Alumnus takes the helm of National Cattlemen's Beef Association
Gene Copenhaver ’83 brings decades of industry experience to his new role as president of the nation's largest cattle producer organization.
As a fifth-generation cattleman and longtime leader in the beef industry, Gene Copenhaver ’83 has built a career rooted in both agriculture and service. This month, that work culminated in his selection as president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the nation’s oldest and largest cattle producer organization.
Copenhaver was elected during the association’s annual CattleCon convention in Nashville, Tennessee, and assumed the presidency Feb. 5 after serving one year as president-elect. He is the first Virginian to lead the organization in its 128-year history.
As president, Copenhaver represents producers from across the country and helps shape national conversations on agricultural policy, trade, animal health, and nutrition. His priorities during his one-year term include strengthening producer profitability, supporting family farms, enhancing protections against animal disease, and expanding market access for U.S. beef.
“I want to make sure the next generation has a future in this industry,” he said. “About 95 percent of cattle operations are family-owned. If we lose those, we lose food security — and in my view, food security is national security.”
More than a degree — lifelong connections
Growing up on a family cattle operation in Meadowview, Virginia, Copenhaver learned from his father the importance of being “at the table” in policy and industry decisions.
At the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, he built a professional network, developed a deeper understanding of agricultural systems, and gained insight into the economic forces that influence farming far beyond the farm gate.
“Virginia Tech gave me more than a degree — it gave me lifelong connections,” Copenhaver said.
After graduating in 1983 with a degree in animal science, Copenhaver launched into two full-time careers: agricultural lending — a path encouraged by his mentor, Professor Emeritus David Kohl — and managing his family’s cattle operation.
“My ag lending job helped me with my farm operation, and my farm operation helped me with my ag lending job,” he said. “They went side by side.”
Over four decades, he worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Credit, and First Bank & Trust, while also raising stocker cattle on the family’s land. During that time, he helped launch a county cattlemen’s group, worked his way through leadership roles at the state level, became president of the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association, and served on several NCBA committees.
Since retiring from lending in 2020, he and his son Will — the sixth generation of Copenhaver Brothers Farm — have focused on expanding their operation.
“What I love most is the family aspect,” he said. “I got to work with my dad and uncle. Now I work with my son and, hopefully, one day I’ll work with my grandkids.”
Staying connected at home
Despite a demanding travel schedule, Copenhaver remains closely connected to his community. After weeks on the road at industry meetings, he still makes time to attend local cattlemen’s gatherings.
“If I’m invited, I do everything I can to be there,” he said. “Those meetings matter. That’s where our grassroots work starts.”
A proud Hokie, Copenhaver is also an active supporter of his alma mater. He has served on the CALS Alumni Organization and twice chaired the CALS Dean’s Advisory Council. Last year, he hosted Mario Ferruzzi and fellow alumni at Copenhaver Brothers Farm for a “Meet the Dean” event.
Copenhaver remains optimistic about the future of the beef industry, citing steady demand and a new generation of producers focused on building durable, family-centered operations.
“We have to continue the profitability of this great industry for everyone — and to do that we have to fight for it,” he said.
