Cattle Connect 2026 | Wagga Wagga, NSW

Cattle Connect 2026, the national grassfed cattle industry's flagship event, to be held on 22–23 October at Charles Sturt University's Wagga Wagga campus. 

Built around the theme Shaping Tomorrow: Innovation. Leadership. Action., the two-day event will bring producers, industry leaders, researchers, government and commercial partners together to discuss the people, products and pressures shaping the future of Australian beef. 

Now in its third year, Cattle Connect will for the first time be hosted on a working agricultural university campus, giving delegates exclusive access to Charles Sturt University's 2,000-hectare commercial farming enterprise and agricultural research facilities — where teaching, research and commercial production operate side by side. 

Confirmed speakers include international livestock genetics expert PJ Budler, who will challenge producers to rethink what makes a truly productive and profitable animal, and Rob Clayton, Chief Executive of Gallagher Animal Management Global who will explore farmer demand for connected, data-driven solutions that make life easier and improve their productivity, labour efficiency and animal performance.

The program also features keynote speaker Dan Kittredge, a nutrient-density researcher, exploring the emerging science behind the nutritional value of beef - a session Mr Evans said reflected the next stage in the industry's product story. 

Cattle Australia CEO Will Evans said the event had been designed to deliver practical value for producers. 

"The best industry events don’t just tell producers what’s happening; they “ask and” show them how it is being applied on farm," Mr Evans said. 

"Cattle Connect has been designed to help producers get more value from their time away from the farm. Delegates will have the opportunity to see technology operating in a real production environment, visit working agricultural enterprises, and have direct conversations with the people driving innovation across the beef industry." 

"It’s about taking ideas off the page and into practice," he said. 

One of program's feature sessions, What Takes Us Forward. What Pushes Us Back., will bring together industry and producer voices for a candid conversation on the opportunities and headwinds facing the sector - from demand and innovation through to activism, consumer and market pressures, and industry fragmentation. 

Other sessions in the program include a Meat & Livestock Australia update and panel discussions covering the state of play across the industry, shifting consumer demand and the decade ahead. 

Day One, at the Equine Centre on Thursday 22 October, takes a hands-on format, with presentations on the Rabobank stage, guided field tours and live demonstration arenas running throughout the day. Sessions range from genetics, heifer selection and soil carbon to virtual fencing technology and low-stress stock handling, alongside dedicated time for delegates to network, connect with industry partners and visit exhibits. The day concludes with the Regional Flavours Sundowner, where delegates will connect with speakers, exhibitors, researchers and fellow producers while celebrating regional food, beef and produce.