What's Going On Wednesday: September 2, 2015

Hello, September! 

Who's ready for Fall weather and college football?

How did September sneak up on us so quickly? The year is probably slipping out from under us so quickly because we stay so wrapped up in industry events and happenings. You know what they say- time flies when you're having fun!

Check out #WhatsGoingOn this week in the Cattlemen's building to keep the staff busy working for you and your prized product- beef! Let us know if there's anything we can do for you. Our phones are always on, and our email addresses are just >one click< away.

2016 Junior Beef Expo Planning Underway

On Monday, August 31, the Alabama Youth Livestock Show Association, which is comprised of a group of producers and industry representatives from Extension 4-H, FFA, the Alabama Farmers Federation, the Southeastern Livestock Exposition and the ACA, me to finalize plans for the 2016 Junior Beef Expo. The #JBE16 will be held March 18-20, 2016 at the Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery during the SLE Rodeo.

Be on the loockout for information regarding the JBE. Entry deadline will October 30, 2015! Entry information will be sent to agriscience teachers and County Extension Agents on deadlines and how to attain EID tags for show livestock.

Beef Checkoff Work

This week ACA staffer Erin Beasley is working with the Auburn University Hospitality and Restaurant Management students.

Tuesday, September 1 she gave a lecture to students about cattle production and beef quality information Barney Wilborn from the meat lab covered pork quality. 

Thursday the students will do a lab at the Lambert-Powell Meat Lab to see how cattle are graded and how to fabricate a carcass. There are about 50 students in the class and most will go into a management role with a hotel, restaurant, resort or catering company. They will need to understand beef and how to order product with their job.

Promoting ACA

In the past week, ACA staffer Kayla Sellers has made multiple trips to Auburn to speak to different ag communications clubs and classes on the impact social media has in agriculture! While there, Kayla promoted ACA membership and online engagement to the millennial audience and got feedback on what social media they preferred! She will apply this information she learned going forward in her online endeavors!

The MOOseum Renovation

Yesterday, September 1, ACA staffers Billy Powell, Curt Berry and Kayla Sellers met to continue working on The MOOseum remodel project! Exciting things are in the future for The MOOseum, and we are looking forward to offering Alabama's youth a more modernized learning experience about the beef industry!

If you're interested in booking a tour for your class, contact Jessica or call (334) 265-1867.

Alabama General Fund

Today, ACA Executive Director Dr. Billy Powell will join with other Alabama ag leaders at a press conference called by Ag Commissioner John McMillian to discuss the impact of potential budget cuts in his department. These budget cuts could be a result of the budget voted on by the Alabama legislature during the Special Session.

Legislative Update

Speaking of Special Session, Gov. Robert Bentley called a second Special Session to begin Sept. 8 on Capitol Hill in Montgomery.

In preparation for the Special Session, the Ag Coalition will meet in the ACA building Sept. 8 to prepare for and discuss possible legislation to correct the $200 million shortfall in the General Fund.

Marketing Plan Meeting

With cattle sales down significantly for the year, ACA staff met today (Wednesday) to discuss the marketing plan to prioritize checkoff-funded programs for the remainder of the year.

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