What's Going On Wednesday: December 21, 2016

FOUR DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!

Before we close out 2016 and staff enjoys a holiday vacation next week, we would like to wish each and every one of our cattle producers, members, industry partners, county and state leaders, Junior cattlemen, YCLP students, social media followers, sponsors.....everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year! We hope Santa Claus is good to you and yours and that 2017 starts bright. 

We'll see y'all again next year, but first, here's our last weekly update from this year...

AJCA Board of Directors Meeting

The Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association Board of Directors met this Tuesday to discuss plans for the upcoming year’s events and develop ideas for growing the statewide organization. Presiding over the meeting was AJCA President Cameron Catrett, with ACA Director for Industry Relations and Youth Activities Matthew Pounds advising. The group discussed starting county chapters, themes and new contest ideas for the 2017 AJCA Round-Up and responsibilities of directors including giving reports at county Cattlemen's annual meetings. 

Matthew was very pleased as all 10 Directors were in attendance at the meeting and were eager to discuss plans and ideas. Great job, Junior leaders!

Drawing Winners

Congrats to our Early Bird Membership drawing winners! Check out the lucky cash prize recipients:

Jackie Looney, Limestone County-$250

Steve Shelton, Morgan County-$150

Larry McGhar, Macon County-$100

Congrats and thanks to all who submitted membership in time for the drawing! 

New Face on the Bama Beef Blog

Big changes are coming to the Bama Beef Blog in 2017! The new website (BamaBeef.org) will be the new home to the Bama Beef Blog starting our post of 2017. It'll be new and improved, and we are excited for this addition to our website! 

The MOOseum Video Project

It's been a long time coming, but our 21-year-old resident cowboy and tour guide of The MOOseum's Video Gallery, Adam Bainbridge, developed a bad case of laryngitis earlier in 2016 and can no longer tell the story of Alabama's beef cattle industry. That being said, never fear, Dr. Technology is here! 

We are fortunate to still have contact with Adam Bainbridge's creator, Wayne Sullivant, and Erin and Kayla are working alongside Wayne this month and into January to produce a new video and get Adam's voice back so The MOOseum visitors can hear and see all about Alabama's cattle industry in HD! 

Christmas Party, Holiday Vacation and Retirements

This week is exciting as staff celebrates Christmas with the annual office party complete with a game of Dirty Santa and other gift exchanges followed by a week's vacation. The office will be closed to observe the holiday season December 26-30, and staff will report back at their desks the morning of January 2 ready to conquer the new year!

Unfortunately, however, we will be returning without one veteran staff member. This Friday, we say goodbye to Ms. Martha Davis after 26 years of dedicated service to the ACA. Martha will spend her Christmas holiday officially in her retirement, and staffers are sad that she won't be here to keep us all straight but excited for her and a well-earned break! Thank you, Martha, for everything! 

Capital City Stampede- 74th Annual ACA Convention & Trade Show

The Capital City Stampede will be held Feb. 15-16, 2017 at the Renaissance Hotel and Montgomery Convention Center in Montgomery, Ala. Registration is now open online, and mail-in registration forms are available in the December issue of the Alabama Cattleman magazine. You can also book your hotel now through this link or by calling 334-481-5000 and ask for the Cattlemen's Block using the mini code "CAT."

We have three headliner speakers this year. The first is 10-year veteran of CattleFax, Clay Spearman. The Colorado State University graduate will discuss weather predictions and cattle price outlooks during one of the Convention's sessions. Next on the lineup is NCBA Past President Steve Foglesong who is now serving as a member of President-Elect Donald Trump's agricultural advisory team. Foglesong will give us a look inside the future of American agriculture under the Trump Administration. Also confirmed is NCBA's Senior VP of Global Marketing and Research Alisa Harrison. Alisa comes with vast experience in the worlds of beef retail marketing and public relations, and she will be giving an update on Checkoff efforts globally.


Also, the Trade Show is filling up! Fifty+ vendors are locked in including some great equipment vendors. WE ONLY HAVE 13 BOOTH SPACES STILL AVAILABLE. Visit www.BamaBeef.org/Convention to register now. You can also stay up-to-date with all the newest announcements by joining our Convention Event Page on Facebook.

