Beef Fact Friday: Beef Economics 101

“In economic terms, demand means consumer 

willingness to buy beef.” 

Do you understand demand in the beef industry? Learn some of the economics behind demand and consumption with this week’s #BeefFactFriday graphic! Learn how these terms affect your beef industry!

Throwback Thursday: October Beef Month 1991

Throwback to October Beef Month of 1991 and Beef Day at the Farmer’s Market in Montgomery! Since we celebrated this longstanding tradition just last Thursday in honor of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, we thought it'd be appropriate for our last #OctBeefMonth throwback picture!

This tradition is a favorite for October Beef Month! Who doesn't love a good trip to the farmer's market, and who doesn't love beef?! We sure do because it's what's for dinner!

What's Going On Wednesday: October 28, 2015

Believe it or not, November is almost here! While the 2015 year may be winding down, our schedules are not! In fact, you'll find that we are already busy making plans for 2016! It's an exciting time for the ACA with October Beef Month in full swing, Beef Checkoff Marketing Plan task force meetings, a new membership year approaching and Convention just around the corner! Staying busy for Alabama's cattlemen is what the ACA staff loves to do. 

See #WhatsGoingOn this week at the Cattlemen's building in Montgomery!

2016 Marketing Plan Task Force Meets

Each year, a strategic marketing plan must be implemented to dictate how Alabama's beef checkoff dollars will be spent. With 2016 on the horizon, the task force had its first meeting of the strategic planning process on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at the Cattlemen's offices. 

The group of more than 40 Alabama cattlemen and industry influencers gathered Tuesday morning to hear a quick overview of the day from ACA's Dr. Billy Powell and Erin Beasley then were given an overview of national beef checkoff programs from NCBA representative Shawn Darcy. Shawn's talk gave an interesting perspective of what consumers and the millennial generation understand and want of the beef industry.  After Shawn finished up his presentation, the task force divided into three breakout groups focused on producer communication and youth activities, consumer promotion and education and crisis preparedness. To break up the time of the day's long meetings, the group was treated to a delicious steak lunch!

It was a productive day, indeed, and big leaps were taken in the creation of the 2016 Marketing Plan. The ACA staff would like to thank all those who attended and gave their input. Checkoff dollars belong to our state's cattlemen, and we want to make sure we use them to their benefit and desire!

Congrats to The Old Barn Restaurant!

The Old Barn Restaurant in Goshen, AL was named home to the 2015 Best ribeye steak in Alabama! To award this accomplishment, ACA staff and regional media gathered at the restaurant last Friday evening for a press conference and plaque presentation! They even enjoyed sitting down to Alabama's Best Steak!

Bull Sales and Livestock Shows

ACA's Curt Berry has found himself on the roads a lot during this fall season in Alabama. He's traveled from one side of the state to the other attending bull sales. This past weekend, he had the pleasure of attending the Debter Hereford Farm annual sale in Horton, AL in Blount County. This coming Friday, he won't have to travel too far to attend the CK Cattle Bull Sale in Hope Hull, AL near Montgomery.  

Following Friday's sale, Curt will spend his weekend at the Alabama National Fair here in Montgomery offering assistance in the cattle shows that occur during fair season. If any of our AJCA members are planning to be there, look out for Curt and give him a shout! 

SLE Exec and Staff Plans for Rodeo

This afternoon, SLE staffers and the executive committee will meet via conference call to discuss some of the nitty gritty details of the 2016 SLE Rodeo. We are getting very excited for this year's performances, and hope that you are getting ready to attend! Ticket sales will be up before you know it, but until then save the dates for March 17-19, 2016 at the Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery! 

Wrapping Up Beef Month

ACA staffer Erin Beasley will be in Birmingham Thursday, Oct. 29 to finish up October Beef Month activities. At noon, beef will be featured on FOX 6 news in a cooking segment. That evening, 60 dietitians from the area will join the ACA for a beef program to discuss hot topics in the cattle industry and how to incorporate lean beef into a healthy diet. 

Erin's worked hard during October Beef Month, and her efforts are appreciated by staff and Alabama's cattlemen!

County Meetings Galore!

Don't miss your county meeting in November! Here's the information we have on upcoming November meetings!

