What's Going On Wednesday: April 27, 2016

This is a day that strikes a chord for many of our state's cattlemen and cattlewomen, especially those in northwest Alabama, as it is the anniversary of the devastating tornadoes that took homes, schools, churches, cities and over 250 lives as it blew it's path across Alabama. We would like to start this week's blog by sending our thoughts to the families who were in any way affected by this tragedy. Whether you lost your home, farm, livestock, family members or your community, you're in our thoughts on this fifth anniversary. It's incredibly hard to come back from a tragedy like that, but we happen to know that our state cattle families are resilient, driven and most importantly, hard working. 

On a happier note from that sad memory, it's been a busy week around the Cattlemen's building in Montgomery. The month of April is slipping out from under us quickly, but it's been a successful month for many reasons. With May just around the corner, we've got lots to look forward to! Keep reading to find out what's going on with the state ACA staff this week!

Membership

We are wrapping up membership with 10,664 members as of today and 16 "Over the Top" counties. We've got 10 counties who are so close to going over the top, and they've got only THREE DAYS left to qualify for the "Over the Top" Priefert chute drawing. 

Get out and get recruiting; not only will it help the state association, but it could win you some awesome prizes. Just in case you need some incentive to get out and recruit, check out these Top Hand Club prizes:

• 5 new members – ACA cap and knife
• 15 new members – ACA shirt
• 25 new members – ACA vest
• 35 new members – ACA Red/Black jacket
• 50 new members - $250

Top Hand Club sponsored by Alabama Ag Credit and Alabama Farm Credit

Also, don't forget our John Deere Gator drawing sponsored by John Deere, SunSouth, Tri-Green Equipment and Snead Ag. For every new member you recruit, your name and the new member's name will go in the drawing. ACA members also have the opportunity to purchase more chances to win by calling ACA at 334-265-1867.

Beef 101

Trenholm State Culinary students, ACA
staff and leadership and ACES agents.

ACA leadership and staff have a busy week with Beef 101. This Monday, ACA President-Elect Richard Meadows, ACA Treasurer LD Fitzpatrick, Macon County's Jason and Misty Edmundson and Tallapoosa County President Jacob Hodnett spent time in Auburn with ACA staffers Erin Beasley and Kayla Greer at the third Beef 101 program this month. Students from this large class included culinary students from Trenholm State Culinary, vet students from Auburn's Veterinary Medicine program and ACES county agents.

ACA President-Elect Richard Meadows
leading a live animal evaluation
conversation.

The group got to learn about cattle production from pasture to plate. They started with learning about the cattle industry as a whole, some vocabulary and types of operations. Questions about GMO's, hormones and anitbiotics in beef and other important indsutry topics were discussed at length. Then the group headed outside to participate in a live animal evaluation led by Dr. Misty Edmundson and Richard Meadows. The group then learned about the slaughter practice with an educational video, followed by a delicious lunch catered by the Auburn Collegiate Cattlemen and CattleWomen. Following lunch, the group enjoyed a tour of the meat lab and a carcass fabrication demonstration. 

We've got the fourth and final Beef 101 program in April coming up this Friday. We will host 75 students from the McAdory Middle School Culinary program, Jeff State Culinary, American Culinary Federation chefs and ACES staff. Coming along to help is YCLP alumni Alex Tigue, Macon County cattleman Jason Edmundson and ACA's Dr. Billy Powell. The film crew from Simply Southern will also be there to cover the event!

Ag Coalition

The Ag Coalition met Tuesday morning in the ACA Board Room to get an update on the current legislative session, which will be winding down shortly. Dr. Powell is still pleased to report that any proposed legislation that would have any effect on our industry is not anticipated to pass during this session.

Chambers County Ladies Night Steak Supper

Thursday evening, ACA Director of Social Media and Communications will hit the road toward Lafayette to be the guest speaker at the group's annual Ladies Night steak supper. Kayla will entertain the ladies with a discussion about taking to social media to promote the cattlemen's lifestyle and product. She is excited to answer questions that the group may have and offer insight to the group on the world of digital marketing. Thanks for the invite, Chambers County Cattlemen's Association! 