60th Annual SLE Rodeo 

Just in time for Christmas, SLE Rodeo tickets are NOW

AVAILABLE! Rodeo tickets can be purchased online at SLERodeo.com, by calling 1-888-2RODEO2, through mail-in order forms available online, by visiting the Garrett Coliseum Box Office or at a local Publix.

Thanks for checking out this week's blog post! We will be back with a new report on January 4, 2017. Until then, keep up with our day-to-day activities by visiting our website (BamaBeef.org), ourEvents Calendar or FOLLOW US on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

What's Going On Wednesday: December 14, 2016

With the closing out of the year, one would think office tasks would be slowing down. On the contrary, much like the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, our office is busy with year-end tasks as well as planning ahead for 2017. Take a minute along with us to enjoy this week's blog update. 

Capital City Stampede- 74th Annual ACA Convention & Trade Show

The Capital City Stampede will be held Feb. 15-16, 2017 at the Renaissance Hotel and Montgomery Convention Center in Montgomery, Ala. Registration is now open online, and mail-in registration forms are available in the December issue of the Alabama Cattleman magazine. You can also book your hotel now through this link or by calling 334-481-5000 and ask for the Cattlemen's Block using the mini code "CAT."

We have three headliner speakers this year. The first is 10-year

veteran of CattleFax, Clay Spearman. The Colorado State University graduate will discuss weather predictions and cattle price outlooks during one of the Convention's sessions. Next on the lineup is NCBA Past President Steve Foglesong who is now serving as a member of President-Elect Donald Trump's agricultural advisory team. Foglesong will give us a look inside the future of American agriculture under the Trump Administration. Also confirmed is NCBA's Senior VP of Global Marketing and Research Alisa Harrison. Alisa comes with vast experience in the worlds of beef retail marketing and public relations, and she will be giving an update on Checkoff efforts globally.


Also, the Trade Show is filling up! Fifty+ vendors are locked in including some great equipment vendors. WE ONLY HAVE 15 BOOTH SPACES STILL AVAILABLE. Visit www.BamaBeef.org/Convention to register now. You can also stay up-to-date with all the newest announcements by joining our Convention Event Page on Facebook.

Greene County Report

Thanks to the efforts of Thed Spree, Greene County Cattlemen's President Kevin Jockish and the Greene County Extension Office, more than 80 cattlemen enjoyed a steak dinner last Thursday with the intent to reactivate the Greene County Cattlemen's Association, whose membership had dropped to 11 members. As a result of the meeting, Greene County Cattlemen's now has 54 new members as of this week. It was a great meeting without outstanding leadership where new members 

A Very "Mooey Christmas"

On Friday, December 9, more than 80 preschoolers from Montgomery-area daycares and a group of special needs adults

from the Azalea Training Center in Prattville joined us for The MOOseum’s first-ever “Mooey Christmas” event for photos with Santa, a Christmas cookie snack and to learn all about Alabama’s beef cattle industry through tours of The MOOseum. The groups even had the opportunity to see real live Shorthorn steers on display by AJCA President Cameron Catrett and AJCA District 4 Director Cassidy Catrett.

The MOOseum also served as a proud Toys for Tots 2016 drop off location and encouraged “Mooey Christmas” attendees to bring donations for the charity that provides toys to less-fortunate children.

The first-ever “Mooey Christmas” event was a hit, and plans are already in the works to make next year’s event bigger and better. This event was aimed at giving back to the community, and it truly brought joy to all involved.

YCLP Class III

Class III met for their final meeting before graduation at the ACA

Convention. The focus of the meeting was to recap learning experiences over the year, work on communication skills, discover ways to deal with differing personalities, and continue our work on issues management training.

Matthew Pounds Joins ACA Staff

We are excited to welcome the new ACA Director of Industry Relations & Youth Activities Matthew Pounds into the office for his first week on the job. Matthew is a very recent graduate of Auburn University's College of Agriculture and a Pike Road resident. He is the grandson of well-known Brahman breeder and veterinarian Dr. Robert Barlow. On a fun note, he is also new to the married world as he and his new wife, Whitney, recently wedded in November. He has hit the ground running making contacts in counties with Junior Cattlemen's chapters, attending industry-related meetings and planning next week's AJCA Directors meeting. 

