What's Going On Wednesday: May 4, 2016

Happy Wednesday! It feels like yesterday that we typed up last week's post, but here we are a week later and busier than ever. April has escaped us already which means things are about to really fire up in May, especially folks' grills. That's right, it's summertime grilling season, and we are excited. 

There's a lot to be excited about on the ACA's upcoming calendar. Keep reading to find out what's going on and what's coming our way. 

Oh, and Happy (Early) Mother's Day to all our awesome moms out there! 

Membership 

We are working to wrap up membership with 10,715 members as of today and 19 "Over the Top" counties. Congratulations to Barbour, Dallas and Tuscaloosa counties on going "Over the Top" at the last minute. Great job!

Also, don't forget our John Deere Gator drawing sponsored by John Deere, SunSouth, Tri-Green Equipment and Snead Ag. For every new member you recruit, your name and the new member's name will go in the drawing. ACA members also have the opportunity to purchase more chances to win by calling ACA at 334-265-1867.

Legislative Update

The ACA hosted the final meeting of the Ag Coalition this Tuesday and is pleased to report the vast majority of the undesirable bills being monitored by the Ag Coalition did not pass. This includes the Gas Tax bill and four different animal welfare bills that would have negative effects on our industry operations. The Coalition is also pleased to report that money to sustain operations at Garrett Coliseum for this year was signed into the budget. 

The Legislative Session will end today after a grueling evening of filibustering into the wee hours of the night. The topic of today's discussion- the $800 million prison bond. 

Bama's Best Beef Final Four Announced

Our spring beef promotion that kicked off April 4 that highlights Alabama's unique beef dishes has narrowed down a final four. By using the power of social media to drive the contest, we received many nominations of those not-so-average beef dishes made and served right here in Alabama.

The four finalists who will then go head-to-head on social media in a photo contest in the next two weeks. The winner will be determined by the number of "likes" the dish's photo receives. Be sure to help out your hometown restaurants. Check out the final four (in no particular order): 

• Tot Roast- West End Grill, Huntsville
• Filet Mignon Flatbread- FIRE Steakhouse, Atmore
• Roast Beef Sandwich- Claunch Cafe, Tuscumbia
• Deano Burger- Deano's Grill, Jacksonville 

2017 SLE Rode Dates Decided

Last week's meeting of the SLE Executive Committee resulted in the finalization of next year's SLE Rodeo dates. Save the date now for the 2017 SLE Rodeo to be held March 16-18, 2017 at Garrett Coliseum. For all of our exhibiting families out there, these dates also reflect the timetable for the 2017 Junior Beef Expo. 

Wood Fruitticher Food Show

ACA's Director of Checkoff Programs Erin Beasley is headed south for the Wood Fruitticher Food Show tomorrow and Friday to visit with beef customers about beef products. While there, she will also be doing a presentation to the sales force and customers to discuss beef quality information and new cuts that are popular in foodservice.

YCLP Class III

YCLP Class III will kickoff next week in conjunction with the Spring Board Meeting. Twenty-one young cattlemen between 21-40 years of age will begin this year long adventure to learn more about the cattle industry and develop leadership skills. Stay tuned for more information on the individuals in this class.

Northeast Alabama Visit

ACA's Director of Social Media and Communications Kayla Greer will be hitting the road Friday to visit the purchasers of the October Alabama Cattleman magazine cover, Salacoa Valley Brangus. Kayla will have a cover shoot and get information on the operation, so stay tuned for that during October Beef Month. 

After departing from Salacoa Valley, Kayla will head west to Fort Payne for the evening and join ACA President Bill Lipscomb and newly-inducted Alabama Livestock Hall of Fame member and country music legend Randy Owen at his operation for a photo shoot and feature article interview. Bill and Kayla will then enjoy the Tennessee River Music "Dixieland Delight: Red, White & Black" sale. 

Far east from Bill and Kayla will be Jimmy Holliman attending the Timberland Cattle sale. 

Farmer of the Year

We are pleased to submit the nomination of Wendall Gibbs to the Sunbelt Ag Expo Farmer of the Year competition. Information on Gibbs Farms and Mr. Wendall are being prepared to be submitted. Please bid him good luck and congrats if you see him. 

