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!

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.

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.

What's Going On Wednesday: September 30, 2015

Your ACA staff is preparing for one busy month kicking off TOMORROW. That's right- October Beef Month is rolling back into town, and we are excited for all the beefy happenings that comes with it. Stay tuned for weekly updates on what's happening this #OctBeefMonth and check out today's #WhatsHappeningWednesday for an update on this week's business at the Cattlemen's building.

Beef Month Kickoff

You heard it from us! October Beef Month kicks off tomorrow! Call us today if your county is interested in participating in Cowboys in the Classroom, an elementary school program where our Cattlemen visit classes to teach students about the farm. Also, call us if your county needs promotional items for county fairs. We are here to help, and can't wait for all the beefy events to take place during this exciting time of year!

If you need a press release for events happening in your county contact Erin or Kayla. They want to hear about it!

Breakin' Bread Food Festival

The ACA group at the Breakin' Beef
Food Festival in Birmingham.

Jim and Kay Akin, several Auburn University Collegiate Cattlemen and CattleWomen, Erin, Selina and Curt promoted beef at the Breakin' Bread Food Festival this past Sunday at the Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham, Ala. The group served beef sundaes, handed out October Beef Month promotional items and sponsored the Iron Chef Competition at the event. 

Jim Akin poses with Chef Joe Resha
and his Culinard apprentices.

Chef Joe Resha from JoJo’s on Broadway in Birmingham won the Iron Chef Competition. He survived two heats of competition to stake his claim as winner.

Get Moving Alabama

Today, we are kicking off the #GetMovingAL challenge with the Alabama Obesity Task Force and the Alabama Department of Education FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America). Family and Consumer Science classes are tasked with submitting a video of how

they are getting involved with the 30-day protein challenge, funded by the National Beef Checkoff, as a way to "Get Moving!"  Stay tuned on our Facebook page for video submissions made by classes across the state!

#BeefUpYourTailgate

Speaking of Facebook, it wouldn't be fall without football. It wouldn't be football with tailgating. We want to see your tailgates! Our first-ever #BeefUpYourTailgate contest kicks off tomorrow and invites football fans and tailgate activists across the state of Alabama to post a picture on our Facebook page featuring your tailgate set up, football fans and of course, your favorite tailgate food- BEEF! 

On November 1, a winner will be selected and will receive a $250 prize package. The package comes with a Weber Smoky Joe Premium grill, a grilling utensil set, $100 beef gift card, 2 ACA 24-oz. Tervis Tumblers and a Ready.Set.Sizzle. apron for grilling! 

Contest rules and guidelines will be up on the Facebook tomorrow! Get grillin' and get postin'! #BeefUpYourTailgate

BEEF 101

Thursday, October 1 not only hosts the first day of #OctBeefMonth, but it brings another BEEF 101 course at the Lambert-Powell Meats Lab in Auburn. Erin, Curt and local cattlemen will be educating 35 students and teachers from Robertsdale High School Family and Consumer Science program about the beef industry and product. 

Chambers County Meeting

Curt will be visiting the Chambers County Cattlemen's Association meeting Thursday evening. Be prepared to meet with him and ask him your questions. If you're interested in having ACA state staff at your county meeting, give us a call at (334) 265-1867. 

Ag Round-Up

The Auburn University Ag Round-Up is taking place as part of their Homecoming tradition this Saturday, October 3 at the ALFA Pavilion from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Commodities from around the state will be there with food, and AU ag clubs will provide games and entertainment. Stop by and see us at the Beef tent!