Matthew comes to the ACA after having spent several years working for two very large purebred Brahman ranches in Texas- Hudgins and V-8 and five years with Joyce Custom Fitters. He grew up on a cattle farm and was an active member of the Alabama Junior Cattlemen's Association. He is well-versed in exhibiting in the Junior Beef Expo, the Alabama Junior Fair and the AJCA Roundup. 

You can contact Matthew by email or by calling him at (334) 265-1867. 

Drought Committee Meeting

The Drought Committee meeting with the governor's office and stakeholders this morning at the Cattlemen's Building expand on the educational process on how to use less hay by incorporating alternative feeds. We want to work with neighboring states, particularly our neighbors to the west, to expand the online hay directory. Again, meeting with the governor's office and stakeholders. 

Black Vulture Meeting

Black Vultures have been a problem, but are especially so along the Tennessee River among our friends in northwest Alabama. These vultures flock together in an un-ordinary fashion and kill or maim calves during or after birth. As we all know, birds of prey are protected by the federal government. Despite that, this has become a growing problem in the past couple of years and the ACA and stakeholders are meeting to discuss streamlining the process on getting a permit. 

Retirement Reception

We enjoyed hosting a surprise retirement reception for Martha

Davis last evening to honor 26 years of dedicated service to the ACA. Past presidents, staff members new and old and family members stopped by to wish her well and offer gifts. She was even serenaded by longtime staff member and Pike County cattleman Ed Whatley. Thank you, Martha!

Beef. It's What's For Dinner- Holiday Roasting Video

Having trouble deciding how to prepare your holiday roast? We've got you covered....

SLE Rodeo Time!

We've got a lot of SLE Rodeo planning in the works as we look to close out 2017. Thursday afternoon, we are meeting with longtime SLE Rodeo media consultant Lisa Matthews Locklar to continue planning the promotional campaign for the 60th annual SLE Rodeo. We are also meeting over lunch today with representatives from the Wind Creek Casino and Hotel Montgomery & Wetumpka to discuss their sponsorship. We so appreciate Wind Creek's support!

THIS FRIDAY, December 16, tickets for the four rodeo performances will open on all platforms to the general public! Rodeo tickets can be purchased online at SLERodeo.com, by calling 1-888-2RODEO2, through mail-in order forms available online, by visiting the Garrett Coliseum Box Office or at a local Publix.

AJCA Director Meeting

AJCA Directors will be meeting Tuesday, December 20 to discuss potential changes, dates and themes for the 2017 AJCA Round-Up. We look forward to having our Junior directors in town for the day and are excited for them to meet the new ACA Director of Industry Relations & Youth Activities Matthew Pounds. 

Thanks for checking out this week's blog post! Tune in next week for a big announcement about next year's Bama Beef Blog. Until then, keep up with our day-to-day activities by visiting our website (BamaBeef.org), our Events Calendar or FOLLOW US on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Have a great week!

What's Going On Wednesday: December 7, 2016

Happy December! The hustle and bustle of the holiday season has found its way into the ACA office as we prepare to close things out for 2016 and look ahead to the new year. We are crossing our T's and dotting our I's as we finish up programs from this year and look ahead toward all the events that lie ahead in 2017. It's going to be a BIG year! 

Take a break from wading through all the mud puddles (We say that with very grateful hearts!) and warm up for a few minutes as you enjoy this week's update from the ACA state staffers. 

What's our favorite Christmas gift? Working for Alabama's cattle producers...

Membership Drawing

We haven't forgotten about the drawing. It's coming your way soon as Jessica finishes up inserting the many submissions into our membership software. Thanks to all who got their Early Bird memberships in and good luck in the drawing! Stay tuned for the lucky winners...

Capital City Stampede- 74th Annual ACA Convention & Trade Show

The Capital City Stampede will be held Feb. 15-16, 2017 at the Renaissance Hotel and Montgomery Convention Center in Montgomery, Ala. Registration is now open online, and mail-in registration forms are available in the December issue of the Alabama Cattleman magazine. You can also book your hotel now through this link or by calling 334-481-5000 and ask for the Cattlemen's Block using the mini code "CAT." 