SLE Meeting

Also happening on Thursday, the Southeastern Livestock Exposition executive team will be meeting to discuss the final thoughts and figures on the 2016 SLE Rodeo. There's much to be discussed as the rodeo is a huge undertaking! 

Beef Symposium at ACA

The ACA building is the host to many meetings and dinners, and this week was no exception. Cargill hosted a Beef Symposium in the meeting area where a steak dinner was enjoyed and feed reps and producers were educated on beef cattle nutritional plans and the upcoming VFD. 

Magazine Hustle and Bustle

This week is one strongly focused on the May issue of the Alabama Cattleman magazine! Production and editing this week, press next week and your mailbox the next! Dr. Powell and Martha Davis have been busy typing away articles and columns for the Alabama Report and Along the Trail commentary, Kayla and Erin have been getting pics and articles submitted, and Nicky has been working to put it all together along with advertising! We hope you enjoy the upcoming May issue. 

What's Going On Wednesday: April 20, 2016

April has been a busy month, especially for the legislative and beef promotion aspects of our association. While Dr. Powell has spent a lot of time with state senators, representatives, the ag coalition and Alabama's leaders in D.C., Erin has been busy educating chefs, food service representatives and leadership in food retail from across the state. While those have been the biggest items on this month's calendar, there's still plenty going on otherwise. Keep reading to learn what's going on around the ACA this week.

Membership

We are wrapping up membership with 10,650 members as of today and 16 "Over the Top" counties. 

Get out and get recruiting; not only will it help the state association, but it could win you some awesome prizes. Just in case you need some incentive to get out and recruit, check out these prizes:

• 5 new members – ACA cap and knife
• 15 new members – ACA shirt
• 25 new members – ACA vest
• 35 new members – ACA Red/Black jacket
• 50 new members - $250

Top Hand Club sponsored by Alabama Ag Credit and Alabama Farm Credit

Also, don't forget our John Deere Gator drawing sponsored by John Deere, SunSouth, Tri-Green Equipment, Snead Ag. For every new member you recruit, your name and the new members names go in the drawing. ACA members also have the opportunity to purchase more chances to win by calling ACA at 334-265-1867.

ACA Welcomes Sara Goen to the Team

Speaking of membership, our longtime membership coordinator Selina Knight is no longer with us on the ACA staff. She will be greatly missed, and we are so grateful for her years of dedicated service to the ACA. Happily, however, we have found Sara Goen to takeover Selina's role. 

Sara comes to the ACA with over 20 years of office experience and is ready to learn all about the ACA and its Board, members and outside contacts. Welcome Sara to the team and contact her by her email- sgoen@bamabeef.org. 

A Beefy Breakfast at the ACA

Pictured L-R Sen. Allen, APEA Director
Ray Hilburn, Bill Lipscomb, Sen. Whatley
and Erin Beasley. 

This morning, the ACA hosted 20 of Alabama's 35 senators for a breakfast in the building. On the menu was Sen. Tom Whatley's delicious homemade cinnamon rolls, Sen. Gerald Allen's southern-style homemade biscuits, beef tenderloin prepared by the Beef Girl and omelets from our friends at Alabama Poultry and Egg Association. 

Our third floor proved an asset once again as we hosted a large majority of Senate leaders for a beefy breakfast and mingling. 

Meetings, Talks and Updates

Dr. Powell has been busy this week with different speaking engagements and meetings. First, on Monday he chaired a conference call with the ACA Executive Committee and 12 RVPs to discuss wrapping up the membership year and to get an update on reaching out to our non-renewed members.  On Tuesday, he spoke to 100 members of the Montgomery Kiwanis Club about the beef cattle industry in Alabama during their lunchtime meeting. On Wednesday, after the senators breakfast, he spoke to the Leadership Jackson County group about the state cattle industry during their visit to Capitol Hill. 

Legislative Update

The Ag Coalition met Tuesday morning in the ACA Board Room to get an update as this legislative session is winding down. Dr. Powell is pleased to report that any proposed legislation that would have any effect on our industry is not anticipated to pass during this session.

