Someone forgot to remind Mother Nature that it's December here in the great state of Alabama, but she finally got the memo. It's beginning to look (and feel!) a lot like Christmas! The state staff are busy finishing out year-end projects, reviewing the past year, planning for the new year and preparing to close up shop for the Christmas season. That involves a lot of miscellaneous work, but it will all be worth it on January 1 when we can look back over 2015 and be proud of another successful year at the ACA. While we are looking over the year, we want you to look over this week to stay in the know about #WhatsGoingOn...
Legislative Front
ACA Executive VP Dr. Billy Powell and Industry Relations staffer Curt Berry met with the Alabama Ag Coalition Tuesday, Dec. 15 at the Alabama Wildlife Federation's Lanark Park in Millbrook. The group of ag representatives discussed the legislative session that will convene in February and forecasted for possible issues to watch out for. The coalition, with Agriculture Commissioner John McMillan presiding, discussed impending issues from feral hogs to drones.
AJCA Directors Come to Town
Speaking of leadership, Curt has been busy working with other ACA staffers to prepare for next week's AJCA Director's December Meeting and leadership training session. This year's directors will be planning events for 2016, receiving social media, issues management and "ag"vocate training and dining at the Capitol City Club. This will be a great way for the group of old and new directors to network, learn and plan together.
Holiday Roasting Social Media Contest
We're excited to announce that our Holiday Roasting beef promotion on the ACA Facebook page was a hit! The contest generated over 7,000 impressions on the social media front! The lucky winner of our holiday roasting package (Crockpot, meat thermometer and a $25 beef certificate) is Laraine Bradford Morrison! Congrats!ACA & AFC
Dr. Powell and Curt were up bright and early Wednesday morning to speak to the Alabama Farmers Cooperative managers at their winter meeting. Dr. Powell gave an update on the beef cattle industry and an outlook for the future. After breakfast, the two visited the trade show going on at the Convention Center and its vendors. Membership Update
ACA Membership Coordinator Selina Knight is busy entering the Dec. 1 Early Bird paid members. The $200 drawing will take place this Friday, Dec. 18 and will be announced online, so be looking for a post! She also wants to encourage everyone to pay your annual dues NOW at only $30! The dues increase will take effect on March 1, 2016.
Check out the dates below for your upcoming annual meeting:
- Friday, Jan. 8 - Limestone County at the Limestone Co. Event Center at 6:30 pm
- Friday, Jan. 8- Morgan County at Hartselle High School at 6:00 pm
- Saturday, Jan. 9- Marshall County at the Guntersville Recreation Center at 6:00 pm
- Thursday, Jan. 14- Crenshaw County at Tom Harbin Ag Center in Luverne at 7:00 pm
- Thursday, Jan. 14- Hale County at the Hale County Armory in Greensboro at 6:00 pm.
- Friday, Jan. 15- Coffee County
- Friday, Jan. 15 – Lamar County at the Vernon Auditorium at 7:00 pm
- Saturday, Jan. 16th- Colbert County at 5:00 pm
- Saturday, Jan. 16th- Clarke County at Clarke Prep School 6:30 pm
- Sat. Jan. 16th - Cullman County at Cullman Civic Center at 6:00 pm
- Saturday, Jan. 16th- Madison County
- Saturday, Jan. 16th- Walker County at Huckleberry Farms at 6:30 pm.
- Tuesday, Jan. 19th- Talladega County
- Thursday, Jan. 21- Monroe County at the Monroeville Community House
- Thursday, Jan. 21- Houston County at Houston County Farm Center at 6:30 pm
- Thursday, Jan. 28- Lee County at Lazenby Farms 6:00 pm
- Saturday, Jan. 30- Franklin County at 6:00 pm
- Saturday, Jan. 30- Jackson County
- Saturday, Jan. 30- Jefferson County at the Gardendale Civic Center.
- Sunday, Jan. 31- Montgomery County Annual Meeting and Junior Cattlemen County Beef Expo Show at the Teague and Lewis Barns of the Garrett Coliseum. Show starts at 2:30 pm and meeting starts at 5:30 pm.
ACA Holiday Observance
The staff is excited for the annual Christmas party taking place this Friday, Dec. 18. The group will munch on Christmas treats brought in by staffers, fellowship with one another and enjoy an exciting (to say the least) game of Dirty Santa! It's a great way to wrap up a successful year at the ACA and enjoy one another's company. We are all very blessed to work for such a wonderful association and its cattlemen.
The office will be closed Dec. 24- Jan. 4 in observance of the Christmas season and to offer the staff a much-needed break before ACA Convention and SLE Rodeo come to town!
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| Merry Christmas from the ACA staff! |
Other Activities to Note:
The
last speaker for the 2016 ACA Convention has been confirmed. Derrell Peel, Beef Cattle Economist from OKState, will be enlightening listeners at a Zoetis Cattlemen's College on what to expect with the market. Registration for convention will be in the January magazine as well as online! Don't miss out- the dates are Feb. 26-27 at the Sheraton Hotel in Downtown Birmingham.
Save the dates for the 2016 SLE Rodeo- March 17-19. Staffers are working on an advertising schedule, so start looking and listening out for information coming soon! In the meantime, we'll fill you in! Frontier Rodeo Company, PRCA's Stock Contractor of the Year, will be bringing their best including PRCA Saddle Bronc of the Year, Medicine Woman! In between the bucking, bulldoggin' and barrels, Pro Rodeo master comedian Lecile Harris will entertain the crowd while celebrating 60 years in the business! Don't forget your dancin' boots because following Friday and Saturday nights' performances, you'll get to go Dancin' in the Dirt to the Sweet Young'Uns (Friday) and the Wes Loper Band (Saturday). Visit SLERodeo.com to learn more about this year's show! Family fun and entertainment for all ages all while enjoying America's original sport, rodeo!
Each year, Dr. Powell sits down with each staffer for a one-on-one meeting to review the past year's work, achievements and lessons learned and create goals and objectives for the new year. This week has been full of reviewing and creating a 2016 Calendar of Events.
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