To date, we have confirmed three speakers for the many sessions in the Convention. The first is 10-

year veteran of CattleFax, Clay Spearman. The Colorado State University graduate will discuss weather predictions and cattle price outlooks during one of the Convention's sessions. Next on the lineup is NCBA Past President Steve Foglesong who is now serving as a member of President-Elect Donald Trump's agricultural advisory team. Foglesong will give us a look inside the future of American agriculture under the Trump Administration. Also confirmed is NCBA's Senior VP of Global Marketing and Research Alisa Harrison. Alisa comes with vast experience in the worlds of beef retail marketing and public relations, and she will be giving an update on Checkoff efforts globally.

Also, the Trade Show is filling up! Fifty+ vendors are locked in including some great equipment vendors. Make plans to attend and show these vendors how much we appreciate them exhibiting with us! Visit www.BamaBeef.org/Convention to register now. You can also stay up-to-date with all the newest announcements by joining our Convention Event Page on Facebook.

Christmas at The MOOseum

Moo-ey Christmas! This year, we are proud to announce that The MOOseum is now a Toys for Tots Drop-Off Location. Bring your unwrapped toys by the ACA to donate to less-fortunate children during the Christmas season and stick around for a tour! We've already had so many wonderful donations and are grateful to those who have stopped by to make a child's Christmas bright. 

We've also got another exciting Christmas treat this year! This Friday, December 9, you can bring your kiddos to The MOOseum for our very first Moo-ey Christmas event! We are hosting children from the River Region into The MOOseum for photos with Santa, a cookie decorating station, coloring time and tours of The MOOseum with real, live show calves (courtesy of AJCA President Cameron Catrett) for the children to see! Bring your little ones by next Friday morning to join in on all the Christmas cheer...and don't forget your toy donation!

Montgomery Wellness Forum

On Thursday, the Montgomery Wellness Forum will meet in our building to discuss programs incorporating healthy choices in the workplace. This group consists of large business in Montgomery as well as public health officials, the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association. We love having this group in our building because it gives us a chance to remind them about the recent research and resources available to keep beef in their healthy lifestyles that they are implementing in the workplace.

YCLP Meeting 4

This weekend holds the final meeting for our third class of YCLP students. They'll be joining here at the Cattlemen's Building for a discussion entitled, “Deep Dive into Your Leadership Potential.” It will focus on leadership on the county level and offer continued training in beef advocacy.

This is the last session before Class III graduates at the ACA Convention.

 

Still on Drought Defense

Even after all this wonderful rainfall, we are still playing defense in terms of the drought. This week, ACA leadership met with representatives from the Dept of Ag, ALFA, Auburn University and other allied industry partners to focus on hay needs of cattlemen looking to feed their cattle through the spring. The group is working with the goal to seek out potential government funding for hauling hay into the state. 

SLE Rodeo Time!

We've got a lot of SLE Rodeo planning in the works as we look to close out 2017. This afternoon, we are meeting with longtime SLE Rodeo media consultant Lisa Matthews Locklar to plan the promotional campaign for the 60th annual SLE Rodeo.

Next week on December 16, tickets for the four rodeo performances will open on all platforms to the general public! Rodeo tickets can be purchased online at SLERodeo.com, by calling 1-888-2RODEO2, through mail-in order forms available online, by visiting the Garrett Coliseum Box Office or at a local Publix.

We are also excited to announce that local rodeo entertainer Trent McFarland is our featured act during this year's SLE Rodeo. Trent is from Autauga County and has performed with his wife, Wendy, across the southeast in rodeo events. He has been the featured act in past SLE Miracle Rodeo's, and we are excited to have Trent on the main stage at the SLE Rodeo for its 60th anniversary show! 

Revitalizing Greene County Cattlemen's

ACA Executive Vice President Dr. Billy Powell is meeting with a group of producers from Greene County to discuss reorganizing the Greene County Cattlemen's Association chapter. The chapter, which has held low membership and little activity in the past several years, is looking for a nudge in the right direction on rejuvenation. We're happy to help counties meet their true potential and are proud that Greene County is taking a step in the right direction of improvement!

That's a Wrap, 2016
Welcome, 2017!

We have many meetings happening over the course of the next few weeks to help wrap up the 2016 year at the ACA. Final reports are due and nominating and finance committees are meeting close the books on 2016 and look ahead to 2017. A Scholarship Selection Committee is in the works and are looking through a record number of scholarship applications! The goal is to notify the winners by mid-January. Stay tuned! 

