Over 11,500 attendees, including more than 4,600 farmers, along with exhibitors, industry stakeholders, and ag media, gathered in Houston from February 28 to March 2 for the 2024 Commodity Classic.
The Houston event broke the previous Commodity Classic record of 10,400 attendees, which was held in Orlando, Florida, in 2023.
“The energy in Houston was unlike anything we’ve experienced at Commodity Classic,” said Brandon Hunnicutt, a Nebraska farmer, NCGA member, and co-chair of the 2024 Commodity Classic. “Our advance registration was about 30 percent ahead of our record-breaking Orlando show in 2023, so we knew we were going to have a big event for the show’s first time in Houston.”
Fellow 2024 co-chair Brandon Wipf, a South Dakota farmer and ASA director, echoed Hunnicutt’s comments. “It’s exciting to see Commodity Classic’s attendance grow in recent years. We were expecting a big crowd in Houston, and we’re looking forward to bringing the show to Denver for the first time in 2025.”
This year’s event featured more than 30 educational sessions, two sold-out trade show floors with over 435 exhibitors, a keynote address by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael S. Regan, and policy meetings of the sponsoring commodity associations.
Attendees enjoyed a wide variety of presentations from top farmers and well-known industry leaders along with tours of popular Houston attractions. Guests also enjoyed closing out the event at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on Saturday, March 2, with a concert featuring country artist Hardy.
The 2025 Commodity Classic will be held March 2 and 4 in Denver. Companies who wish to exhibit at the 2025 show should look for the exhibitor application in the coming weeks on the Commodity Classic website. Registration for the Denver show will open in November of 2024.