This special edition of TCA Talk features a New World Screwworm update with perspective from Dr. Samantha Beaty, the state veterinarian for Tennessee. With the recent news of the New World Screwworm fly cases in Texas and New Mexico, we wanted to get the latest insights from Dr. Beaty, who covers the current status of NWS in the U.S., the risks associated with NWS and the prevention strategies that are in place in the affected areas of the country. We also get an update on Tennessee’s preparedness plan, and what steps the state will take if New World Screwworm cases are discovered in Tennessee.

As Dr. Beaty shares with us, while NWS has NOT reached Tennessee, the state has implemented movement restrictions and enhanced health certificate requirements for animals traveling from infested zones. Dr. Beaty also notes the important role that cattle producers play in controlling the spread and impact of the NWS fly through employing best practices in managing your herds. Dr. Beaty offers a number helpful tips, including staying vigilant and proactive with regular animal checks, employing fly control when possible and staying on top of wound management.

To learn more about the Tennessee Cattlemen's Association and how you can become a member of TCA, please visit, TNCattle.org.

Dale Parker, the Executive Vice President of the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association, returns to TCA Talk to look back on a recent trip he made with other members of TCA leadership to Washington D.C. As Dale shares with us, the visit to the Capitol Hill provided TCA with an opportunity to meet in-person with Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn as well as several members of Tennessee’s Congressional delegation.

The issues that the TCA delegation discussed with lawmakers during their time in Washington included international trade and the need for equitable trade agreements to meet the high demand for U.S. beef. They also talked with Tennessee’s representatives in the Senate and in Congress about addressing the impact of the Asian longhorn tick on livestock, and they pointed out the need to explore changes in laws or federal regulations that would protect livestock from black vultures, which are currently protected by law.

Dale also shares with us that many of the discussions the TCA delegation had in Washington were inspired by feedback from the TCA Membership. As Dale notes, TCA relies on its members to serve as the "boots on the ground" and encourages producers to become active members to ensure their voices are heard.

To learn more about the Tennessee Cattlemen's Association and how you can become a member of TCA, please visit, TNCattle.org.

Jessica Young returns to TCA Talk as we continue to get her perspective on how the younger generations of cattle producers are meeting the challenges of balancing the demands of work on the farm, outside careers and raising a family. As you will hear, Jessica understands that being a beef producer is driven by a deep passion for the industry and the vital role of feeding the world. Despite challenges such as long hours, tough conditions, and rising input costs, she views the community as a tight-knit group that supports one another.

Jessica has been recognized as an emerging leader through work as an Extension Agent in Wilson County, being named the 2026 Outstanding Agent of the Year by Tennessee State University. She was also recently honored as the 2026 Tennessee Cattle Woman of the Year by the Tennessee Cattle Women’s Association.

Looking toward the future, Jessica believes that the industry must be open-minded and adaptable to succeed. This includes exploring different production methods, such as direct-to-consumer sales or seed stock production, to create multiple income streams. Jessica also encourages everyone to "open the gate" for others, acting as a mentor to help the next generation enter or advance in the industry. To learn more about the Tennessee Cattlemen's Association and how you can become a member of TCA, please visit TNCattle.org.

Jessica Young joins us on TCA Talk to share her personal and professional journey into production agriculture. Through the first part of our conversation, we’ll learn how Jessica is balancing her role as an Extension Agent in Wilson County for the University of Tennessee with her home life as a wife, mother and cattle farmer. 

Although she grew up in the Atlanta suburbs, Jessica developed a passion for agriculture through visits to her grandparents' farm and by farm-sitting for others. By the time she reached college close to home and initially sought to be a large-animal veterinarian, Jessi found her best path when she transferred to Middle Tennessee State University, becoming deeply involved in the school’s agricultural programs and farm laboratories.

Jessica’s hands-on experience at MTSU included working with the dairy, beef, swine, and crops units, eventually serving as a student farm manager. She earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science with a concentration in horse science, followed by a master’s degree in agricultural education leadership.

Jessica tells us the humorous story of how she was formally introduced to her husband, Chad. These days, the couple maintains a farming operation in Wilson County, which focuses on hay production and raising registered Angus cattle. You’ll learn how Jessica and Chad are taking the time to teach their two young sons about life on the farm, creating opportunities to build family traditions. While she is part of the farming operation, Jessica has a full-time position with the University of Tennessee as an Extension Agent for Wilson County.

In her position with the UT system, Jessica coordinates a host of educational programs as well as offering support for producers with livestock and crops. Jessica shares with us that she views her job as an Extension Agent to serve as a resource and find answers to questions that come through her office. To learn more about the Tennessee Cattlemen's Association and how you can become a member of TCA, please visit TNCattle.org.

In this edition of TCA Talk, we will share the remaining interviews from the collection of 15 Q&As that we did while we were onsite at the 2026 TCA Convention in Franklin. You will hear feature interviews with three vendors who had display areas at the convention. Our first stop on our vendor visits was to the Summertown Metals booth, and we learned how the Summertown Team utilizes the opportunities offered at the TCA Convention to network with producers to go into some depth on their range of services and offerings, which includes barn construction.

