2026 NCBA Officer Team Approved at CattleCon

Gene Copenhaver of Virginia takes the helm as NCBA president, with Kim Brackett of Idaho as president-elect and Skye Krebs of Oregon as vice president.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) board approved the 2026 NCBA officer team at CattleCon in Nashville last week. Gene Copenhaver of Virginia will serve as president, Kim Brackett of Idaho as president-elect, and Skye Krebs of Oregon as vice president. Other key roles were also filled, including Kenny Rogers of Colorado as chair of the NCBA Policy Division and Scott Anderson of Oklahoma as policy vice chair.

Why it matters

The NCBA is a powerful industry group representing cattle producers across the United States. The election of new leadership is an important event that sets the direction for the organization and its advocacy efforts on behalf of the cattle industry.

The details

Copenhaver's family has been raising crops and livestock since 1850, and he has been involved with NCBA for 35 years, serving in policy leadership for the last 12 years. Brackett and Krebs also have extensive experience within the organization. Other key roles were filled, including Travis Maddock of North Dakota and Dan Hanrahan of Iowa as chair and vice chair of the NCBA Federation Division, and Brad Hastings of Texas as NCBA treasurer.

  • The NCBA board approved the 2026 officer team at CattleCon in Nashville last week.

The players

Gene Copenhaver

A fifth-generation cattleman from southwest Virginia who will serve as the NCBA president. He has been a member of NCBA for 35 years and has been in policy leadership for the last 12 years.

Kim Brackett

The new NCBA president-elect, hailing from Idaho.

Skye Krebs

The new NCBA vice president, coming from Oregon.

Kenny Rogers

The newly elected chair of the NCBA Policy Division, from Colorado.

Scott Anderson

The newly elected policy vice chair of the NCBA, from Oklahoma.

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What they’re saying

“I'm a fifth generation cattleman from from southwest Virginia and near the Tennessee line. And I've previously, I was a ag banker for 38 years. So I was doing 2 full-time jobs like a lot of our industry does in the business.”

— Gene Copenhaver, NCBA President (agwired.com)

“I've been involved with NCBA, a member of 35 years, and been in policy leadership for the last 12 years. So it's been a good way to be a servant to the industry. It's important. My parents taught me that. My dad was involved in the cattle industry and local, state, and national cattle organizations.”

— Gene Copenhaver, NCBA President (agwired.com)

The takeaway

The election of new leadership at the NCBA, including a long-time cattle producer and industry veteran in Gene Copenhaver as president, signals the organization's commitment to representing the interests of cattle producers at the national level.