This edition of “News & Notes” features the following:

• Tickets on sale for Cattlemen’s Ball of Nebraska
• Mizzou meat market gets a new name
• Registration open for 2026 Siouxland Feedlot Forum
• 6th Biennial Silage for Beef Conference in Nebraska June 18
• Texas A&M breaks ground on new meat science facility

Tickets on sale for Cattlemen’s Ball of Nebraska

If Cozad, Neb., cattlewoman Linda Benjamin has her way, her grandchildren or great-grandchildren won’t ever have to worry about a cancer diagnosis.

“If everybody gets together and we work really hard on this, we’re going to beat this,” says Benjamin. She; her husband, Howard; and their family, along with neighbors Levi and Bobbie Jo Messersmith will host the 2026 Cattlemen’s Ball of Nebraska, which unites people across the agriculture industry to raise money for cancer research.

The annual event, slated for June 5-6, will be hosted in the Benjamin’s pasture 10 miles north of Cozad. Tickets are on sale until May 15, for the ball, which promises a good time and good beef, all in a picturesque location.

“It’s just the most beautiful site. You can see the entire valley from there,” Benjamin says.

The pasture was selected for its accessibility, off a paved road, and space for all the weekend’s activities.

Independent country music star Aaron Watson will headline the Saturday evening concert, performing his top hit singles like “Freight Train” and “Outta Style.”

The jam-packed schedule also includes a style show, golf outing, 5K run, gourmet beef meals, auctions, additional entertainment bringing together Nebraskans from across the state for fellowship, fundraising and fun.

“I hope everybody walks away with some type of ‘wow’ moment, whether it’s educational through the healthcare tent or beef. I just want people to come back and say, ‘I can’t believe you guys did this,” Benjamin says.

The Cattlemen’s Ball raises vital support for the Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, with 90% of proceeds directed to cancer research and 10% benefiting local health and wellness initiatives in the host community.

Messersmiths have set a big goal fundraising but are also anxious to show others what makes Cozad and the surrounding area so special.

“It’ll have that hometown feel,” Bobbie Jo says. “I want to promote the area and just our good, solid family values.”

Since its founding in 1998, the event has generated more than $20 million to advance cancer detection, treatment and care across Nebraska.

“We’re going to have a party in the pasture and we’re going to raise money for a really good cause and you don’t have to be a cattleman,” Benjamin says. “All you have to do is buy a ticket. …Buy a ticket and you’re going to be surprised.”

Tickets and event details are available at www.cattlemensball.com.

Mizzou meat market gets a new name

Mizzou’s meat market will sport a new name as well as a new look when it opens with the rest of the Michael L. Parson Meat Science Education and Training Laboratory on the University of Missouri (MU) campus this summer.

At Gov. Mike Kehoe’s Beef Month Proclamation at the America’s Heartland Packing facility, a gift from The Rosen Family Foundation to the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) was announced, leading to the renaming of the student-run storefront as the “American Foods Group Meat Market at Mizzou.”

The Rosen Family Foundation is a privately funded philanthropic organization that seeks to promote and enhance the quality of life in the communities it serves.

One such community is Warren County, Mo., where the American Foods Group (AFG) beef processing facility, America’s Heartland Packing, opened last year. This facility employs more than 1,300 people and has expanded in-state processing options for cattle producers.

“This is a perfect example of public/private partnership that will benefit our state through shared priorities in applied research, industry-driven innovation and workforce development,” said Bryon Wiegand, director of the Parson Meat Science Education and Training Lab and the Division of Animal Sciences in CAFNR.

Mizzou’s meat market supports teaching, extension and research activities of the food science and animal sciences programs in CAFNR. The space is a storefront for the community to purchase meat products produced in the meat lab facility and will be operated by students in CAFNR, combining traditional learning with hands-on, entrepreneurial experience.

Set to open in July, the meat lab, located just south of the Trowbridge Livestock Center on the Mizzou campus, will promote innovation in meat processing through research, provide training to the state’s workforce on the latest technology and best practices, and inform communities across the state on food sourcing.

Registration open for 2026 Siouxland Feedlot Forum

Registration is open for the Siouxland Feedlot Forum on June 16, 2026, in South Sioux City, Neb. Presented by South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) and allied industry partners, the Siouxland Feedlot Forum brings together experts and industry professionals to present information on industry trends, new research and recommendations in feeding cattle.

The forum will be hosted at the Marriott Event Center and includes a preconference event from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., registration at 10:30 a.m. and opening remarks at 11 a.m. Registration is $100 per person and is available online or in person the day of the event. Registration covers the reception, preconference event and forum. To register in advance, visit the SDSU Extension Events page and search “feedlot.”

The program is tailored to regional producers and will include presentations on implanting cattle before and after FDA label changes, managing cattle on roller-compacted concrete, managing labor, and labor and management transition issues.

“Our panel of experts will provide timely information for the audience to apply the latest ideas and technology to better manage their livestock, facilities and labor,” said Alfredo DiCostanzo, UNL beef systems extension educator.

For more information, contact Warren Rusche, assistant professor and SDSU Extension feedlot management specialist.

6th Biennial Silage for Beef Conference set for June 18

Beef producers, nutritionists and industry partners from across the country will gather June 18, 2026, for the 6th Biennial Silage for Beef Conference at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center near Mead, Neb. Hosted jointly by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL), Iowa State University (ISU) and Lallemand Animal Nutrition, the conference will provide actionable insights to help producers navigate today’s economic pressures while maximizing silage quality and cattle performance.

Attendance is free with beverages and lunch provided. A livestream will be available for those unable to attend in person.

This year’s program continues the focus on translating cutting-edge research into practical strategies that protect investments and strengthen profitability. Tailored for producers, feedyard managers, nutritionists and allied industry professionals, the program emphasizes silage safety, labor considerations, feed quality and maximizing energy value of cattle rations.

“Nutrition represents one of the largest investments in a beef operation,” says Kip Karges, technical services director of the Americas at Lallemand Animal Nutrition. “This conference is designed to equip producers with the tools and knowledge they need to manage that investment with confidence, from harvest through feedout.”

The 2026 agenda will address current industry challenges, including:

• Busting Three Myths Around Developing an Effective Agriculture Safety Program
• Silage Safety, Planning, Pile Design
• Mycotoxins and Lab Analysis
• Ensiling Cover Crops and How That Fits Many
• What is the Energy Value of Corn Silage Today?
• High-moisture Corn Particle Size Effect on Energy Values

Presentations will feature leading researchers and extension specialists from UNL, ISU and other respected institutions, along with industry experts focused on real-world applications.

Registration details and the full agenda are available online. For additional information, producers may contact their local Lallemand representative or extension specialist.

Texas A&M breaks ground on new meat science facility

Leaders from Texas A&M AgriLife and the Texas A&M University System gathered May 4 to break ground for the new Meat Science and Technology Center, a $133.36 million project designed to modernize applied agricultural research, teaching and extension services.

The ceremony marked the beginning of construction for an 85,600-square-foot facility, which will serve as the anchor for a future agriculture district on West Campus. The project follows a decision in March by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents to keep the Meat Science and Technology Center on the main campus.

The new center will feature modern laboratories, classrooms and processing spaces for beef, swine, poultry, sheep and goats. Designed to address global food solutions, the facility will incorporate emerging technologies such as robotics and artificial intelligence to enhance food safety and processing.