One Final Note...Good News! 

For those who have been following the Meadows' Family story since ACA President-Elect Richard Meadows' middle son, Will, was in an accident sustaining head injuries just before Thanksgiving, they have good news to share! Their family is so appreciative of the prayers and support they have received since the accident and are pleased to report that Will has made leaps and bounds in his recovery since last week's post. Today, he is headed to Shepherd's of Atlanta for a minimum of four weeks in rehab. They ask for continued prayers for improvement and patience through the rehab process. Follow Will's progress on the Will's Journey Facebook Group. 

His mother, Kathy, said he would appreciate any and all cards, texts, emails, social media posts, etc. We will update here once we receive the mailing address!

Thanks for checking out this week's blog post! We'll be back here next week with another update. Until then, keep up with our day-to-day activites by visiting our website (BamaBeef.org), our Events Calendar or FOLLOW US on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Have a great week! 

What's Going On Wednesday: November 30, 2016

Our prayers have been heard! We finally got some rain!

We know most of our cattlemen were busy this weekend spreading seed for winter grazing and are now sitting back enjoying the sight of rainfall. We've heard of some parts of the state having up to 4.5-5 inches over the past two days. Wow!

Well, now that the turkey is put away, Christmas trees are lit and rain has settled the dust, take a few minutes to read all about what's happening at the ACA this week. We've got some important dates you'll want to hear. 

Capitol City Stampede- 74th Annual ACA Convention & Trade Show

The Capitol City Stampede will be held Feb. 15-16, 2017 at the Renaissance Hotel and Montgomery Convention Center in Montgomery, Ala. Registration opens online TOMORROW, and mail-in registration forms will be available in the December issue of the Alabama Cattleman magazine.

We have confirmed three of our key speakers. The first is 10-year veteran of CattleFax, Clay Spearman. The Colorado State University graduate will discuss weather predictions and cattle price outlooks during one of the Convention's sessions. Next on the lineup is NCBA Past President Steve Foglesong who is now serving as a member of President-Elect Donald Trump's agricultural advisory team. Foglesong will give us a look inside the future of American agriculture under the Trump Administration. Also confirmed is NCBA's Senior VP of Global Marketing and Research Alisa Harrison. Alisa comes with vast experience in the worlds of beef retail marketing and public relations, and she will be giving an update on Checkoff efforts globally.

Visit www.BamaBeef.org/Convention to register TOMORROW. Who knows? There may even be a Facebook Event page...

Trade Show Vendors: TOMORROW IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER UNDER THE EARLY BIRD RATES. Find registration forms at BamaBeef.org/Convention. For questions, contact Erin Beasley at (334) 265-1867. 

Moo-ey Christmas!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the ACA! Our elves have been especially hard at work this year to introduce two new Christmas programs! First, we are proud to announce that The MOOseum is now a Toys for Tots Drop-Off Location. Bring your unwrapped toys by the ACA to donate to less-fortunate children during the Christmas season and stick around for a tour! 

We'll do you one better, though. Next Friday, December 9, bring your kiddos to The MOOseum for our very first Moo-ey Christmas event! We are hosting children from the River Region into The MOOseum for photos with Santa, a cookie decorating station, coloring time and tours of The MOOseum with real, live show calves (courtesy of AJCA President Cameron Catrett) for the children to see! Bring your little ones by next Friday morning to join in on all the Christmas cheer...and don't forget your toy donation! 

Meadows Family and Black & White Bull Sale

We would like to take this opportunity to say that our thoughts and prayers are with ACA President-Elect Richard Meadows' family after middle son, Will, sustained severe head injuries during an on-farm accident last week. You can follow progress on his recovery by visiting the Will's Journey Facebook Group. 

As many of you know, Richard's 11th annual "Black & White Bull Sale" is scheduled for this Friday, December 2 with consignments from Triple E Farms, Collins Farms and Mull Meadow Farm. The sale is still happening this Friday at noon at Montgomery Stockyards. ACA staff will be on-hand to help out sale functions so that Richard's family can concentrate on what's most important. We hope to see you there! 

Scholarship Application Deadline- TOMORROW!

