Time is a limited resource and it’s easy to fill an entire year with ranch work. Yet, creating time to work on the business and continuously learn is of equal if not more importance when creating profitable businesses. One opportunity ranchers can take to brush up on industry challenges, peek into future trends and network with some of the industry’s brightest minds is attending the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Symposium June 10-13, 2025, in Amarillo, Texas.
BIF Executive Director Bob Weaber says, “We try to build the program to push everyone in their thinking, but they aren’t topics that are going to go way over your head.”
BIF is a membership organization consisting of many industry stakeholders and organizations. It was originally founded to standardize beef cattle performance data collection systems to collect reliable and unbiased data for genetic selection. Today, one of the great opportunities it creates for ranchers is its annual research symposium.
From the young producer seminar, to keynotes, panels, breakout sessions, tours and hallway conversations – each generation on the ranch can find value from attending.
“We noticed that parents and grandparents were coming to the convention, but the younger generation was staying home to work. We wanted to create an opportunity to connect the younger generation to mentors and these industry conversations,” Weaber says.
This opportunity is in the form of the Young Producer Seminar, which kicks off the event. The 2025 theme is about making your voice heard and will include conversations about entrepreneurship, transition planning, family business culture and advocacy.
Additionally, the seminar has speakers to help prepare young producers to find mentors, get engaged in hallway conversations and ultimately get the most out of this convention and others.
The following two days are filled with big picture conversations about different challenges and how they impact each industry sector differently.
Day two will focus on conflicting market signals and profit drivers throughout the supply chain, specifically the pressure for increased growth and carcass performance and how that impacts profitability for cow-calf producers, feedlots and packers. This conversation will start with consumer preference and work its way through the rest of the supply chain.
Additionally, there will be a beef x dairy panel discussion focusing on how to select genetics for Holstein and Jersey cows to build high-value carcasses.
Day three is another heavy hitter focusing on new technology and sustainability.
“Politically sustainability is in the crosshairs at the moment, but the consumer still thinks it is important so we should think they are important,” Weaber says.
Various speakers will address global and domestic perspectives of sustainability, including what other countries are experiencing as well as how focusing on sustainability impacts the entire beef value chain economically.
From the technology perspective, there will also be a focus on how AI and machine learning is entering the beef industry, especially to automate phenotypic record collection.
And of course, BIF Symposium wouldn’t be complete without a tour or two. There will be two tours this year. One will be focused on range and cow-calf and the other will be feedlot and packer focused.
As you consider whether to or not to attend the symposium, remember the power of networking. Connectivity is the main reason ranchers should attend the event.
“If you want to get connected to the people, thoughts and actions that impact beef cattle genetic improvement, BIF is the must-attend meeting,” Weaber says.
You can view the full agenda and register at BIFSymposium.com.
Watch the full conversation here.
