On Thursday, December 17, 2026, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will host an in-person event at the Cattle and Carcass Training Center (CCTC) located at West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) in Canyon, Texas. The event is open to the public and will focus on the grading and marketing of feeder cattle. Participants will have the opportunity to view the latest data-analytic dashboards developed by AMS, hear from subject matter experts on feeder cattle evaluation and marketing, participate in live feeder cattle evaluation, and have the opportunity to view AMS’s prototype for GrAider – Live, an Artificial Intelligence Model that uses advanced imagery to apply USDA Feeder Cattle Grades to live animals.
The event is designed for cattle producers, feeders, and other stakeholders seeking to better understand conventional feeder cattle marketing, the factors that influence feeder cattle value, and how these factors can guide marketing and production decisions.
Registration is FREE and on a first come first serve bases, limited to 75 people. To register, email David Garcia – Assistant Field Chief (Livestock, Poultry, and Grain Market News) @ David.Garcia@usda.gov