fischer, Ph.D., senior advisor for federal relations, co-director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University and research associate professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Bryan-College Station.
For more information, contact Megan Eikner, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent in Potter County, at [email protected].