Time is running out to apply for Alabama Cattlemen's Foundation scholarships! If a young person in your family is headed to college, be sure to visit www.BamaBeef.org/Scholarships to learn more about eligibility requirements and to apply today! Applications close at midnight TOMORROW.

Membership Update

Thanks to all our many counties who got membership lists and payment into the state office by the Early Bird deadline. Stay tuned for the drawing as ACA Membership Coordinator Jessica Kennedy is working to get those memberships input into the system and having checks processed. The drawing will take place soon, and three 2017 members are in for a treat! 

AISA All-Stars

This evening we are excited to host 110 Alabama Independent

School Association All-Star football players for a steak dinner and a lesson on Alabama's beef cattle industry and checkoff programs. These high school seniors from across the state are in Montgomery for the AISA All-Star football games happening this Friday evening at Cramton Bowl. The athletes are in town practicing are stopping by for a punch of protein!  

Drought Defense 

ACA leadership will be attending a second drought meeting with agency heads from the Governor's office and allied industry partners this Thursday. We are all very thankful for the rain, but we are still planning defensive strategies that will be needed to get us through this long-projected dry period. Industry representatives are discussing the possibility of government funding for hauling hay in state, but that discussion is still premature. Stay tuned for updates from that meeting! 

Speaking of drought...new north and central Alabama Extension drought meeting dates have been published online at BamaBeef.org/Drought. Don't miss these educational sessions about the best defensive drought strategies. 

Thanks for reading this week's blog! Stay up to date daily about ACA happenings by visiting our Facebook, Twitter or Instagram or by visiting www.BamaBeef.org. Have a great week! 

What's Going On Wednesday: November 23, 2016

Happy Thanksgiving! 

It seems that as quickly as we welcomed the month of November, we're saying goodbye until 2017. It's been a few hard months in the cattle industry with more tough times ahead as we face the obvious obstacles of severe drought conditions during a period of low market prices. Thanksgiving is not about focusing on the hardships, however. It's about being thankful for our many blessings, and this year, those of us in the state office are thankful for our ACA members, the many outstanding state and county leaders and for our industry allies who are always here to offer a helping hand. We are thankful to be a part of Alabama's beef cattle industry which helps produce the world's safest, most nutritious beef supply and the many cattlemen who have spent their lives to this industry. 

That's just a few reasons we are thankful this Thanksgiving. Keep reading to learn about all that's happened around the office in the past two weeks and feel free to leave a comment below about what you're thankful for this year! 

Membership Update

REMINDER– The deadline for the early bird drawing is November 28th. All memberships AND payments must be in the state office by the 28th for members to qualify. Lists or pending membership without payment will not be accepted. If you have any questions please contact Jessica Kennedy in the state office. 

Speaking of membership, progress is being made on the selection of a new membership software package. We are running on borrowed time with our well-use Ag Returns system, but an upgrade is required to grow our membership database capabilities. Staff has been studying and reviewing different software packages and will hopefully come to a decision by December. County leaders, we will keep you informed along the way. 

Also on the software front, early in December we will be implementing a new software package that will help ensure compliance with both the state and national checkoff collections, courtesy of the Cattlemen's Beef Board. 

Alabama State Beef Checkoff Marketing Plan

The 2017 Beef Checkoff Marketing Plan was approved by the

board on November 17. This document will be available on the website soon and shows all of the programs that will be implemented in next year’s plan of work for checkoff staff. A few highlights of this year’s plan are increased educational opportunities, expansion of beef on the digital front and activities to enhance our youth program.

Big Changes for ACA in 2017

If you haven't already heard, at last week's Board Meeting ACA's Dr. Billy Powell announced his retirement effective June 30, 2017 after 35 years of service to the ACA. As for his successor, the Board approved current Director of Checkoff Programs Erin Beasley to be named assistant executive vice president effective January 1. Here's a comment from the future EVP herself...