Our second vendor visit happened at the Corteva Agriscience booth. We learned that the company specializes in crop protection and seeds, specifically offering broadleaf and woody stem weed control solutions for pastures and hay land. We also learned that 90% of effective weed control is identifying the specific weeds present, a process Corteva facilitates for producers through photos, text messages and physical samples. 

Our final stop in this edition of TCA Talk happened on the floor of the Franklin County Ag Center. We got a chance to visit with Dave Green, the Plant Manager for KieferBilt Trailers. Located in Sneedville in the upper part of East Tennessee, KieferBilt produces heavy-duty, all-aluminum stock trailers that are designed to help today’s production agriculture operation. To learn more about the Tennessee Cattlemen's Association and how you can become a member of TCA, please visit TNCattle.org

For this episode of TCA Talk, we will be sharing some of the vendor visits that we made with the experts in the booths that were set up onsite at the 2026 TCA Convention. Our first stop on this tour brought us to see the folks from AgCentral Farmers Co‑Op, which is based in Athens, Tenn. AgCentral, as we learned, operates 11 facilities and service producers across Tennessee, Kentucky, North Georgia, Virginia, and the Carolinas. The co-op provides agricultural retail and wholesale services, including feed manufacturing, grain bin and feed hopper installation, fencing, and dairy parlor construction. 

While giving us an overview of what the company does and how they work in the production ag industry, the guys in the MetalMax booth noted how much they enjoy the unique opportunities that the TCA Convention provides for them. The Trans Ova booth served as our final stop on this edition of the podcast. We spent some time with Erin Womack talking about some of the science that is becoming a part of production ag as well as some of the questions she received while onsite at the 2026 edition of the TCA Convention. To learn more about the Tennessee Cattlemen's Association and how you can become a member of TCA, please visit TNCattle.org

Recorded on the final day of the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association Convention earlier this year, TCA President Gary Dering shares his perspective on this year’s convention, the strong turnout and engagement across the state. He also talks to us about the importance of continuing to build momentum within the association. As you’ll hear, Gary highlights the growing involvement of youth in the cattle industry and why investing in the next generation is critical to the future of Tennessee agriculture.

Looking ahead at the rest of 2026, Gary discusses his vision for the association and the opportunities that are within reach for cattle producers across Tennessee. To learn more about the Tennessee Cattlemen's Association and how you can become a member of TCA, please visit TNCattle.org

While on-site at the TCA Convention in February, TCA Talk had the opportunity to meet J.D. Van Hooser, who dedicated 20 years of his life serving as the head coach for Murray State University’s Rodeo Team, which competed in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. Following his retirement from Murray State, where he also taught classes in the Animal Science Department, J.D. has stayed in the cattle industry by joining the sales team at Yarbrough Sales, which provides steel, fencing and pipe products primarily to farming operations.

In our conversation with J.D., he looks back on his coaching days and the opportunity to work with young people through his years at Murray State. While talking about his overall impressions of being on-site at the TCA Convention, J.D. notes the importance of fostering a desire to work in production agriculture among young people. As J.D. shares with TCA Talk, despite obstacles for new producers that include high land prices, infrastructure costs, and market challenges, J.D. believes the future of the beef cattle industry is a bright one. To learn more about the Tennessee Cattlemen's Association and how you can become a member of TCA, please visit TNCattle.org.

Recorded on the ground floor of the TCA Convention earlier this year, we meet the Hodges family, owners of Flying H Farms, a fifth-generation operation in Sumner County. Founded in 1940, the 525-acre farm includes a cow-calf operation, a feedlot, a fencing business, and a retail store offering USDA-certified beef and pork directly to customers. Steve Hodges and his wife, Kim, share how cattle production and daily farm operations have evolved over the past 15 years, including their use of computers and specialized apps to manage the business.

We also meet their daughter, Haylee, and her husband, Ryan Wall, who are stepping into the next generation of Flying H Farms. Haylee and Ryan discuss what they are learning from Steve and Kim and their commitment to continuing the family legacy. The segment also includes conversations with their young children, who share their experiences at the convention and with their show cow. To learn more about the Tennessee Cattlemen's Association and how you can become a member of TCA, please visit TNCattle.org.

As the 2026 TCA Convention was preparing to wrap up, TCA Talk caught up with Dale Parker, who was overseeing the annual convention for the first time as the Association's Executive Vice President. We covered a number of topics with Dale, including the importance that was highlighted at the convention of placing a focus on the youth involved with the industry. As Dale shares, young producers are part of both the present and future as they are actively involved in raising cattle and showmanship.

In addition to offering his observations about this year’s convention, Dale took the opportunity to provide us with a look ahead for the TCA in 2026 and how he and the association will be connecting with producers on the local level as well as working to share the key issues that impact members with the state’s legislators and Governor Bill Lee’s office. Dale encouraged TCA members to get involved and he invited cattle producers who are not currently members of TCA to join the Association. To learn more about  the Tennessee Cattlemen's Association, please visit TNCattle.org.