Pickens County Trail Ride

Pickens County is please to be hosting it's 4th annual trail ride at J Bar Ranch in Gordo on Saturday, May 21. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. with a $20 fee per rider. The ride will start at 10 a.m. Lunch will be provided. 

You must RSVP by May 18 to the Pickens County Extension Office. (205) 367-8148 

Tidbits from the Office

• On Monday, Dr. Powell enjoyed an outing with the Alabama Council of Association Executives where they heard from meeting planners on future convention locations in the state.
• We are excited to have a moment to sit and do some housekeeping in the office. On the "to-do list" is consolidating checkoff funding and closing out membership. 
• Preparations for the July issue of the Alabama Cattleman magazine are already in the works. This issue is very large and goes out to over 18,000 households. If you want to advertise, this is your best bet! Contact Nicky Today
• Board Meeting plans for next week are in the works with an agenda being drawn up, final invitations being sent and meetings with staffers about their updates. We can't wait to see our Board members NEXT WEEK on MAY 12!

What's Going On Wednesday: April 27, 2016

This is a day that strikes a chord for many of our state's cattlemen and cattlewomen, especially those in northwest Alabama, as it is the anniversary of the devastating tornadoes that took homes, schools, churches, cities and over 250 lives as it blew it's path across Alabama. We would like to start this week's blog by sending our thoughts to the families who were in any way affected by this tragedy. Whether you lost your home, farm, livestock, family members or your community, you're in our thoughts on this fifth anniversary. It's incredibly hard to come back from a tragedy like that, but we happen to know that our state cattle families are resilient, driven and most importantly, hard working. 

On a happier note from that sad memory, it's been a busy week around the Cattlemen's building in Montgomery. The month of April is slipping out from under us quickly, but it's been a successful month for many reasons. With May just around the corner, we've got lots to look forward to! Keep reading to find out what's going on with the state ACA staff this week!

Membership

We are wrapping up membership with 10,664 members as of today and 16 "Over the Top" counties. We've got 10 counties who are so close to going over the top, and they've got only THREE DAYS left to qualify for the "Over the Top" Priefert chute drawing. 

Get out and get recruiting; not only will it help the state association, but it could win you some awesome prizes. Just in case you need some incentive to get out and recruit, check out these Top Hand Club prizes:

• 5 new members – ACA cap and knife
• 15 new members – ACA shirt
• 25 new members – ACA vest
• 35 new members – ACA Red/Black jacket
• 50 new members - $250

Top Hand Club sponsored by Alabama Ag Credit and Alabama Farm Credit

Also, don't forget our John Deere Gator drawing sponsored by John Deere, SunSouth, Tri-Green Equipment and Snead Ag. For every new member you recruit, your name and the new member's name will go in the drawing. ACA members also have the opportunity to purchase more chances to win by calling ACA at 334-265-1867.

Beef 101

Trenholm State Culinary students, ACA
staff and leadership and ACES agents.

ACA leadership and staff have a busy week with Beef 101. This Monday, ACA President-Elect Richard Meadows, ACA Treasurer LD Fitzpatrick, Macon County's Jason and Misty Edmundson and Tallapoosa County President Jacob Hodnett spent time in Auburn with ACA staffers Erin Beasley and Kayla Greer at the third Beef 101 program this month. Students from this large class included culinary students from Trenholm State Culinary, vet students from Auburn's Veterinary Medicine program and ACES county agents.

ACA President-Elect Richard Meadows
leading a live animal evaluation
conversation.

The group got to learn about cattle production from pasture to plate. They started with learning about the cattle industry as a whole, some vocabulary and types of operations. Questions about GMO's, hormones and anitbiotics in beef and other important indsutry topics were discussed at length. Then the group headed outside to participate in a live animal evaluation led by Dr. Misty Edmundson and Richard Meadows. The group then learned about the slaughter practice with an educational video, followed by a delicious lunch catered by the Auburn Collegiate Cattlemen and CattleWomen. Following lunch, the group enjoyed a tour of the meat lab and a carcass fabrication demonstration. 

We've got the fourth and final Beef 101 program in April coming up this Friday. We will host 75 students from the McAdory Middle School Culinary program, Jeff State Culinary, American Culinary Federation chefs and ACES staff. Coming along to help is YCLP alumni Alex Tigue, Macon County cattleman Jason Edmundson and ACA's Dr. Billy Powell. The film crew from Simply Southern will also be there to cover the event!

