What's Going On Wednesday: September 7, 2016

Hello, September! Those cool morning temperatures are a much-needed break in the summertime heat and a reminder that the fall season is sneaking up on us quickly. Fall means calving season, bull sales, membership drives, October Beef Month, marketing plan meetings and so much more for Alabama's cattlemen. We're looking forward to getting out and about during these busy months to see our cattlemen at the many events on the calendar. As for this week, though, keep reading to learn about all that's happening at the ACA. 

County Chapter Officers Regional Training Workshops Start NEXT WEEK!

Regional Meetings are soon coming up, and the state officers and regional vice presidents will be joining state staffers on a conference call tomorrow to discuss agendas and discussion topics for those meetings. If you're in county leadership, be sure to save the dates for the upcoming County Chapter Officers Regional Training Workshops:

Central Alabama
9/13- Northport, 6:30 p.m. dinner at The Front Porch
9/14- Alex City, 7 a.m. breakfast at Jake's Restaurant

South Alabama
9/20- Troy, 6:30 p.m. dinner at Pig Cafe
9/21- Monroeville, 7 a.m. breakfast at Alabama Ag Credit

North Alabama
9/27- Moulton, 6:30 p.m. dinner at Mel's Family Steakhouse
9/28- Guntersville, 7 a.m. breakfast at the Mashall County Courthouse (Suite G21)

If you are in county leadership and would like to attend, please RSVP to Martha Davis.

Ag Coalition

After a Monday of celebrating Labor Day, ACA Executive Vice President hit the ground running on Tuesday morning with an Ag Coalition meeting. The group is still vigilantly monitoring the ongoing Special Session with the Alabama legislature and have no alarms going off for legislation that could affect Alabama's agricultural industry. 

Beef 101 Friday

Friday will be a day for learning about beef for the Wood

Fruitticher sales team. In July, half of the team went through the checkoff-funded program and the other half will have their questions answered Friday with Director of Checkoff Programs Erin Beasley and the crew at the Lambert-Powell Meats Lab at Auburn University. This relationship with the food distribution service is a great way to reach hundreds of industry influencers and even more consumers with good information about beef!

October Beef Month in the Counties

In preparation for October Beef Month, remember to call and secure a box of beef promotion items for your fall county events! ACA staff will be bringing these supply boxes to the regional meetings beginning next week. Here is what we have available to counties (all paid for by your checkoff dollars!)

• Books for “Cowboys In the Classroom” reading program (We have two books. One for grades K-2 and another for grades 3-5)
• October is Beef Month banners
• Beef brochures and trinkets
• Beef: It’s What’s For Dinner table wrap

Each county will also be receiving a membership packet and table tent to promote the Cowboy tag at upcoming events as well.

Beware of Pirella Mint

We've received word from a west Alabama cattleman that several

neighbors have lost cattle to toxic Perilla mint. While cattle do not normally graze on this plant, drought conditions and short grass have led cattle to eat this bushy, attractive plant that typically grows in shaded areas around farm structures and along fence lines. Cattlemen in the state should spray to kill this weed now and again next spring. Learn more about Perilla mint and its affects on cattle with this article.

We've got a full calendar of events! There's sales and meetings galore. Check them out on our updated Calendar of Events.