To stay on top of this legislative session, Dr. Powell has spent a lot of time across the street at the Alabama State House meeting with our state's senators and representatives. 

Beef On the Highway

It's no secret that the staff, particularly Director of Checkoff Programs Erin Beasley, is always on the road. Whether we are headed to a county meeting, a beef promotional event or an educational opportunity on beef, our wheels stay spinning.

Now, we get to roll in style as the new Beef Mobile is ready to hit the highway! This beef-wrapped beauty is ready to take on the task of promoting beef all across Alabama, and we're excited to have beef back on the road since the retirement of the beloved Beef Wagon. 

Read more about the Beef Wagon and the new Beef Mobile in May's issue of the Alabama Cattleman. 

Beef 101

Hair nets and cowboy hats- talk about a
fashion statement! L-R are Larry Montgomery,
Bill Lipscomb and Randy Moody. 

Speaking of hitting the highway, ACA leadership representatives and staff have been busy with Beef 101. This week, ACA President Bill Lipscomb, RVP Randy Moody, Montgomery County President Larry Montgomery, YCLP alumni Alex Tigue, Erin Beasley and Kayla Greer spent Tuesday in Auburn at Beef 101 with Wood Fruitticher leadership, Faulkner State Culinary students and some ACES reps. Dr. Lemme from Extension and Auburn Animal Sciences Department Head Dr. Greene even stopped by for a visit. 

The group watches a carcass fabrication
demonstration led by AU Meat Lab staff,
Erin Beasley and Alex Tigue.

The group got to learn about cattle production from pasture to plate. They started with learning about the cattle industry as a whole, some vocabulary and types of operations. Then the group headed outside to participate in a live animal evaluation led by Bill Lipscomb and Alex Tigue, with Larry Montgomery and Randy Moody there to help with questions as well. The group then learned about the slaughter practice with an educational video, followed by a delicious lunch (great order, right? Slaughter video then lunch!) catered by the Auburn Collegiate Cattlemen and CattleWomen. Following lunch, the group enjoyed a tour of the meat lab and a carcass fabrication demonstration. 

They had plenty of questions answered by industry professionals. Great job, team! We've got two more Beef 101 sessions next week on Monday and Friday, and Board members are invited to attend. If you're interested, contact Erin Beasley. 

Culinary Education

Just in case Erin doesn't seem busy enough, tomorrow she's headed south to Andalusia to do a beef education program with the culinary students at Lurlene B. Wallace Community College. And yes, she will be taking the Beef Mobile, so if you see her in passing, honk at her! 

Last Call for Bama's Best Beef

We kicked off a springtime beef promotion on two weeks ago that highlights Alabama's unique beef dishes. Using the power of social media to drive the contest and by promoting it to Alabama's restaurants and chefs, we've started to receive nominations of those not-so-average beef dishes made and served right here in Alabama. We've got our eyes set on all those unconventional, yet delicious, beef dishes! 

Submit your nomination here by Monday, April 25. 

Other Tidbits from This Week:

• The SLE received the 157 premium checks in the mail to send to the Junior Beef Expo exhibitors, reflecting their placings in the show. With that, the 2016 JBE is wrapped up!
• Erin and Dr. Powell are actively participating in the Auburn Agriculture Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology Livestock Economist interview process. This position is to fill the one left vacant by Dr. Walt Prevatt. So far, three candidates have interviewed. 

What's Going On Wednesday: April 13, 2016

Beef promotion, trips to D.C. and meetings, meetings and more meetings are the theme around the Cattlemen's building this week. There's always something going on that keeps the staff busy, but we sure love working for Alabama's cattlemen. Keep reading to find out what's going on at the ACA this week. 

Trip to D.C.

ACA Executive Vice President Dr. Billy Powell, President Bill Lipscomb and President-Elect Richard Meadows are in Washington D.C. Tuesday through Thursday of this week. While there, the trio will join with 30 other state cattlemen's associations to attend the Spring Legislative Conference. This trip will provide our state cattlemen's representatives with the opportunity to go on office visits with Alabama's congressional delegation!

