Vital Topics * Featured Speakers * Fun and Engaging...
The North American Gamebird Association revealed the agenda for the 2026 NAGA Annual Convention, sponsored by NSSF – The Firearm Industry Trade Association, which will take place at Hyatt House / Hyatt Place in historic Charleston, South Carolina, Feb. 2-4.
“The Convention Committee has outdone themselves!” exclaimed NAGA President Mike Martz. “This year’s agenda has something for everyone from hunting preserves to bird growers. From bird health and production to bean counting. From preparing the next generation to high level customer service, NAGA 2026 will be a worthwhile investment of time for all who attend.”
You can find the complete 2026 NAGA Conference agenda here.
The format and schedule will be familiar to attendees with registration opening at 9 a.m. Monday, Feb. 2. The convention will formally open at 1 p.m. with one of our featured speakers, Tim Gilbreath of Dale Carnegie, who will conduct an interactive customer service seminar. After that hard work, attendees will be treated to a cooking demonstration by Roger Anderson, author of “Pheasant Recipes to Kill For,” which will include opportunities to sample the treats.
The day 2 agenda begins Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 8:15 a.m. with Rethinking Feed Formula Strategies by Kent Nutrition’s Dr. Julianna Jespersen followed by CLA’s Javier Young who will present Cyber Wars: Protecting Your Data and Computer Systems. After the morning break, Jeff May of Clear View Enterprises will explain brooder barn tactics including HVAC, reducing mortality and prepping birds for the outdoors. Back to bean counting, our final featured speaker of the day, Tom Shay of Profits Plus, will teach how to use a profitability calculator to ensure profits.
The final day of the agenda for NAGA 2026 begins Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 8:15 a.m. with featured speaker Tim Brandt of the Murray Road Agency who will present How to Use Marketing for Direct Return on Investment. He will be followed by the University of Minnesota’s Dr. Carol Cardona, who will teach gamebird businesses how to move to the next phase of biosecurity as AI moves into its third year. After the morning break, Cody Laudenslager of Mahantongo Farms will discuss how the other AI, artificial intelligence, is a useful tool for bird counting. Tom Shay of Profits Plus will return to the podium to complete the morning session by revealing “What Your Accountant is Not Telling You.”
After lunch, the afternoon session begins at 1 p.m. with the annual business meeting and NAGA updates from Executive Director Rob Sexton, outgoing President Mike Martz and new President Sarah Pope, followed by a succession planning seminar on how to cultivate children to take over the family business, presented by former NAGA President Peg Ballou of Elkhorn Farms and Hatchery. The Murray Road Agency will have an encore presentation returning to artificial intelligence to explain the essential utility of this emerging set of tools for gamebird businesses. Following the afternoon break, Hatch Tracker will facilitate a panel of growers (Mike Martz, Adam Straub and Chris DeWitt) who will discuss effective strategies for raising multiple species of gamebirds. The final presentation will feature an interactive presentation with Milford Hills’ Taylor Williams and MacFarlane Pheasants who will discuss how effective producer/preserve communication helps to maintain biosecurity.
“This year’s convention in Charleston is absolutely a can’t miss,” exclaimed Martz. “Registration and hotel information can all be found at northamericangamebird.com.”
