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!
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!
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