Stakeholders Summit

May 5 – 7, 2027 | Arlington, Va.

The Summit is a one-of-a-kind conference attended by a diverse group of decision makers, including representatives from farms, ranches, allied industries, food processors, restaurants, grocery stores, legislatures, universities, government agencies and media.
Initiatives

2026 Stakeholders Summit Impact Report

The 25th annual Stakeholders Summit was held May 5–7 in Kansas City, MO, and brought together more than 229 attendees for three days of high-impact learning, strategy, and connection. With half of attendees joining for the first time and half returning, the Summit blended fresh perspectives with a strong sense of continuity. Centered on the theme High Steaks: Navigating Pressure on Animal Protein, the event challenged attendees to confront the most pressing issues facing animal agriculture and turn urgency into action. Emphasizing innovation and collaboration, the Summit united stakeholders from across the food chain to explore how animal protein production could evolve to meet today’s pressures while helping nourish generations to come.

New this year, the pre-summit workshop and offsite Welcome Reception hosted by Dairy Farmers of America created additional opportunities for networking and professional development, allowing participants to connect while exploring new settings. Those conversations carried into sessions during the main event that spotlighted many of the issues shaping the future of the industry, including technology in agriculture, animal welfare, antibiotic use, consumer transparency, legal and legislative trends, and animal rights activism. Examined through the lens of innovation and cross-sector partnership, each topic reinforced the Summit’s role as a catalyst for practical solutions and stronger collaboration across animal agriculture.

Read more about the 2026 Stakeholders Summit in the Impact Report.

View report
Jacey Yahne
Illinois Farm Bureau

This was my first time attending and I had a great time! The overall logistics were excellent – everything felt so organized and well thought out. Can’t wait to attend more!

Sela Missirian
The Partnership

I continue to be so impressed with how personalized this event is, feels like a true community and the range of topics is wonderful!

Jack Nales
North Carolina Department of Agriculture

I waited years to actually attend a Summit and finally had opportunity this year. So worth it. So much useful information and networking opportunities.

Nicole Frank
First District Association

I loved this sustainability theme overall. I really liked hearing this theme in addition to the‘activist’ sections.

Alex Rinkus
HealthForAnimals

It well-represented the range of perspectives on sustainability from across the value chain, from small to large scale producers, input suppliers and retailers, etc.

Amy Leslie
American Dairy Association North East

All in all, really appreciated the format—it’s a jam-packed 1.5 days of really good contentand networking opportunities. Thank you!

Thank you to our 2026 sponsors!
USPOULTRY