Membership

We are wrapping up membership with 10,624 members as of today and 16 "Over the Top" counties. A number of counties are still lagging, though. RVPs are reaching out to their assigned county presidents about plans to get in the 2400 non-renewed members. Another conference call between the RVPs will be held on Monday, April 18 to report on the results. 

Get out and get recruiting; not only will it help the state association, but it could win you some awesome prizes. Just in case you need some incentive to get out and recruit, check out these prizes:

• 5 new members – ACA cap and knife
• 15 new members – ACA shirt
• 25 new members – ACA vest
• 35 new members – ACA Red/Black jacket
• 50 new members - $250

Top Hand Club sponsored by Alabama Ag Credit and Alabama Farm Credit

Just in case you need some more incentive in your recruiting efforts, let your non-renewed friends and neighbors know this! The April Alabama Cattleman magazine is the LAST magazine you'll get if you do not renew by April 15, and you have until Friday to renew now online and you'll get a package in the mail from us with some nifty ACA gadgets and gizmos such as a hat, iWallet and other goodies. Don't miss out- renew today! 

Also, don't forget our John Deere Gator drawing sponsored by John Deere, SunSouth, Tri-Green Equipment, Snead Ag. For every new member you recruit, your name and the new members names go in the drawing. ACA members also have the opportunity to purchase more chances to win by calling ACA at 334-265-1867.

Ag Econ Interviews

Dr. Dea Cue Fields, the chair of the Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology Department at Auburn, invited ACA leadership to participate in the final interviews of the three candidates in the running to replace Dr. Walter Prevatt. All three candidates come with outstanding resumes, and we are excited and honored to be part of the process. 

ACA's Director of Checkoff Programs Erin Beasley participated in this week's round of interviews and speaks highly of the candidate. 

Bama's Best Beef 

We kicked off a springtime beef promotion on Monday that highlights Alabama's unique beef dishes. Using the power of social media to drive the contest and by promoting it to Alabama's restaurants and chefs, we've started to receive nominations of those not-so-average beef dishes made and served right here in Alabama. We've got our eyes set on all those unconventional, yet delicious, beef dishes! 

If you know of a beef dish from an Alabama restaurant that fits the bill, nominate them here.   

Beef 101

Starting today with Lawson State Culinary Arts and Moody High School FCCLA, we kicked off a busy month of Beef 101 programs. We offer this program tovarious influencer groups across the state in order to teach them about beef from “Pasture to Plate." 

We would like to invite our Board members to attend. Your role in this program is to interact with participants who are “non-cattle” folks so that they leave the program with a bright outlook on our industry.

Here are the dates and groups. We have 5 seats at each program

available at first come first serve basis. RSVP to Erin if you can attend.

Erin Beasley showing a side of beef
to Moody High School FCCLA students
at the Lambert-Powell Meat Lab in Auburn.

• April 19th- Faulkner State Culinary, Wood Fruitticher Foodservice Sales Team Leadership
• April 25th- Trenholm State Culinary
• April 29th- Jeff State Culinary, McAdory Middle School culinary students, American Culinary Federation chefs

For today's program, we were proud to have YCLP Class II alumni Alex Tigue on the team to help with carcass fabrication and the live evaluation! Great job, Alex. 

YCLP Class III

Speaking of YCLP- county presidents, applications are out now for the Young Cattlemen's Leadership Program- Class III. Send us your nominations of 20-40 year olds who work in Alabama beef cattle industry by MONDAY as the first meeting will be held May 11 in Montgomery. We look forward to another great year with Alabama's young cattle producers. Get the application

Meetings, Meetings and More Meetings

The ACA building has hosted quite a few meetings this week as well. On Monday night, Erin Beasley hosted a group from the Montgomery Dietetic Association. Youth Leadership Jackson County visited and toured the building Tuesday, and the Alabama Leadership Initiative will have a meeting here Friday morning. As usual, the Ag Coalition also met in the ACA Board on Tuesday morning as well. 

