Trade shows dedicated to the poultry, beef and firearms industries have been enjoying extra boosts in attendance recently. 

The Cattle Industry Convention and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Trade Show shattered its previous attendance record of 8,200 attendees by attracting 9,331 participants to its most recent event, held Feb.1-3 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, TN.

As the largest national trade show for the beef industry, the event drew 359 exhibiting companies spanning 268,000 net square feet of exhibition space. Last year, the show attracted 6,300 attendees and 353 exhibitors to a 300,000 sq. ft. showfloor.

“We’ve seen an uptick in our convention numbers for a couple of different reasons,” said Kristin Torres, NCBA executive director of meetings and events. “First, Nashville is a great location for our group, our attendees really love it and (second), we significantly increased our marketing of the event and started marketing earlier than in years past.”

She continued, “By doing this we were able to get attendees talking about the convention early on and helping to create a buzz in the months leading up to it. We also partnered with our exhibitors (on marketing efforts) more than in years past, (are building) on the changes we made to the show seven years ago and are continuing to make changes to make it better.”

Besides having the opportunity to learn about the latest and most advanced equipment, nutrition and pharmaceuticals available to the industry, attendees had a chance to engage in grassroots policy process, hear from industry experts, enjoy an abundance of live music and networking opportunities, and elect a new officer team, including fourth-generation Nebraska cattleman Craig Uden as the association’s new president.

The 2018 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show will take place Jan. 31-Feb. 2 at the Phoenix Convention Center.

Meanwhile, hunters, sportsmen and firearms enthusiasts galore converged at the 39th Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in Las Vegas.

Held Jan. 17-20 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center, the event attracted 64,527 attendees and 1,745 exhibiting companies to a 641,400 sq. ft. showfloor, making it the second most attended SHOT Show in the event’s history, compared to its all-time record of 67,318 attendees in 2014.

In 2016, the show drew 64,333 attendees and 1,745 exhibitors to 641,200 sq. ft. of exhibition space.

As the largest trade show of its kind that draws participants from more than 100 countries, the SHOT Show boasts the latest and greatest in the firearms industry, including guns, ammunition, accessories, optics, knives, gun safes, apparel and law enforcement equipment.

According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), which owns and produces the event, the bump in attendance signals a positive year ahead for the firearms industry.

“I think we’ve arrived at a point where we’re truly balancing the needs of an enormous crowd of industry professionals with the venue and services they need to successfully set the course of their businesses for the months ahead,” Chris Dolnack, NSSF senior vice president and chief marketing officer said.

He added, “That’s not a small feat, and we are pleased to see that our efforts to produce a continuously high-quality show have once again paid off.”

The SHOT Show will return to the Sands Expo Jan. 23-26.

As the largest annual trade show for the poultry, meat and feed industries, the 2017 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) also experienced an uptick in participation.

Held Jan. 31-Feb. 2 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, the event drew more than 31,000 attendees and 1,275 exhibitors spanning more than 533,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space.

In 2016, IPPE attracted 30,277 attendees and 1,301 exhibiting companies to a 464,750 sq. ft. showfloor.

Sponsored by the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), North American Meat Institute (NAMI) and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY), IPPE is a collaboration of three shows - International Feed Expo, International Meat Expo and the International Poultry Expo - representing the entire chain of protein production and processing.

On a bustling expo floor, exhibiting companies demonstrated the most current innovations in equipment, supplies and services used by industry firms in the production and processing of meat, poultry, eggs and feed products, from live production and processing to further processing and packaging.

The show also featured a host of special events and 25 educational programs covering topics ranging from disease prevention and control to whole genome sequencing and food safety implications.

“This year’s tremendous exhibit floor and attendee and exhibitor numbers are a compliment to IPPE’s unmatched education programs, ample networking opportunities and diverse exhibits,” said Nath Morris, vice president of expo for USPOULTRY.  

He added, “The excitement and energy displayed by this year’s attendees and exhibitors will continue to safeguard the success and growth of future IPPEs.”

IPPE will return to the Georgia World Congress Center Jan. 30-Feb. 1.