2025 2026

2026 PRODUCTION SCHEDULE AND EDITORIAL FEATURES

PRINT AD RATES AND SPECS

MARCH 2026 | Vol. 42, No. 5 | NCBA. org

MEET YOUR OFFICERS

Gene Copenhaver, President Washington County, Virginia Gene Copenhaver’ s focus for the year ahead is on the next generation, and he is ready to advocate for policy and practices that lay solid groundwork for future cattle producers to succeed. He puts this into practice as he and his son, Will, operate Copenhaver Brothers Farms which has been in the family since the 1850s. Copenhaver also spent 38 years as an agricultural loan officer, primarily serving cattle clients in five eastern states.

In the upcoming year, Copenhaver will guide NCBA to continue the work of his predecessors, building upon wins and continuing to push back on burdensome regulation as well as elevating the application of risk management tools.

Watching families teach and raise the next generation of cattle producers excites Copenhaver for the bright future of beef production. To him, keeping clear communication a forefront amongst all sectors and participants of the industry is key to providing nutrient-dense beef for the world.

Kim Brackett, President-Elect Three Creek, Idaho Kim Brackett and her husband, Ira, operate Brackett Ranches Limited Partnership, a cow-calf and stocker operation based on the Idaho / Nevada border where their primary goal is to produce superior calves while improving range health.

A longtime member of NCBA, Brackett has seen her own family operation benefit from the work NCBA leads in Washington, D. C., and she serves as an officer to give back and contribute to similar efforts. She wants to see the regulatory

1 FULL PAGE $ 6,000- $ 7,500( see price sheet)

As wildfires grow more intense and land‐use debates continue to reshape the West, the role of grazing on working lands is gaining renewed attention. When NCBA sets its policy priorities each year, the recurring commitment to“ keep working lands in working hands” reflects more than tradition, it signals a proactive vision by protecting and expanding grazing access. Much more goes into this work than that simple phrase suggests, it is a multi‐faceted approach involving all three branches of government and significant advocacy work by NCBA.

One of the recent grazing access victories is the process of repealing the Bureau of Land Management’ s( BLM)“ Public Lands Rule,” which threatens the future of western cattle grazing. NCBA fought in federal court and engaged with the Trump administration to repeal the rule. This was a huge, highly publicized win for all producers, and NCBA is constantly working on advancing incremental policy changes to achieve this goal. Further expanding grazing access not only helps increase the amount of cattle on the landscape but also helps to maintain millions of acres of open rangeland and prevent catastrophic wildfires like the ones that have raged across the country over the last several years.

In March, two grazing bills backed by NCBA advanced from Senate committees with bipartisan support. The first bill, the Strategic Grazing to Reduce the Risk of Wildfire Act, advanced out of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Sponsored by

National Cattlemen’ s Beef Association

APRIL 2026 | Vol. 42, No. 6 | NCBA. org

L to R: Skye Krebs, Dan Hanrahan, Travis Maddock, Brad Hastings, Kenny Rogers, Buck Wehrbein, Kim Brackett, Gene Copenhaver, Scott Anderson.

burden on cattle producers reduced to improve profitability for cattlemen and women. Brackett views her leadership role as an opportunity to thoughtfully serve NCBA members by helping guide strategic decisions that will prepare the association to navigate future challenges and opportunities.

The best part of ranching for Brackett is creating memories with her family, watching her kids’ love for animals grow, whether that be their favorite horses, their first dogs or when newborn calves hit the ground.

Skye Krebs, Vice President Eastern Oregon Skye Krebs is a long-time leader in both the cattle and sheep industries, with more than 40 years of experience guiding progress in livestock organizations. Through advocacy and leadership with the Public Lands Council and Oregon

PASS-THROUGH READERSHIP

Continued on page 8

CASH ON THE BARRELHEAD | PG. 10

Conservation easements for cattle producers should be created with a trusted partner whose priorities match the landowner’ s.

HENRY RIFLE BREAKS RECORDS | PG. 13

During the annual NCBA-PAC auction at CattleCon, an American Cattleman rifle broke records for the highest bid on a single item.

FEDERATION | PG. 17

The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans emphasize the importance of beef in a healthy diet and the value of science-based Checkoff research.