What's Going On Wednesday- April 6, 2016

The month of April not only brings warm weather and green grass, but it comes packed with beef checkoff activities leading into summer grilling season! Beef 101, cookoffs, farm tours...all kinds of educational events about our favorite protein, beef, are on the horizon for this busy month! 

While that keeps the checkoff staffers busy, other members of the ACA staff are also staying busy to keep up with the many hats of the Alabama Cattlemen's Association. Keep reading to learn more about what's going on around the ACA this week!

Membership

On Monday, ACA leadership hosted a conference call with the regional vice presidents to makes plans for wrapping up membership. We're off to a great start with 10,572 members and 16 "Over the Top" counties, but a number of counties are lagging behind. The RVPs will be contacting their assigned county presidents this week about plans to get in the 2400 non-renewed members. Another conference call will be held on Monday, April 18 to report on the results. 

Get out and get recruiting; not only will it help the state association, but it could win you some awesome prizes. Just in case you need some incentive to get out and recruit, check out these prizes:

• 5 new members – ACA cap and knife
• 15 new members – ACA shirt
• 25 new members – ACA vest
• 35 new members – ACA Red/Black jacket
• 50 new members - $250

Top Hand Club sponsored by Alabama Ag Credit and Alabama Farm Credit

Just in case you need some more incentive in your recruiting efforts, let your non-renewed friends and neighbors know this! The April Alabama Cattleman magazine is the LAST magazine you'll get if you do not renew by April 15, and if you renew now online, you'll get a package in the mail from us with some nifty ACA gadgets and gizmos such as a hat, iWallet and other goodies. Don't miss out- renew today! 

Also, don't forget our John Deere Gator drawing sponsored by John Deere, SunSouth, Tri-Green Equipment, Snead Ag. For every new member you recruit, your name and the new members names go in the drawing. ACA members also have the opportunity to purchase more chances to win by calling ACA at 334-265-1867.

Alabama Jr. and Sr. High School Beef Cookoff

Lucas Jones of Chilton County took
"Best of Beef" with these delicious
Honey Sriracha Beef Kabobs

Along with the Alabama CattleWomen's Association, we helped host an outstanding beef cookoff event featuring the dishes of 40
county winners from across the state. While the panel of judges spent Saturday morning dolling over the hard task of tasting all the outstanding dishes, the students enjoyed presentations on careers in the beef/meat industry and learned about the carcass fabrication process. 

Once the deliberation was over, the winners were announced:

Overall Best of Beef- Lucas Jones of Jemison HS with Honey Sriracha Beef Kabobs

Junior South Division

1st Place	Chilton County	Lucas Jones	Jemison HS	Honey Siracha Beef Kabobs
2nd Place	Clarke County	Allison Sherman	Jackson HS	Alli's Luscious Ribs
3rd Place	Baldwin County	Grace Ellison	Robertsdale HS	Surprise Burgers

Junior North Division

1st Place	Blount County	Brianna Stutts	Appalachian HS	Cheeseburger Eggrolls
2nd Place	Etowah County	Marshall Thomas	West End HS	Grandma's Goulash
3rd Place	Calhoun County	Travis Atchley	Pleasant Valley HS	Juciy Luicy

Senior South Division

1st Place	Elmore County	Kayla Taylor	Holtville HS	Roast Beef Brisket with a Savory Sauce
2nd Place	Coffee County	Ruben Cortes	Enterprise HS	Beef & Couscous Stuffed Bell Pepers
3rd Place	Lee County	Megan Lange	Auburn HS	Rosemary & Garlic Roast Beef

Senior North Division

1st Place	Chilton county	Jarrett Price	Thorsby HS	Smoked Flank Steak with Chipotle Butter
2nd Place	Morgan County	Krissa Farmer	Austin HS	Stuffed Flank Steak
3rd Place	Madison County	Renita Harris	New Centry Techology HS	Taco Soup

If you'd like a picture of your county's winner, contact Kayla.

Alabama Dietetic Association RD Day

ACA's Dr. Billy Powell and Erin Beasley welcomed members of the Alabama Dietetic Association to the building this morning, followed by an overview of the Alabama beef cattle industry by Dr. Powell.  The group left from here and headed to Capitol Hill for the day. 

