Illinois to host Heart of America Grazing Conference

EFFINGHAM, Ill. — The Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition and the Illinois Forage and Grassland Council will host the 2026 Heart of America Grazing Conference on July 15–16 in Effingham, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and University of Illinois Extension.

Registration is open at tinyurl.com/2026-Heart-of-America.

The Heart of America Grazing Conference is a regional event that rotates annually among Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio.

This year, Illinois takes center stage, bringing graziers and livestock producers from across the Midwest together for two days of immersive, producer-focused learning.

The conference is designed for producers at every level of experience — from those just getting started with rotational grazing to established operations looking to fine-tune their systems.

Producers can register for one or both days of the conference:

• July 15 — farm tour, keynote dinner, virtual fence panel discussion.

• July 16 — bale grazing, cattle genetics, small ruminants, “Build a Regenerative Grazing System” competition for ages 14-22.

Keynote Speaker

Keynoting this year’s conference is Steve Campbell of Tailor Made Cattle — a cattle industry veteran widely known as the “cattle coach.”

Campbell has spent decades working with beef producers to improve herd performance, reduce input costs and build more profitable, land-healthy operations.

His presentations cover genetic selection for grazing environments, soil-plant-animal health relationships and the helping producers identify high-performing animals.

Farm Tour

Day one of the conference will feature a farm tour at the operation of one of ILGLC’s Master Grazier Award recipients, Curt Rincker.

This tour will give attendees the opportunity to walk the land, ask questions and see the principles discussed in the classroom applied in real-world conditions.

Conference Highlights

Topics at the 2026 Heart of America Grazing Conference include:

• Virtual fencing — an emerging technology reshaping how producers manage paddock rotations and livestock movement.

• Cropland grazing — integrating livestock into crop ground to build soil health and diversify farm income.

• Multi-species grazing — strategies for running cattle, sheep, goats and other livestock together to maximize forage utilization and parasite management.

• Bale grazing — extending the grazing season and reducing winter feeding costs.

• University of Illinois Extension Research Review — the latest findings relevant to Illinois grazing producers.

ILGLC will also be recognizing outstanding Illinois producers for their contribution to the grazing community through their Master Grazier Awards. Nominations are now open at tinyurl.com/Master-Grazier-Awards.

Companies and organizations interested in participating in the Heart of America Grazing Conference as a sponsor or exhibitor can learn more on ILGLC’s website.