Invite to the 2011 ACA Convention & Trade Show

We hope you can join us February 11-12 in Montgomery for the 68th Annual ACA Convention & Trade Show at the Renaissance Hotel & Convention Center.

This year's line-up of speakers and activities will make for a great weekend that you won't want to miss. Check below for a video invite to the convention from ACA staffers Selina Knight and Erin Hunter.

2011 Alabama Jr/Sr High Beef Cookoff

PEach year, students across Alabama participate at the local and state level in the Alabama Jr/Sr High Beef Cookoff. The event is not only a fun contest for the participants, it's also a great way to showcase the beef industry.

Retirement Systems CEO to Address Cattlemen

Dr. David Bronner, chief executive officer of the Retirement Systems of Alabama, will address the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Board of Directors during the organization’s 68^th Annual Convention & Trade Show to be held February 11-12 at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in Montgomery.

“There’s no debate about the huge impact Dr. Bronner has made on our state’s economy over the last 38 years. His ‘big picture’ view of financial matters and where Alabama is headed will definitely be something our board members will want to hear,” says ACA’s Executive Vice President Dr. Billy Powell.

Since 1973, Bronner has led the organization that directs the pension fund for employees of the State of Alabama. When Bronner took the reins, RSA had approximately $500 million of funds and was owed $1.5 billion by the state. By the end of 2007, the RSA had amassed over $32 billion in investments, making the RSA pension fund the 14th largest internally-managed public pension fund in the world.

The convention, including Dr. Bronner’s address, is open to cattlemen and the general public with pre-registration required. Those interested can contact the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association at (334) 265-1867 or view a complete schedule of events and register online at www.bamabeef.org.

Inauguration Day Twenty Eleven

For those that weren't able to travel to Montgomery yesterday for the Inauguration Day parade and festivities held at the ACA office, here's a slideshow of some scenes you missed. We hope you can be there next time.



Look to the Alabama Cattleman magazine for more coverage of the day's events.

Surprising Numbers on S&A Verification

How many calves would you guess cattlemen in Alabama sold last year through Source & Age Verification programs? The answer may surprise you.

In 2010, using the ITS PVP for Source & Age Verification through the Southeastern Livestock Network (SLN) cattlemen in Alabama enrolled more than 6,800 calves. The total enrollment number from all SLN member states reached nearly 100,000 head in 2010! That's just another reason this part of the country holds a well-deserved reputation as a source of top quality feeder calves.

To learn more about SLN and how you can easily enroll your cattle in its Source & Age Verification program, click here.

Promoting Lean Beef in Alabama

In a recent posting to Prevention.com, lean beef was named as a "nutritional superstar" and ranked #5 in a listing of 25 ridiculously healthy foods.

Surprised? We weren't.

In fact, the beef industry has been put in the driver's seat in the war on fat by laying claim to 29 mouthwatering cuts that meet government guidelines for "lean".

Here in the Yellowhammer state, the Alabama Cattlemen's Association is following a directive set through the Alabama Beef Checkoff Marketing Plan to spend 2011 spreading the word to consumers about the benefits of lean beef.

One such opportunity recently presented itself during a luncheon hosted for the contestants of the 2011 Distinguished Young Women of Alabama contest.



Interested in reading more about lean beef on Prevention.com? Click here for details.

Junior Association Taking Big Steps Forward

ACA's leaders believe the youth of our industry are the future of our association. Because of this, the AJCA should function to serve the youth of Alabama's beef industry by providing opportunities and activities that will prepare them to take the reins as the next generation of leaders among cattlemen in Alabama.

The first step in setting up the AJCA to serve this role is to simplify and streamline membership. Juniors should be able to join as individuals or with their siblings as a family. In addition, whole counties of youth should be able to join as a group. To make this process as efficient as possible, youth can now join AJCA online on the new Bamabeef.org. Also, ACA county chapter leaders can contact the ACA office for a spreadsheet to use in signing up all the junior cattlemen in their county as AJCA members.

To sign up online as an AJCA member, click here.

The best part of this new AJCA membership format may be that ACA's county chapters will have access to the AJCA membership database in their county and be able to recruit those youth as new members after they graduate out of the junior association.

Save Money at the ACA Convention & Trade Show

The largest gathering of cattlemen each year in Alabama is right around the corner. For the 68th year, the Alabama Cattlemen's Association will hold its annual Convention & Trade Show February 11-12 at the Renaissance Hotel & Convention Center in Montgomery.

You can save money when attending the event by registering early. Prices on all meals and events will go up $5 after January 15th so register today. For the first time in 2011, you can register online using the new Bamabeef.org. Click here for details.

Upcoming Junior Cattle Shows on the Calendar

Each year in Alabama, leading up to our statewide Junior Beef Expo, a number of local invitational and jackpot shows pop up on the calendar of junior cattlemen. These are great opportunities for youth to bring their animals out and have some fun leading up to the Southeastern Livestock Exposition.

The Belt Buckle Classic is slated to be held January 29th in Luverne and the Autauga Agribition will be held February 4th and 5th in Autaugaville. Entry forms and more details on each event can be found under the Forms heading on the AJCA page of Bamabeef.org. Click here for details.

Optimism in the Beef Industry

Record cattle futures, growing export demand, and more are all giving reason for cattlemen in Alabama and beyond to look to the future with a new sense of optimism.

To read more from Bloomberg, click here.