Gene Copenhaver ’83, president-elect of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
By the time Gene Copenhaver stepped onto Virginia Tech’s campus in 1980, he already knew the rhythm of farm life. A fifth-generation cattleman from Meadowview, Virginia, he was raised with the expectation of early mornings, hard work, and a commitment to the land.
At the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences he found something just as enduring: a professional network, a deeper understanding of agricultural systems, and a new vision for leadership.
“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 Dave 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 USDA, Farm Credit, and First Bank & Trust, while also raising stocker cattle on the family’s land. 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.”
In 2025, Copenhaver was elected president-elect of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the nation’s oldest and largest cattle producer organization and a leading voice for the beef industry in Washington. He is the first Virginian to serve in that role in the NCBA’s 127-year history and is expected to assume the presidency in February 2026.
His top priorities include sustaining family farms, expanding the national vaccine bank, and pushing “to keep meat in the middle of the plate” — a reference to preserving beef’s role in federal dietary guidelines as a recommended source of protein.
“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.”
Despite a demanding travel schedule, Copenhaver stays grounded in 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 an active supporter of his alma mater. In February, he hosted Dean Mario Ferruzzi and fellow alumni at Copenhaver Brothers Farm for a “Meet the Dean” event. He has also served on the CALS Alumni Board and twice chaired the CALS Dean’s Advisory Council.
“We have to continue the profitability of this great industry for everyone — and to do that we have to fight for it,” he said.