• Pike County: Monday, November 2 at 6pm, PCCA Building in Troy 
• Butler County: Saturday, November 7th 
• Barbour County: Thursday, November 12 at 6:30 pm, Texasville Community House, 2429 County Road 53, Texasville, Alabama. Please RSVP by Wednesday, November 11, 2015, by calling Merri Robinson at (334) 775-3284.
• Sumter County: Thursday, November 19th at 6pm, Livingston Civic Center
• Randolph County: Thursday, November 19th 
• Lauderdale County: Thursday, Nov. 19th at Crosspoint Church of Christ 
• Conecuh County: Sat., November 21st at 6pm, Repton School

Final Call: Beef Up Your Tailgate

This Saturday, October 31 is your FINAL chance to enter into the October Beef Month #BeefUpYourTailgate contest! It's easy to enter- simply use beef in a tailgate recipe at this weekend's games, take a picture of your friends, family and beef menu item and post it to the ACA Facebook page! It's that easy, and it's worth it for the awesome prize package that comes along with it! Learn more here.  

2016 ACA Membership

Renewal statements will be mailed for 2016 dues next week! Currently dues remain at $30, and the dues increase to $50 will take effect on March 1, 2016.

ACA members are eligible for an amazing discount program! Check it out:

• 1-year subscription to the Alabama Cattleman magazine
• www.bamabeef.org—FREE shipping on purchase online store 
• Cattlemax - 10% discount www.cattlemax.com/alcattle
• The MOOseum—20% OFF your total purchase in store purchase 
• Priesters Pecans—20% OFF a single item at any retail store
• Walker Lands & Cattle, LLC — $250 OFF a purchase of a Gooseneck Brand livestock trailer (Rodney Walker 256-846-5066)
• DELL computers - www.dell.com/mpp AT&T Wireless—http://www.att.com/wireless/aca
• Bush Hog—$250 OFF any Bush Hog Brand product valued at $5,000 or above
• American Fast Lube—$7 OFF an oil changes and 10% off any other service
• Air Evac Lifeteam—$10 OFF any one year membership
• Enterprise Car Rentals—Discounts offered to ACA members 
• Healthy Lifestyle —FREE Pharmacy Card www.bamabeef.pharmacycard.org
• Wyndham Hotel Group—15% OFF rates 

National and State Conventions

Save the dates! The NCBA Beef Meet will be held January 27-29, 2016 in San Diego! To learn more about this year's #BeefMeet and to swing a sweet deal on registration costs, read Region 2 NCBA Marketing Ambassador and ACA member's Michelle Bufkin blog spot HERE. She's happy to help with any questions and offers promotional codes.

Shortly after the 2016 #BeefMeet comes the ACA Convention. The convention will be held in Birmingham this year at the Sheraton Hotel Feb. 26-27, 2016. Be looking out for more information, but until then, save the date!

Tasty Tuesday: Tiny Taco Beef Tarts

Turn your tailgate into a fiesta with this #TastyTuesday recipe! These Tiny Taco Beef Tarts are as easy to make as they are delicious. They’re sure to liven up any tailgate! Beef Up Your Tailgate this October Beef Month and enjoy beef!

For recipe tips and nutritional information visit Beef It's What's For Dinner. 

Tiny Taco Beef Tarts

Total Recipe Time: 30-35 minutes

Makes: 30 tarts

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces Ground Beef 
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup prepared mild or medium taco sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 2 packages frozen mini phyllo shells (30 shells total)
• 1/2 cup shredded reduced fat Mexican cheese blend

Toppings (Optional):

• Shredded lettuce
• sliced grape or cherry tomatoes
• guacamole
• lowfat sour cream
• sliced ripe olives

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add Ground Beef, onion and garlic in large nonstick skillet over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, breaking up beef into small crumbles and stirring occasionally. Pour off drippings, if necessary. Add taco sauce, cumin, salt and pepper; cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes or until mixture is heated through.
2. Place phyllo shells on rimmed baking sheet. Spoon beef mixture evenly into shells. Top evenly with cheese. Bake 9 to 10 minutes or until shells are crisp and cheese is melted.
3. Top tarts with lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole, sour cream, and olives, as desired.

Movie Monday: Tailor Your Tenderloin

Tailor your tenderloin with the help of this week’s #MovieMonday. Tenderloin is a favorite cut in the beef family, so learn how to get a perfect cut from this lean, tender and juicy subprimal ALL WHILE pinching pennies. It's easy- check it out!  #OctBeefMonth

Beef Fact Friday: Benefits of Beef

Not only does beef taste wonderful, but it’s an excellent way to take in a lot of protein without as many calories. According to this #BeefFactFriday graphic, research shows that consumers should aim to eat 25-30 grams of protein per meal, and with some proteins 25g means a lot of calories. For example, to get 25g of protein from quinoa, you’d have to eat 666 calories worth! That’s not exactly a “balanced” diet.

