(FARGO, N.D.) — The North Dakota Livestock Alliance (NDLA) is pleased to announce the 7th Annual Livestock Summit, taking place January 27, 2026 at the Delta Marriott Hotel in Fargo, ND. The 2026 Summit will feature speakers, a tradeshow, breakout sessions, and a unique, fun-filled closing session. Livestock and crop farmers that are interested in livestock development will have an opportunity to network with industry leaders. ND county and township officers can learn about livestock development opportunities for their communities. The event will be hosted by Emcee, Bridgette Readel of Lilac Lane Media and WDAY Radio.
The NDLA is proud to welcome various speakers from the region. Michele Payne, International award-winning author and celebrated ag speaker, will kick off the day with an exciting keynote presentation focused on how to communicate effectively about modern agricultural practices and their relationship with North Dakota’s environmental health. She will also illustrate ways agriculture can serve as a source of information for the technologies of tomorrow.
NDSU’s top Crop Economist and Marketing Specialist, Dr. Frayne Olson, will take the stage for the ‘2026 Ag Markets and Situation Outlook’, followed later by ND State Climatologist Daryl Ritchison giving a ‘2026 Growing Season Outlook’. The afternoon breakout sessions focus on the community-level of livestock development including ‘Acclimating new citizens to rural ND‘ with Derrick Gross of CATCHND and ‘Livestock Permitting 101’ with Ty Eschenbaum of A1 Development Solutions.
The day will conclude with the new ‘Farm and Food Circuit – an interactive learning session’, during which guests will rotate around a circuit of four unique stations. The stations include a ‘Pork Rib Preparation Demonstration’ with NDSU’s Dr. Eric Berg, ‘Dairy Product Samplings’ with Midwest Dairy’s Brenna Bobendrier, ‘Healthy Soils’ with NDSU Soil Health’s Dr. Carlos Pires, and ‘Beef Cut Demonstration’ with the ND Beef Commission’s Nicole Wardner.
NDLA would like to thank all Summit sponsors, trade show exhibitors, and recognize the event’s Platinum Sponsors, North Dakota Pork Council, ND Corn Utilization Council, Agtegra Cooperative, Lighthouse Commodities, and ND Soybean Council. The Summit is being held on Tuesday January 27, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Delta Marriott Hotel, 1635 42nd St SW, Fargo, ND. Registration is free and open now at www.NDLivestock.org.
