2026 Series – Registration Open
The 2026 Master Beef program is taking on a new format! Free, in-person beef programming will be available to any current beef cattle farmers or aspiring cattle producers. This programming can count towards Master Beef credits. The series will be in-person at the Birchwood Community Center while expert speakers from across the Southeast are Zoomed in for lecture.
Registration is free, but required to complete. Please click the ‘Register Here’ button below and submit your information.
- Where: Birchwood Community Center | 5623 TN-60, Birchwood, TN 37308
- When: April 13th at 5:45 pm ET (typically the 2nd Monday evening of each month)
- Cost: free for current or aspiring beef producers
| 2026 Beef Series Line-Up | |
|---|---|
| April 13 | Quality Hay – Dry & Baleage Dr. Bruno Pedreira, UT Extension |
| May 11 | Heifer Development Jason Duggin, UGA Extension |
| June | No Meeting |
| July | No Meeting |
| August 10 | Marketing Beef Cattle Dr. Kenny Burdine, University of Kentucky |
| September 14 | Modern Beef Cattle Genetics Dr. Gordon Jones, Beef Improvement Federation |
| October 12 | Nutrition to be announced |
| November 9 | Meats Dr. Kelly Vierck, UT Extension |
| December | No Meeting |
The 2026 Beef Series will feed into the Master Beef program. Any cattle farmer or aspiring beef producer is welcome to attend for free education. Of those individuals, whoever may want Master Beef credits simutaneously can gain these at each session.
Attending 1 Beef Series Event = 1.5 Master Beef Credit
You can also earn credits at other educational Extension events such as: the Beef Summit in Athens & the Steak and Potatoes Field Day in Crossville.
12 credits are required in order to gain your Master Beef certificate. Once an individual gets all 12 credits, they will then pay the Master Beef Program fee of $150 and receive their certificate. This certificate will provide eligibility for the TN Dept of Agriculture’s TAEP cost-share program.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Who can attend? Current or aspiring beef producers in Hamilton County. Please avoid bringing children under 16 years of age.
- What is the format? We will meet in-person for discussion and networking for the first portion of the meeting then we’ll Zoom in a beef industry expert to provide the lecture for the evening.
- What is the cost? Free for general education. For those seeking Master Beef certification, you will pay the $150 program fee once you reach all 12 credits.
- How many credits do I need for my Master Beef certificate? 12 Credits which essentially are 12 hours of education.
- Where can I get Master Beef credits? At the monthly in-person beef series in Birchwood or at one-off events hosted by UT Extension such as the Southeast TN Beef Summit in Athens or the Steak and Potatoes Field Day in Crossville.
- How do I get my credits? You MUST sign your name upon arriving at any approved Master Beef event. For example at each monthly in-person meeting, you will sign in. At the Southeast TN Beef Summit, you will need to ask to sign a document at the registration table upon arrival stating you’re needing to receive Master Beef credits for Hamilton County.
- What is TAEP? The Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program functions as a popular cost-share opportunity for farmers across the state. TAEP is processed by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. TAEP requires Master Beef (or other Master programs depending on your goals) that is faciltated by UT Extension. Learn more about TAEP here.
- Other questions? Reach out to Haley Treadway at haleytreadway@utk.edu or (423) 209-8560
You might also check out the following resources below:
The Tennessee Master Beef Producer Program is designed to provide targeted educational presentations and hands-on demonstrations for a broad scope of topic areas in beef cattle production. Our objective is to provide Tennessee cattle producers with information and experience that can improve profitability while simultaneously making more efficient and sustainable use of natural resources.
UT Extension Specialists in beef and forage production are currently working with the 
U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef to help cattle producers evaluate how their current management practices impact their ability to continue profitable cattle farming for future generations. We are working together to ensure that cow-calf producers have a voice in describing sustainability and are prepared for a beef market that rewards sustainably produced calves. Then, provide training in the areas that need additional attention to improve economic, generational, and natural resource sustainability. Program topics include:
- Beef Product
- Economics and Budgeting
- Facilities and Cattle Handling
- Forages
- Genetic Selection
- Health
- Marketing and Business Management
- Nutrition
- Reproduction
Benefits include networking opportunities with other producers, educators, researchers, and industry representatives. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture supports the Master Beef Producer program and uses it as the educational component of their Tennessee Agriculture Enhancement cost-share program. Upon completing the program requirements, graduates receive a farm sign, cap, and certificate.
For more information, check out UT Beef.