So this October Beef Month, grab some beef to get your protein fix! Check out these fun facts:

Throwback Thursday: October Beef Month 1985

#ThrowbackThursday to 1985 in Franklin County. Pictured are members of the Franklin County Cattlemen’s Associations and CowBelles as they pose with school officials from the county. The Cattlemen and CowBelles donated a butchered steer to the schools’ home economics departments. 1985 was the fifth year to do this in observation of October Beef Month in Alabama.

Tasty Tuesday: Chunky Beef Chili

Those tailgates are starting to cool off, so warm up with this #TastyTuesday recipe for Chunky Beef Chili! Make it ahead, keep it warm in the crockpot and stay warm with this hearty meal during your game day tailgate! 

It’s the perfect way to celebrate football and #OctBeefMonth! 

CHUNKY BEEF CHILI

Total Recipe Time: 1-3/4 to 2-1/2 hours
Makes 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

• 1-1/2 pounds beef Stew Meat, cut into 1 to 1-1/2-inch pieces
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• Salt
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 medium jalapeño pepper, minced
• 2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) chili-seasoned diced tomatoes

INSTRUCTIONS 

1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in stockpot over medium heat until hot. Brown 1/2 of beef; remove from stockpot. Repeat with remaining beef. Remove beef from stockpot. Season with salt, as desired.
2. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil, onion and jalapeño pepper to stockpot. Cook and stir 5 to 8 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Return beef and juices to stockpot. Add tomatoes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover tightly and simmer 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until beef is fork-tender.

Movie Monday: Spice Up Your Steak

Tired of the same ol' same ol'? 

Our #MovieMonday is here to save the date! Spice up that date night dinner with one of these twists on seasoning steak! Ten seasoning options, one awesome protein. 

Beef- it’s what’s for dinner. 

Beef Fact Friday: Beef's Big 10

Ever wondered why we keep saying #BEEF is so nutritious? This #BeefFactFriday infographic has all the information you need to figure out why beef is a nutrient-packed protein! 

This #OctBeefMonth is focused on spreading the word about our favorite product, so here’s 10 big reasons why we #EatBeef. 

Throwback Thursday: October Beef Month 1996

#ThrowbackThursday to 1996 and the official October Beef Month Proclamation. Pictured is ACA Executive Director Dr. Billy Powell, Governor Fob Jones and the 1996 ACA President and current ACA Treasurer L.D. Fitzpatrick. #OctBeefMonth

What's Going On Wednesday: October 14, 2015

Beef Month is already almost halfway over! Time sure flies when you're having fun, and your ACA staff thinks promoting beef is a blast! We've got a few things happening around the office this week, and we wanted to give you the inside scoop of #WhatsGoingOn. Check it out, and stay in the know! 

Remember- it's October Beef Month so EAT BEEF!

Beef Girl Attends Partners in Action

This week, Erin Beasley is visiting the NCBA offices in Denver for the

Pictured are Southeastern Beef reps

Janna Sullivan, TN Beef Council; 

Ashley Hughes, FL Beef Council;

Erin Beasley, AL Beef Council and 

Donette Stump, Arkansas Beef Council

annual Partnerships in Action workshop with other state beef council staffers. At this meeting, NCBA staff discusses programs and goals for the beef checkoff in the upcoming year with the states. She will bring this information back for to use as we plan our 2016 marketing plan, beginning with the checkoff marketing plan task force meeting on October 27th.

County Meetings: Here, There and Everywhere!

This is a big month for county meetings, and ACA officers and staff are heading all directions to attend them! Here's a list of this month's upcoming meetings and who will be there!

• Tuesday, Oct. 13- Talladega County Cattlemen's Association meeting at the Kymulga Grist Mill Park & Covered Bridge, attended by ACA Executive VP Dr. Billy Powell and Director of Industry Relations and Youth Activities Curt Berry. 
• Thursday, Oct. 15- Fayette County Cattlemen's Association meeting at 7pm at the Multi-Purpose complex, ACA RVP Terry Slaten attending
• Thursday, Oct. 15- Etowah County Cattlemen's Association meeting at 6pm at the Kiwannis Pavillon at Noccalula Falls , ACA President Jim Akin attending
• Friday, Oct. 16- Coosa County Cattlemen's Association meeting at 6:30pm at the Cattlemen’s Building on Hwy 231 in Hanover

Be sure to attend if your county is meeting this week and bring questions for the ACA officer team and staffers who are attending! We can't wait to see you there!

#BeefUpYourTailgate

Don't forget about our #BeefUpYourTailgate contest going on now through October 31. Enter your tailgate, football fans and beef menu item in for the chance to win a $250 prize package including:

• a Smoky Joe Premium Weber Grill
• $100 Beef Gift Card
• Grilling Utensil Set
• 2 ACA Tervis Tumblers
• Ready.Set.Sizzle. Apron
• and more.