Ag Coalition

The Ag Coalition met Tuesday morning in the ACA Board Room to get an update on the current legislative session, which will be winding down shortly. Dr. Powell is still pleased to report that any proposed legislation that would have any effect on our industry is not anticipated to pass during this session.

Chambers County Ladies Night Steak Supper

Thursday evening, ACA Director of Social Media and Communications will hit the road toward Lafayette to be the guest speaker at the group's annual Ladies Night steak supper. Kayla will entertain the ladies with a discussion about taking to social media to promote the cattlemen's lifestyle and product. She is excited to answer questions that the group may have and offer insight to the group on the world of digital marketing. Thanks for the invite, Chambers County Cattlemen's Association! 

SLE Meeting

Also happening on Thursday, the Southeastern Livestock Exposition executive team will be meeting to discuss the final thoughts and figures on the 2016 SLE Rodeo. There's much to be discussed as the rodeo is a huge undertaking! 

Beef Symposium at ACA

The ACA building is the host to many meetings and dinners, and this week was no exception. Cargill hosted a Beef Symposium in the meeting area where a steak dinner was enjoyed and feed reps and producers were educated on beef cattle nutritional plans and the upcoming VFD. 

Magazine Hustle and Bustle

This week is one strongly focused on the May issue of the Alabama Cattleman magazine! Production and editing this week, press next week and your mailbox the next! Dr. Powell and Martha Davis have been busy typing away articles and columns for the Alabama Report and Along the Trail commentary, Kayla and Erin have been getting pics and articles submitted, and Nicky has been working to put it all together along with advertising! We hope you enjoy the upcoming May issue. 

What's Going On Wednesday: March 9, 2016

Convention has come to a close, and we are saddling up for SLE Rodeo at the Cattlemen's building this week. That's right, the SLE Rodeo comes buckin' into town next week, and our team is gearing up for its many events as well as running around town promoting it! The rodeo isn't all that's going on around the ACA, though. 

Keep ready to find out what's going on...

2016 SLE Rodeo

The 59th annual SLE Rodeo comes bucking into town March 17-19. This is a family event you don't wanna miss because this year has all kinds of new events including a parade to kick off SLE week! Tickets are easy to buy:

• Call 1-888-2RODEO2 and order over phone
• Visit www.SLERodeo.com and order online through Ticketmaster.
• Visit the Cattlemen's building in Downtown Montgomery or the Garrett Coliseum and buy your tickets in person
• Mail in a ticket order form, which can her found here. 

You're not going to want to miss this family fun show packed with entertainment! 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 boogie 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). Just in case that's not enough excitement, Thursday night is First Responders & Military Night where FREE general admission is granted to anyone who can present a first responders or military identification. Friday night is Ladies Night where all ladies tickets will be submitted for some juicy door prizes drawn throughout the show! Lastly, bring those battle cries to the rodeo Saturday

The Sweet Young'Uns will perform
Friday evening following the
show, and the Wes Loper Band will
party in true rodeo fashion Saturday! 

 night for College Night, where college students can receive 4 tickets for only $40 with the presentation of a valid college i.d. 

Saddle up and join in the family fun and entertainment for all ages all while enjoying America's original sport, rodeo! Visit our website for more information and a schedule of events or LIKE US on Facebook. 

The MOOseum on Simply Southern

In case you missed it, The MOOseum was featured on last Sunday morning's episode of Simply Southern. Don't worry, you won't have to catch a rerun because it's already on YouTube. Technology is too neat, right? Here's the episode:  (Our segment appears at around 10:00 minutes in the show.)

Book your class or group tour of The MOOseum today! It's easy with our online sign up tool or by calling today. (334) 265-1867 Visit the history room, Slim's Kitchen or the Cow Pen or dress up like a real cowboy or cowgirl in the rodeo room! Come on out to The MOOseum, we'd love to see you.  

Rodeo Promo

Speaking of television, Dr. Billy Powell and Kayla Greer have been busy appearing on television and radio shows promoting the SLE Rodeo and Livestock week. If you listen to or watch WSFA, WAKA, WBAM Bama Country, I-92 WLWI, WTXT The Ticket with Doug Amos and Charlie Trotman, The River or Cumulus with JT and LeeAnn, you're bound to hear from us about the rodeo. More promotions to come this week and next so be listening or watching out!