“It is an honor to serve the cattlemen of Alabama in this role. Our foundation is solid which provides a wonderful opportunity to increase our membership, enhance checkoff programs and continue our relationships in the legislature. I look forward to working with the county cattlemen groups to identify areas of improvement to help meet our member needs. We have a fantastic staff that works hard for you so that you see value in your membership and the impact of your checkoff dollars at work.” -Erin Beasley

Honoring Dr. J Lee Alley

Cattlemen honored Dr. J Lee Alley for his strong leadership in Alabama's animal health sector during his term as state veterinarian and for leading the effort to make Alabama "brucellosis free." Dr. Alley was also instrumental in working with the Ag Coalition to secure the $13.5 million in state funding needed to construct the state diagnostic lab. Today, that lab is one of the most state-of-the-art animal diagnostic labs in the nation.

The State Beef Checkoff donated $10,000 in Dr. Alley's honor to purchase technology upgrades required for the Serology Lab. 

Drought Meetings and Coverage

Photo Credit: ADECA

ACA's Dr. Billy Powell spent a cold and early morning at west Montgomery's Catoma Creek with WSFA's Bethany Davis to interview about the impact of the drought on the cattle industry along with Director of Montgomery Water Works Buddy Morgan and our friends at ADECA. ACA leadership has done interviews with several other news outlets, and we've seen many news segments with cattlemen across the state who have done a fantastic job of representing cattle producers. 

On Tuesday, Dr. Powell had a discussion with Commissioner McMillan to review the status of the drought. Government officials are beginning to ask about what they can do, and Dr. Powell and Commissioner McMillan agreed to suggest a monetary allocation dedicated to having hay shipped into the state may be the next required step for the sake of state cattle producers. Stay tuned for more news on that as the drought committee will meet next week.

Capitol City Stampede- 74th Annual ACA Convention & Trade Show 

The Capitol City Stampede will be held Feb. 15-16, 2017 at the Renaissance Hotel and Montgomery Convention Center in Montgomery, Ala. Registration opens online on December 1, and mail-in registration forms will be available in the December issue of the Alabama Cattleman magazine. 

We have confirmed our two keynote speakers- the first is 10-year veteran of CattleFax, Clay Spearman. The Colorado State University graduate will discuss weather predictions and cattle price outlooks during one of the Convention's General Sessions. Also confirmed is NCBA Past President Steve Foglesong who is now serving as a member of President-Elect Donald Trump's agricultural advisory team. Foglesong will give us a look inside the future of American agriculture under the Trump Administration. 

Visit www.BamaBeef.org/Convention to register on December 1! 

Scholarship Deadline Approaching

Time is running out to apply for Alabama Cattlemen's Foundation scholarships!  If a young person in your family is headed to college, be sure to visit www.BamaBeef.org/Scholarships to learn more about eligibility requirements and to apply today! Applications close at midnight on December 1!

Rodeo Tickets- Available Soon

Just in time for Christmas, tickets for the 60th annual SLE Rodeo will be available for purchase Friday, December 16 online and by calling 888-2RODEO2. Talk about a perfect stocking stuffer! Don't miss out on the gift of family fun!

Thanksgiving Holiday

Happy Thanksgiving from all your state staffers. We hope you have a safe and blessed holiday spent with family. The ACA office will be closed November 24-25 in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday. Normal business hours will resume on Monday, November 28. While it may be "Turkey Day," as always, we encourage you to eat BEEF! 

Don't forget to tell us what you're thankful for in the comments below! Thanks for reading this week's post. See you next week! 

What's Going On Wednesday: November 9, 2016

What a day.

What an election.

What a historical moment.

Regardless of your party allegiance, we can all agree that this was a win for the American agricultural industry as producers will begin to see a decline in overreaching legislation by agencies such as the EPA. Your Alabama Cattlemen's Association will go forward into this new executive office and work closely with NCBA to generate a proactive agenda regarding the beef and cattle industries. 

We know it's hard to focus on much more than this morning's news, but keep reading to stay in touch with what we are doing for you at the state office this week.

Membership Software

On Monday, following requests from many counties, the ACA state staff joined together for a proposal and presentation of a new membership software. The AgReturns program that is currently in place in the office is no longer meeting the needs of our membership coordination requirements, and we are looking to upgrade that system. Stay tuned as your staffers work to find a system just right for the ACA on the state and county level. 

Speaking of Membership...

Don't forget! The 2017 membership launched just last week online and via mail. We kicked off the campaign by sending out renewal statements early last week. Note: f you have already renewed your dues for 2017, disregard that statement. Pay your dues now through November 28 to be entered into a drawing for three cash prizes!