Here's a link to the contest rules: RULES

Tasty Tuesday: Mini Meatballs with Apricot Sauce

Meatballs are a perfect appetizer for any event. Think about it- you see them at black tie affairs and at things like birthday parties! Versatility is just one more reason why #BEEF is a go-to protein for any meal! Today’s #TastyTuesday features beef for a slightly more casual function, a tailgate!

#BeefUpYourTailgate this football Saturday with these Mini Meatballs with Apricot Sauce, and you’ll be on the winning team for sure! For cooking tips and nutritional information, visit Beef It's What's For Dinner. #OctBeefMonth 

MINI MEATBALL APPETIZERS WITH APRICOT SAUCE

Total Recipe Time: 25 to 30 minutes
Makes 36 mini meatballs

Ingredients:f

• 1 pound Ground Beef (96% lean)
• 1/4 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs
• 2 egg whites or 1 egg, beaten
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper

Sauce:

• 3/4 cup apricot preserves
• 3/4 cup barbecue sauce
• 2 tablespoons Dijon-style mustard

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Combine Ground Beef, bread crumbs, egg whites, water, salt and pepper in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Shape into thirty-six 1-1/4-inch meatballs. Place on rack in broiler pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake in 400°F oven 15 to 17 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, heat preserves, barbecue sauce and mustard in medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil; reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally or until sauce thickens slightly. 
3. Add cooked meatballs and continue to cook 2 to 3 minutes or until meatballs are heated through, stirring occasionally. Serve or keep warm in slow cooker (see tip below).

Kitchen Tips:

Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed Ground Beef. Ground Beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F. Color is not a reliable indicator of Ground Beef doneness.

To keep meatballs warm, place in 2-1/2-quart slow cooker set on LOW. Keep covered to maintain heat. Meatballs can be held up to 2-1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.

Movie Monday: Wholesale Top Sirloin Cutting Demo

It’s no secret that the most succulent way to serve #BEEF is by way of a steak, but steaks don’t always fit the family budget. We understand, and that’s why this week’s #MovieMonday offers a solution to the age old question, 

“How can I have my steak and eat it too?” 

Buying wholesale cuts from your local butcher and cutting them yourself will save you loads. It sounds intimidating, but these videos show you step-by-step what to do! If you love a good Sirloin and saving money, then this is the video for you! Remember- Beef, It’s What’s For Dinner. #OctBeefMonth

Beef Fact Friday: Cuts of Beef

Knowing where a cut of beef comes from can tell you a lot about the meat itself. It can tell you if it’s lean, how it’s best prepared or even the quality of beef. That’s why for this week’s #OctBeefMonth #BeefFactFriday, we’re all about BEEF cuts! Learn where your favorite cuts come from and #EatBeef.

Throwback Thursday: October Beef Month 1972

Now this is a #ThrowbackThursday you don’t wanna miss! Who remembers the 1972 October Beef Month Girl, Hopie Wadsworth? Daughter of 1960 ACA President and longtime Treasurer Ed Wadsworth, Hopie models a white trigger cloth mini dress featuring the cuts of beef during a promotional campaign.

Today, Hopie’s nephews Crawford Jones and Chip Cleveland are active cattle producers in Autauga County. Crawford is even an ACA Regional Vice President.#OctBeefMonth

What's Going On Wednesday: October 7, 2015

That's right. It's Wednesday already again and that means it's time for another #WhatsGoingOnWednesday post! With the kickoff of October Beef Month last Thursday, things sure have stayed busy around the office, and we know that counties are out and about doing their own beef promotions at county fairs and with Cowboys in the Classroom! Tell us about it by emailing one of the ACA staffers! Anyways, here's what's happening at the ACA headquarters in Downtown Montgomery this week!

Alabama's Best Steak Winner Announced

After three months of online voting, bracket challenges, social media promotions and anonymous judging, a 2015 winner has been announced! If you want to try Alabama's Best Steak, you'll have to head to The Old Barn Restaurant in Goshen to do it! Congrats to the owners and staff at The Old Barn Restaurant on this outstanding achievement! The ACA officers and staff appreciate all who participated in this year's contest!

Let's eat some beef!

#BeefUpYourTailgate

Don't forget about our #BeefUpYourTailgate contest going on now through October 31. Enter your tailgate, football fans and beef menu item in for the chance to win a $250 prize package including:

• a Smoky Joe Premium Weber Grill
• $100 Beef Gift Card
• Grilling Utensil Set
• 2 ACA Tervis Tumblers
• Ready.Set.Sizzle. Apron
• and more.

