2026 AEA National Convention, Burns, TN - September 28-29
Convention Location
The Lodge at Montgomery Bell State Park
1000 Hotel Avenue
Burns, TN 37029
Lodging reservations can be made with The Lodge online until August 13th ONLINE or by calling the lodge front desk at 615-797-1612 and book under the group name “American Emu Association”. Complimentary continental breakfast is offered to lodge guests from 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM daily
Ways to Register for the 2026 AEA Convention
- Register online by filling out the form on the registration page.
- Return this registration form (PDF) with a check (payable to: American Emu Association) or credit card information by mail. Send completed form with payment to: AEA Convention, 510 W Madison Street, Ottawa, IL 61350
- Register by Email by sending the completed registration form to: susan.wright@aea-emu.org
Full Registration price includes: all meetings, exhibits, welcome social on the 28th and a full meal on Tuesday evening at the Banquet.
The USDA Processing Plant Tour will require an additional fee and will take place the day before the convention on September 28th.
Register today to join the fun!
We have an event packed convention with 7 speakers, education stations, silent auction, raffle and more!
Convention Schedule
Monday, September 28, 2026
USDA Processing Facility Tour Day
If you sign-up to join us in touring the plant, you may want to arrive the night before as we will be departing for the tour at 9am CST sharp.
9:00 a.m. Depart from hotel for USDA Processing Facility
Frontier Butchers
USDA Plant Establishment No. M/P 4248
4727 US-70, Camden, TN 38320
1:00 p.m.
Leave processing facility to return to The Lodge
4:00 p.m.
Annual members meeting
5:00 p.m.
Certified Business Member meeting
6:00 p.m.
Welcome social
Tuesday, September 29, 2026: CONVENTION
Education Stations
Stations will include an incubator/brooder display and more!
Alpha-Gal U.S. map, and emu oil products.
• Meat Cuts: Meat cut posters will be sold at the convention for $5 each.
• Silent Auction: A silent auction will take place throughout the day with
winners announced at the end of the emu dinner.
• Raffle
• Under Seat # Prizes
• Other items will also be available for purchase.
9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
The Economics of Emu Farming and Industry Outlook with Ngon Nguyen
10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Living with Alpha-Gal with Jennifer Burton
11:00 a.m. – 11:45 p.m.
Emu Oil with Caleb Binford (LB Processors)
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch: Emu Burgers / Catfish
Lunch ‘n Learn session on Incubating, Hatching,
and Brooding
1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Starting an Emu Farm – The Struggles and Early Days with Ed Marx
2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Starting a Homestead with Emus with Bob Wiley
3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Expanding Your Emu Operation with Amy Hall
4:30 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Processing Plant Ins and Outs with Brian Smith and Ngon Nguyen
6:00 p.m.
Banquet Dinner – Emu Steak / Grilled Salmon
This is a convention you don't want to miss!
Secure your official badge for Emu-Con 2026 by clicking the button to register now!
Convention Speakers
NGON NGUYEN – AMAROO HILLS
Ngon Nguyen and his family have been farmingemus since 2012 in Ashland City, Tennessee. He is the founder and co-owner, along with Jay Winslow, of Amaroo Hills, a diversified farming operation
headquartered in Tennessee with multiple locations. Amaroo Hills is focused on large-scale production of emus for meat and oil, which are sold nationwide. Having acquired Alpha-Gal syndrome in 2003, Ngon’s goal in starting the business was to help people who suffer from the same condition acc
ess safe, alternative meat sources. Ngon has extensive experience in emu processing techniques and has trained many butchers at USDA processing plants. He has a BS in Economics
from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University.
JENNIFER BURTON
Jennifer grew up with a love for cooking, gardening, camping, and the outdoors. In 2011 her health started an undiagnosed down-trend,
and in September of 2016 took a major turn for the worse. After six months of increasingly worse allergic reactions and full-blown anaphylactic reactions, including a near-fatal anaphylaxis attack in February of 2017, Jennifer was diagnosed with Alpha-Gal Syndrome
(AGS), which is an allergy to mammal meats such as beef, pork, and lamb.
An AGS diagnosis is life-altering. With Eric's help and support, Jennifer started the Alpha-Gal Encouragers – NW Arkansas in early June 2017. In 2019 their Facebook group became a 501c3 non-profit support and advocacy organization and now serves over 4,300 in their regional area, which includes Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, and more.
CALEB BINFORD - LB PROCESSORS
Caleb Binford is the Chief Executive Officer of LB Processors, the oldest and largest emu oil refinery in the United States. His deep-rooted knowledge of the industry has positioned him as a leader in specialty oil refining and manufacturing.
Caleb served as Chief Operating Officer of LB Processors for 17 years. In 2023, he assumed the role of CEO following the retirement of founder Paul Binford.
Based in Middle Tennessee, just outside of Nashville, Caleb lives with his wife, Dr. Leslie Binford, and their two children, Isaac and Ari. He remains committed to growing a family-founded business while fostering innovation, quality, and long-term partnerships within the industry.
EDWARD MARX - 7 SPRINGS RANCH
Ed Marx co-founded 7 Springs Ranch in May 2023 with his wife, Sabra. Located in Lonedell, Missouri, in the foothills of the Ozarks, the farm was built from the ground up with no prior formal farming experience beyond a country upbringing.
Drawing on his background in industrial production, mechanical engineering, and project management, Ed applies systematic approaches to agriculture’s unique challenges. The ranch primarily raises emu for meat, supplying clean, healthy protein options for the Alpha-Gal Syndrome community. Ed continues to navigate the realities of building a farm in an inflationary economy, developing nonconventional solutions every day.
ROBERT G. WILEY, M.D.
Robert G. “Bob” Wiley, M.D., first joined the American Emu Association in 2011. After a number of years away from emu farming, Bob rejoined the American Emu Association in 2025 and returned to raising emus with a renewed interest in their potential as a practical, productive animal for the small farm and homestead.
Today, Wiley Country Farms has approximately 40 emus on its Upper Peninsula farm near Rudyard, Michigan. The operation combines emu production with pasture and forage experimentation, farm tourism, and a three-bedroom “barndominium” vacation rental. As Bob puts it, “The emus have been a big hit with our vacation guests.”
Before returning to agriculture, Bob spent more than 25 years as an ophthalmic surgeon and holds four patents involving intraocular lens design.
AMY HALL – GUM CREEK EMUS
Amy Hall, owner of Gum Creek Emus in Paris, Arkansas, has been a valued member of the American Emu Association since 2016. With years of hands-on experience, Amy will be sharing practical insights on expanding your farm, with a focus on increasing chick production and exploring opportunities in meat production.
As emu farming remains a largely cottage industry, Amy’s session will provide especially useful guidance for both new and growing operations. Topics will include setting up brooding areas, designing brooder barns, and managing grow-out pens to support healthy development and efficient production.
BRIAN D. SMITH
Brian is retired from the Army 30 years, where he specialized in Black Hawk helicopter maintenance, troubleshooting, and technical inspection with over 5,000 hours of flight experience. He now manages two farms raising Longhorn cows, emus, and chickens in Tennessee. Brian tries to live off the land as much as possible and has not purchased beef, pork, or poultry for the last 20 years. In the past couple of years he has been instrumental in teaching personnel who are new to emu and ostrich processing the proper way to process the birds with the least amount of waste and the highest amount of meat and fat possible at the processing plant. For the past nine years Brian has served as the Treasurer for the AEA Board of Directors.
Ready to join the emu alliance?
Secure your official badge for Emu-Con 2026 by clicking the button to register now!
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