King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management

The King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management (KRIRM) offers a robust series of educational events, lectureships, and symposia designed to bring cutting-edge ranch management knowledge and practical solutions directly to ranchers, ranch employees, and industry stakeholders. These events cover a wide range of timely, dynamic topics such as advanced genetics in cattle, grazing nutrition strategies, cow-calf business practices, land management, and other real-world challenges facing today’s ranch operations. Delivered both in-person and online, the programs empower attendees to enhance their skills, stay current with industry trends, and apply innovative strategies that strengthen their ranching operations.

Beyond technical instruction, the Institute’s events serve as forums for networking and professional development, bringing together ranchers, educators, and experts from across the United States and beyond. Signature gatherings — including high-profile symposiums featuring leading voices in ranch management — offer participants the opportunity to engage with peers, exchange insights, and build relationships that support long-term success in the ranching industry. Through these outreach efforts, KRIRM not only deepens practical ranching expertise but also helps sustain the heritage and economic viability of ranching for future generations.

Dates:August 10-12, 2026
Location:Kingsville, TX
Delivered in-person only.

Summary
Ranching has become a complex business that requires consideration of the ranch-wide impact of every decision. Everything functions in a system, from the planets to single-cell microbes. Systems Thinking is a language for learning and describing how organizations and complex systems function. Overlooking the system and its interconnected parts can result in unintended consequences and actions that backfire. This lectureship introduces the principles, processes, and tools that will aid natural resource managers’ understanding and management of dynamically complex systems.

Instructors
Ben Turner, Ph.D. • King Ranch® Institute for Ranch Management • Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Learn more on the King Ranch Institute website.

Dates:September 18-19, 2026
Location:Kingsville, TX | Online: Zoom webinar
Delivered in-person and online.

Summary
Managing farm and ranch employees is equally as important as managing livestock and natural resources. This lectureship teaches how to manage the people in the ranching business, including leadership, supervision, coaching and hiring. It is designed to build the skill-set of ranch managers so they can plan for, understand, and successfully lead current and future employees of the ranch.

Instructors
Bob Milligan, PhD • Professor Emeritus, Cornell University

Learn more on the King Ranch Institute website.

23rd Annual HOLT CAT® Symposium on Excellence in Ranch Management
Dates:November 5-6, 2026
Location:Kingsville, TX | Online: Zoom webinar
Delivered in-person and online.

Summary
Ranching technology continues to evolve, but not every innovation is suited for every operation. This symposium focuses on helping producers identify practical, value-driven tools for ranch management and understand how to evaluate whether a technology is worth adopting. Emphasis is placed on real-world application and thoughtful decision- making rather than trends or one-size-fits-all solutions. Attendees will gain perspective on how to align technology choices with their specific operational goals and constraints. Join us November 5-6, 2026 as we discuss the future of ranch management.

Learn more on the King Ranch Institute website.