Here's a link to the contest rules: RULES

ACA On The Road

LBW Culinary Visit

Tuesday, October 6, Erin Beasley visited Lurleen B. Wallace Culinary students to for beef education. These students were both high school and first-year college students. They discussed factors that can affect beef quality and did a cutting/cooking demonstration using beef.

Livestock Investigators Banquet

Also on Tuesday, ACA Executive VP Dr. Billy Powell, spoke at the Southern States Livestock and Rural Enforcement meeting in Auburn. ACA sponsored the steak dinner for this event.

Pictured is Executive Director of Livestock Investigators, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Larry Gray and Alabama President of the eight-state group Jay Whitehead along with Dr. Powell.

West Alabama Visit

Curt Berry will be spending the remainder of this week in Tuscaloosa and surrounding counties as he is shown around by ACA members Johnny Gladney and Brenda Glover. While up that way, Curt will help out at the first-ever WOW Expo. 

What's the WOW Expo? On October 8 – 9, 2015, approximately 4,000 eighth grade students, teachers, school administrations, parents, industry leaders and volunteers from seven counties in northwest Alabama (Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Pickens and Tuscaloosa) will converge on the campus of Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa, AL. The Expo will be a fun, educational, hands-on opportunity for students to become familiar with a broad overview of high demand, high wage career opportunities available in the area. Pretty awesome, huh?

If you're interested in showing Curt the industry in your county, give him a call at (334) 265-1867 or email him. 

Tasty Tuesday Tailgate Edition: No-Noodle Lasagna Beef Dip

It’s football season which means one thing- tailgating! Break out the crackers for this week’s #TastyTuesdayTailgateEdition because this No-Noodle Lasagna Beef Dip is no-nonsense! Whip this up for a delicious tailgating treat, and be sure to store it properly and keep food safety a top priority!

Use this recipe this weekend at your tailgate to enter into our #BeefUpYourTailgate contest!

For cooking tips and nutritional information visit here. Remember during this October Beef Month- Beef, It’s What’s For Dinner!

No-Noodle Lasagna Beef Dip

Total Recipe Time: 30-35 minutes

Makes 6-8 servings

Ingredients

• 1 package (17 ounces) refrigerated fully-cooked boneless beef pot roast with gravy or au jus
• 1-1/2 cups pasta or marinara sauce (any variety)
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 8 ounces reduced-fat or fat-free cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
• 2 tablespoons reduced-fat Parmesan-style grated topping
• Sliced green onions (optional)
• Garlic or Italian-flavored crackers, pita chips or crostini slices

Instructions

1. Cook beef pot roast according to package directions. Discard gravy or au jus, or reserve for another use. Cool slightly and finely shred pot roast with two forks. Combine shredded beef, pasta sauce and garlic in large bowl. Set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 400°F. Spread cream cheese on bottom of 9-inch pie plate or 8 X 8-inch baking dish. Top evenly with 1/2 cup green onions. Spread beef mixture evenly over onions. Sprinkle with Parmesan topping.
3. Bake in 400°F oven 15 to 20 minutes or until bubbly around edges. Let stand 5 minutes. Sprinkle with additional green onions, if desired. Serve with crackers, as desired.

Movie Monday- Beef Nutrition

This month, we’re all about beef! 

That’s why you’ll be viewing #MovieMonday videos that are all about ways to beef up your beef! Use these videos as a guide to educate yourself on better ways to serve up beef to your family. Better yet, use these tips during your tailgate and tell us about it by participating in our #BeefUpYourTailgate contest on Facebook! Either way, it’s Beef Month, so let’s learn about beef. Here’s a great video about the basic nutrition behind beef.

Beef Fact Friday: Lean Beef

Lean beef is all the rave. It's the "skinny" version of a powerful protein and that's why it's our #BeefFactFriday!

What is lean beef? See below for what qualifies beef as "lean." It must have less than 10 grams of total fat, less than 4.5 grams of saturated fats and less than 95 milligrams of cholesterol. Lean beef is nearly half the protein you need in one day, provides 10 essential nutrients and only has 150 calories, and it's all wrapped up in that wonderful beefy flavor. Your best bet for finding "lean" ground beef is to grab some Ground Round.

That sounds like a win-win to us! Beef, It's What's For Dinner. Happy October Beef Month!

Throwback Thursday: 1964

#ThrowbackThursday to 1964 and the first-ever October Beef Month Proclamation signing. Pictured is Gov. George Wallace (seated) with 1^st Vice President Richard Beard, ACA President Selden Sheffield, Executive Vice President Ham Wilson, 2^nd Vice President Bubba Trotman and Treasurer Ed Wadsworth.