Cornbelt Cow-Calf Conference 2026 to feature "Taste the Difference" cookoff
Attendance is free for this annual event
12/2/25
Cornbelt Cow-Calf Conference is set for Jan. 23-24, 2026.
KNOXVILLE, Iowa – The Cornbelt Cow-Calf Conference (CCCC), Iowa’s premier educational event for Iowa’s cow-calf sector enters its 54th year, and the trade show and program set for January 23-24, 2026, will certainly continue that tradition. The Bridge View Center in Ottumwa will again be hosting the CCCC, and admission will continue to be free thanks to ag industry vendors that will fill the exhibit hall.
Patrick Wall, Iowa State University extension beef field specialist and CCCC program coordinator, said the event will again include a Friday afternoon/evening trade show, capped off by the "Taste the Difference" cookoff. Two products of the same cut will be prepared identically. Attendees choose which one their taste buds prefer, then the winner and the source of each cut will be revealed at the conclusion of the event. Visit with vendors, eat free beef, and enjoy good company!
"Saturday morning will kick off with a topic that caused a lot of anxiety among cattle producers in southeast Iowa this year," Wall said. "Dr. Matt Brewer from ISU College of Veterinary Medicine will speak about Asian Long-Horn Tick (ALHT) and New World Screwworm.”
Then, the focus will shift to the production side of the business and address the antagonisms that exist between maternal and terminal traits with Dr. Matt Spangle from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, followed by the event keynote address.
“Our keynote speaker couldn’t be more timely. I’m excited to hear what Cassandra Fish has to say about the current state of the industry, drawing from her experience at Tyson Foods,” Wall said.
Afternoon break-out sessions will again hit very pertinent topics. Fish will be back, this time talking about beef imports and how the industry utilizes them. ISU extension farm management specialist Paul Martin and Wall will help aging producers more successfully transition their operation to the next generation or operator, particularly in a peak market. Doug Ruth from Country Roads Meat Market will detail how he sells locally produced beef through the ups and downs in markets. Finally, local producer Rob Wonderlich will introduce attendees to the newest beef breed in the U.S. - Rubia Gallega. This breed is known for its extreme marbling without sacrificing performance.
Doors will be open from 3 to 7 p.m. on Friday and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, with the educational program starting at 9 a.m. Again, admission is free, and this event is open to the public. See details on the conference website.
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The Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University was established in 1996 with the goal of supporting the growth and vitality of the state’s beef cattle industry. It comprises faculty and staff from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine, and works to develop and deliver the latest research-based information regarding the beef cattle industry. For more information about IBC, visit www.iowabeefcenter.org.
Contact:
Patrick Wall, ISU Extension and Outreach beef specialist, 515-450-7665, patwall@iastate.edu