Culinary Students to CK Cattle

Erin Beasley, Dr. Billy Powell and Kayla Greer spent the majority of the day today with 40 Trenholm State Culinary students at CK Cattle in Hope Hull. Bradfield Evans and Charlie Madaris, the third generation part of CK Cattle, are recent graduates of the Young Cattlemen's Leadership program. Along with touring Alabama cattle operations and receiving leadership training, the graduates were encouraged to pursue a project that encompassed the teachings of the YCLP curriculum. 

Bradfield and Charlie hit one out of the park as they hosted an incredible tour of their operation and explained the pasture side of the "pasture to plate" process. They covered industry hot topics like animal welfare, handling, antibiotics and hormones, allowed the students to get up close to cattle, explained their herd feeding plan and explained the multiple ways of tracing cattle, including EID tags. These two young cattlemen led an awesome tour to the receptive culinary students. 

Special thanks to the folks at CK Cattle for a great tour, good food and some beautiful scenery for the day! Great job, Bradfield and Charlie! 

Alabama Legislative Update

Dr. Powell hopped off the bus from CK Cattle just in time to change into his suit and dress boots and head to the State House for a meeting with several Alabama senators. 

The Senate will meet tomorrow for the 20th day, which will leave them with 10 legislative days, and the General Fund budget has already passed into law. The "talk" is that they may try to get out early, but they have to be done by May 16 by law. We are staying vigilant on watching legislative action as there will be many bills introduced in the last days in an attempt to squeeze them through. 

Bama's Best Beef 

We kicked off a springtime beef promotion on Monday that highlights Alabama's unique beef dishes. Using the power of social media to drive the contest and by promoting it to Alabama's restaurants and chefs, we've started to receive nominations of those not-so-average beef dishes made and served right here in Alabama. We've got our eyes set on all those unconventional, yet delicious, beef dishes! 

If you know of a beef dish from an Alabama restaurant that fits the bill, nominate them here.   

Youth BQA

Erin and Dr. Powell will be meeting with Jacob Davis and Andy Chamness from the State FFA office on Thursday to discuss the Youth BQA programs achievements for the 2015-2016 school year.  So far, over 250 agriscience students have completed the Youth BQA online training this school year.  We will work with Jacob and Andy to coordinate an awards presentation to certified students and teachers this summer at the state Agriscience conference in Birmingham.

Busy April Full of Beef: 101

Next month, we will hold 4 of these programs with various influencer groups across the state to learn about beef from “Pasture to Plate." We would like to invite our Board members to attend. Your role in this program is to interact with participants who are “non-cattle” folks so that they leave the program with a bright outlook on our industry.

Here are the dates and groups. We have 5 seats at each program

available at first come first serve basis. RSVP to Erin if you can attend.

• April 13th- Moody HS and Lawson State Culinary School
• April 19th- Faulkner State Culinary, Wood Fruitticher Foodservice Sales Team Leadership
• April 25th- Trenholm State Culinary
• April 29th- Jeff State Culinary, McAdory Middle School culinary students, American Culinary Federation chefs

YCLP Class III

County Presidents, applications are out now for the Young Cattlemen's Leadership Program- Class III. Send us your nominations asap as the first meeting will be held May 11 in Montgomery. We look forward to another great year with Alabama's young cattle producers. Get the application

Ag Econ Interviews

We are pleased to report that Dr. Dea Cue Fields, the chair of the Agricultural Economics Department at Auburn, has invited ACA leadership to participate in the final interviews of the three candidates in the running to replace Dr. Walter Prevatt. All three candidates come with outstanding resumes, and we are excited and honored to be part of the process. 

Trip to D.C.

Dr. Billy Powell, ACA President Bill Lipscomb and President-Elect Richard Meadows are finalizing their plans for their trip to Washington D.C. next week. While there, the trio will join with 30 other state cattlemen's associations to attend the Spring Legislative Conference. This trip will provide our state cattlemen's representatives with the opportunity to go on office visits with Alabama's congressional delegation!