If your county chapter needs napkins and/or placemats for your upcoming meetings let Jessica know in advance so that she can ship them in time. Board members will have the opportunity to pick up membership cards at next week's Board Meeting. If you haven't already, contact Jessica about get a speaker or ACA representative to your county meeting by calling (334) 265-1867 or email her.

Wide Load Permit Issues

We were made aware earlier this week about producers who are having trouble receiving a free wide-please let us know at the ACA, and we will be glad to help iron out any further miscommunication. 
load permit from the Department of Transportation. After discussing this miscommunication with ALDOT officials, the issue is cleared and cattlemen should receive permits for hauling hay at no cost. If you do run into an issue regarding permits,

Convention Planning Underway

The 2017 ACA Convention and Trade Show is in our midst, and planning for the event is well underway. Save the dates for the Convention to be held Feb. 15-16 at the Renaissance Hotel and Montgomery Convention Center. Room registration information will be available soon, and registration will open online on December 1. Registration forms will also be available in the December issue of the Alabama Cattleman magazine. 

On Monday, staff members visited the hotel to discuss meals and trade show space. It's shaping up to be a great menu, and we have ample space for our trade show. This means you and your family can look forward to seeing a lot of equipment! 

Hartford/Litchfield Sister Cities

On Tuesday, we have the privilege to host the Hartford/Litchfield Sister Cities Program in their 45th

anniversary year. Through this unique relationship, FFA students from Hartford, Ala. (Geneva County) and Litchfield, Minnesota visit each other to learn all about agriculture across their home states. At The MOOseum, our Minnesota visitors were introduced to the beef cattle industry in Alabama and learned all about the ACA. They even visited the third floor and explored the booths of all our generous donors. These students shine a bright light on the future of American agriculture, and we were so glad they stopped by to visit us.

Reporting on the State Beef Checkoff

On Tuesday, ACA Executive Vice President Dr. Billy Powell and Director of Checkoff Programs Erin Beasley attended the Department of Agriculture Board Meeting. While there, the duo presented the audit and a report on the 2015 state beef checkoff. The Board approved the audit performed by CRI Accounting Firm. 

A Trip to the Governor's Office

On Wednesday, ACA State President Bill Lipscomb will be joining us in the office for two important reasons. First, we will nail down the details of next week's Executive Committee and November Board Meetings. The Board meeting will be Thursday, Nov. 17 at 9:30 a.m. at the Cattlemen's Building in Montgomery. State staff has been working to generate a final draft of the proposed 2017 Alabama State Beef Checkoff Marketing Plan to present to the Board for approval. Thanks again to the Task Force that helped streamline and brainstorm new ideas for the plan. 

Second, Mr. President (Lipscomb, that is) will be joining Dr. Powell in a trip to the Governor's office to meet with ALDOT and Emergency Management Agency (EMA) officials on the critical drought situation. The team will discuss ways to help cattle producers in light of this relentlessly dry season.

Troy University Food Forum

Tomorrow, ACA will participate in an online Food Forum with Troy University nutrition class. Will Gilmer, a dairyman from Lamar County, will also be on the call to answer dairy-related questions and ACA's Erin Beasley will answer questions about beef. Students have taken time to research and watch videos about food production to construct their questions. Many questions center around food safety, cattle production and sustainability. This is the fourth year of doing this activity and we look forward to it every year!

60th Annual SLE Rodeo

We are working to finalize rodeo ticket order forms and get the Ticketmaster system ready to go for rodeo tick sales launch. The 60th annual SLE Rodeo will be held March 16-18 in Montgomery's Garrett Coliseum. Save the date and be on the lookout for tickets sales opening soon!

Saluting Our Veterans

Friday the ACA office will be closed to commemorate Veterans Day. Thank you to all who have served for defending our precious freedoms on foreign soil. We tip our hats to you in appreciation of your sacrifice.

Events Calendar

We've got county meetings, cattle sales and Extension workshops galore happening across the state! Tune into our BamaBeef.org Events Calendar to stay up to date, and be sure to mark your calendars for all our upcoming events. 

Thanks for reading this week's blog post. We'll talk again next week...same time, same place! Until then, always feel free to stay in touch with us by calling (334) 265-1867. 

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