Upcoming Events
2026 Speaker Videos on YouTube
2026 Annual National Convention
2027 Annual National Convention & Trade Show
at The Lodge in Deadwood, S.D., June 22-24
Hotel Accommodations
DoubleTree by Hilton
(605) 348-4000
SOLD OUT
505 N 5th Street
Rapid City, SD 57701
The Rushmore Hotel & Suites
(605) 348-8300
Rooms start at $179/night + tax.
Room Block SOLD OUT
Regular rated rooms still available with limited supply
445 Mt. Rushmore Rd.
Rapid City, SD 57701
2026 Speakers
Hayden Ballard
J.D., LL.M., M.S.
Rancher and attorney
Hayden Ballard is a sixth-generation rancher from Southern Utah/Northern Arizona, an attorney, and founder of Great Western Resources, where he advocates for land-use and agriculture policy in the West. He has served as a lecturer on western ranching issues and has engaged in national policy work, including participation in a U.S. Supreme Court amicus filing. He also works in agricultural insurance and remains active in ranching with his family.
Sponsored by: Korman Ranch
Charles Benoit
Trade Counsel, Coalition for a Prosperous America
Charles is Senior Trade Counsel at the Coalition for a Prosperous America, where he advises on trade policy and enforcement. An experienced trade attorney, he has represented clients before federal courts, the USITC, and USTR, and previously served as outside counsel to the European Commission during U.S.–EU trade negotiations.
Dr. Lora Bledsoe
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Health Security, Policy Advisor
Dr. Lora Bledsoe, DVM, serves as a Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, working on agricultural resilience and animal health policy. She brings over a decade of experience as a food animal veterinarian, along with leadership in rural public service, including founding a mobile veterinary practice and serving as a mayor.
Bill Bullard
R-CALF USA Chief Executive Officer
Bill Bullard serves as CEO of R-CALF USA, advocating for independent cattle producers across the United States. With a background as a South Dakota cow/calf producer and former public utilities executive, he has testified before Congress and federal agencies and leads the organization’s legal and policy initiatives.
Dave Duquette
Founder & Executive Director, Western Justice
Dave Duquette is the founder of Western Justice and a longtime advocate for agriculture and rural America. A Marine and former horse trainer from Oregon, he has worked on key legislation in Washington, D.C., supporting farmers’ and ranchers’ rights. Through his work, he defends the Western way of life and promotes policies impacting livestock, land use, and wildlife management.
Sponsored by: Brock Livestock Co.
EID Panel
Dr. Jim Stangle, Veterinarian (SD)
Dr. Julie Trask, Veterinarian (SD)
Kenny Fox, Animal ID Chair, R-CALF USA
Moderated by: Jim Mundorf, Lonesome Lands
Sponsored by: Independent Cattlemen of Wyoming
Brett Kenzy
Former R-CALF USA President, Checkoff Chair
Brett Kenzy is a fourth-generation rancher in South Dakota, operating Kenzy Backgrounding with his family. A U.S. Army veteran and former R-CALF USA president, he advocates for independent ranchers and the strength of rural communities.
Sponsored by: Rosebud Farmers Union
Lonesome Lands
Jim Mundorf and Shad Sullivan
The Lonesome Report brings you candid conversations between Lonesome Lands journalist Jim Mundorf and cattle rancher Shad Sullivan. This biweekly, opinion-based podcast dives into current industry events and news, unpacking their impact on agriculture and rural America.
Don’t miss their live podcast recording at the convention!
Patrick McGahan
Partner, Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP
Patrick McGahan is a partner at Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP, where he focuses on antitrust and competition litigation for corporate and institutional clients. He has significant experience in agricultural antitrust matters and is co-lead counsel in the In re Cattle and Beef Antitrust Litigation. His broader practice includes securities litigation, arbitration, and complex commercial disputes.
AJ Richards
From the Farm Founder & CEO
AJ Richards grew up in a fifth-generation ranching family in southern Utah, served with the Utah Army National Guard, including a combat deployment to Iraq, and found his way back to agriculture through a cousin's ranch — selling beef direct to consumers and watching up close how a system built around consolidation squeezes the margin out of family operations. When COVID exposed just how fragile that centralized supply chain really was, he built From The Farm: a platform that connects consumers directly with family farms and ranchers, cuts out the middlemen, and treats food sovereignty as the national security issue it is. An R-CALF USA member and advocate for independent producers, AJ is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with other R-CALF members to work alongside USDA leadership and federal partners to push for regulatory reforms that allow family farms to compete on their own terms. He lives with his wife and two of his three daughters in Cody, Wyoming.
Sponsored by: Weldon Ranches
T. Jake Smith
Assistant Professor, Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Jake Smith is an Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. His research focuses on how market structure, procurement practices, and public policy influence prices, production, and resilience in agricultural sectors, including the beef packing industry. He holds a PhD in Economics from Iowa State University, where he also served as a postdoctoral researcher.
Sponsored by: Bar N Cattle
Ben Spell
Good Ranchers Founder and CEO
Ben Spell founded Good Ranchers in 2018 and has grown it into a nationally recognized direct-to-consumer brand serving more than 100,000 families. He is a strong advocate for American agriculture and domestic supply chains, using his platform to support U.S. farmers and ranchers.
Sponsored by: American Grassfed Association
Shad Sullivan
Rancher and R-CALF USA Property Rights Chair
Shad Sullivan is a fifth-generation rancher from southeast Colorado who operates his family’s stocker cattle operation. A West Texas A&M graduate, he is a national advocate for private property rights and serves in leadership roles with R-CALF USA while also contributing to ranching-focused media and outreach.
Sponsored by: Vander Wey Ranch
Dr. Max Thornsberry
Former R-CALF USA President, Parliamentarian, Animal Health Chair
Dr. Max Thornsberry is a retired food animal veterinarian with nearly five decades of experience in livestock production and dairy calf health. A graduate of the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, he has owned and operated a feedlot, authored major veterinary reference works, and continues to provide consulting services to cattle producers nationwide.
John Vecchione
Senior Litigation Counsel New Civil Liberties Alliance
John Vecchione serves as Senior Litigation Counsel at the New Civil Liberties Alliance, focusing on strategic litigation against federal administrative overreach. He is an experienced trial and appellate attorney who has argued cases in courts across the country, including the U.S. Supreme Court, and previously served as President and CEO of the Cause of Action Institute.
Chris Young
Executive Director- American Association of Meat Processors
Chris Young has over 35 years of experience in the meat industry and over 20 years working on the processing side of the industry. He previously served as the operations manager for Wild Bill’s Foods in Leola, Pa., as well as overseeing ham production for Berks Packing Company, Reading, Pa. In 2013 Young became AAMP’s Outreach specialist and represented the association before federal, state, and local agencies. In addition to serving as the liaison to USDA, FDA and state meat inspection programs, he has handled legislative and regulatory issues that directly impact small processors. Young took over as AAMP’s Executive Director in the fall of 2015 and is working to expand the association’s role as the voice of the small processor.
Interested in hosting an R-CALF USA meeting or fundraiser?
Email r-calfusa@r-calfusa.com with the event details.