National Cattlemen’ s Beef Association

FEBRUARY 2026 | Vol. 42, No. 4 | NCBA. org

NCBA WORKS TO EXPAND GRAZING ACCESS AND PREVENT WILDFIRES

National Cattlemen’ s Beef Association

ROOTED IN TRADITION, FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE: GENE COPENHAVER TAKES THE HELM AT NCBA

As the National Cattlemen’ s Beef Association welcomes its new president, one thing is clear: while the dynamic of the beef cattle business continues to evolve, Gene Copenhaver’ s dedication to both the cattle industry and the people who sustain it stands firm. With deep roots in raising livestock and a vision for strengthening producer voices, he steps into leadership ready to champion innovation, preserve tradition and ensure beef remains a cornerstone of American agriculture.

His community is picturesque, the land opens into a familiar southwest Virginia rhythm: rolling hills, deep green grass and pastures stitched together by fences that have stood for generations. Cattle graze easily here, with reliable rainfall and rich forage, but it’ s not just the land that defines the place. It’ s the people, and the relationships that bind them.

“ We’ re close to Tennessee, North Carolina and Kentucky,” Copenhaver said.“ The grass is green, the hills are rolling, and everybody’ s the same.” It’ s a matter-of-fact observation, but one that captures the character of the region: grounded, practical and quietly resilient.

The Copenhaver family has been in Washington County since around 1850. Like many families of German descent, they brought farming with them and adapted it to Appalachian ground. About 75 years ago, Copenhaver’ s father and uncle formalized that legacy by starting Copenhaver Brother Farms, a diversified operation that reflected the times. Tobacco, hogs, sheep, cow-calf pairs and stocker cattle all had a place. It was a model built on spreading risk and making use of every acre.

Then came the tobacco buyout, a pivotal moment not just for the Copenhavers but for much of southwest Virginia agriculture.

“ A lot of buyout money went into cattle genetics,” Copenhaver recalled.“ It really changed the type and quality of cattle we have in southwest Virginia.” For his family, it also marked a strategic narrowing of focus. Over time, the operation moved entirely into stocker cattle, leaning hard into

Continued on page 15

CATTLE THAT FIT THEIR ENVIRONMENT | PG. 13

Genetic tools have the potential to help producers make specific decisions for their management, environment and goals.

DESIGNING A CONSERVATION EASEMENT | PG. 16

A key piece when considering a conservation easement is determining the funding source that best suits your goals.

NEW ADVANTAGE IN RANCHING | PG. 18

New fencing technologies offer more knowledge about the land and herd grazing patterns.

FULL CENTER SPREAD $ 18,000

Gene Copenhaver manages Copenhaver Brother Farms, a 175-year-old farm, with his family.

what the region does best: grow grass. Today, Copenhaver Brother Farms buys uniform groups of steers at similar weights, turns them out on grass by April 1, and markets them steadily from May through November. Restocking typically happens from July through October, with a deliberate effort to winter everything that will go back to pasture in the spring. Hay feeding is limited to roughly 75 to 90 days, with only conservative use of concentrates. The philosophy is simple and unapologetic. As Copenhaver said,“ Grass does the real work.”

He jokes that it may be“ the least diversified cattle operation in the country,” but the uniformity is intentional. Buying and selling cattle the same way each year smooths labor demands and evens out cash flow. The land base itself is a mix— some owned, some rented, some cattle placed on poundage with trusted partners— but the forage strategy is cautious.

“ We try to have at least a half-crop ahead in case of dry weather,” he said. Milder winters than those he remembers from decades ago have helped extend grazing seasons, further lowering cost of gain.“ We depend on our grass for grazing to put the pounds on.”

In the stocker business, however, land is only half the equation. The other half is people. Copenhaver is quick to say relationships matter as much as rainfall. He has sold cattle to the same feedyards in the Midwest for years, and he stays in close contact throughout the feeding period.

“ We want feedback once the cattle hit those feedyards,” he

Continued on page 7

Ad Size Price Bleed Size Trim Size

1 / 2 PAGE VERTICAL $ 3,500

1 / 4 PG VERTICAL $ 2,500

1 / 2 PAGE HORIZONTAL

$ 3,500 1 / 4 PG HORIZONTAL $ 2,500

3