Cowboy Cookoff- Sign Up Today

Have you got a Ribeye Steak recipe that's popular among crowds? If so, then get ready to get grillin' at this year's Cowboy Cookoff as part of SLE Rodeo week! Join us in front of Garrett Coliseum on

Saturday, March 19 for a Ribeye Steak cookoff you don't wanna miss. Teams of four or less can compete for monetary prizes in the People's Choice and Judge's Panel categories.

Interested in forming a team? Learn more and sign up today!

Membership Update

Total membership for 2016 to date is 10,159! Help us reach our goal of 12,000 members! Reminder: the dues effect went into 
effect as of March 1. 

April 30 is the deadline for Top Hand Club (see prizes in the February Alabama Cattleman) and for your county to go "Over the Top" to qualify for the Priefert Squeeze Chute. April 30 is also the deadline for the Gator raffle. 

Ag Coalition

The Ag Coalition met Tuesday morning to review legislative matters impacting our industries. Legislation has slowed down and both General Fund and Education budgets are slowly making their way through the House and Senate. According to Dr. Billy Powell, there was lots of discussion on the proposed increase in fuel tax and ensuring that funds are dedicated to fixing rural roads and bridges. The Ag Coalition is also monitoring several HSUS-sponsored bills.

Dietitians Farm Tour

This Wednesday afternoon, your Beef Checkoff dollars will go to work as staffers Erin Beasley and Kayla Greer will be joining forces with the fine folks at Autauga Farming Company, including ACA President Bill Lipscomb, to host over 60 dietitians on a farm tour. This is a pre-conference tour hosted as part of the Alabama Dietetics Association State Convention taking place in Montgomery. 

This is an opportunity to show these industry influencers how beef in produced and to answer their questions to teach them that beef is a safe, wholesome, nutritious product. 

Collegiate Livestock Judging Competition

Livestock Week will kickoff Thursday with a bang as over 200 students are participating in the first-ever SLE High School and Collegiate Judging Contest at Garrett Coliseum. Jason P’ Poole of Extension in in charge of this event and is excited to host this large group of talented livestock judgers. 

In Other News...

Dr. Powell met this week with State Statistician Cynthia Price with the USDA National Ag Statistics Service, and she reported that due to budget restraints, the July 1 cattle inventory survey has been suspended. 

What's Going On Wednesday: December 9, 2015

The year is winding down faster than we can prepare for it! There's lots to be done before the ACA closes its doors to celebrate the Christmas season, and your state staffers are staying busy accomplishing those tasks! Check out #WhatsGoingOn this week around the Cattlemen's. Receive updates and reminders to keep you in-the-know! Just keep reading...

Producer Relations Staffer Travels East

ACA staffer Curt Berry has spent most of the week out of the office! Just because he's not behind his desk doesn't mean he's not busy, though. Curt is spending his time this week visiting with producers in Chambers and Randolph counties and in the Wiregrass region. 


He will be visiting the Wiregrass Research Station in Headland to attend the Alabama Forage and Grassland Conference. ACA staff handled the registration for the conference, and the state checkoff is a major sponsor. ACA Vice President Richard Meadows along with Curt will be on hand to greet cattle producers from across the state. Be sure to stop by and visit with them!

Planning for Convention

Dr. Powell, Martha Davis and Erin Beasley spent Monday in Birmingham at the Sheraton Hotel where they toured the facilities with hotel staff and ironed out 2016 Convention and Trade Show details. 

Save the dates for Convention. The Iron City Beef Bash will be held February 26-27, 2016 at the Sheraton Hotel in Downtown Birmingham. Get excited to hear our lineup of speakers and sessions. For example, USMEF Senior VP of marketing Dan Halstorm will serve as a  Convention speaker, and Sen. Richard Shelby is confirmed for the Legislative Luncheon!

Watch for a complete schedule and registration form in the January issue of the Alabama Cattleman and online at www.bamabeef.org.

Politicking

Longtime friend of the Cattlemen's Danny Crawford won the House of Representatives special election Republican run-off in District 5 yesterday by 54%. 

District 5 Representative
Danny Crawford.

Speaking of politics, your ACA lobbyist Dr. Billy Powell is reviewing potential legislation that may come up in the next Legislative Session. He is doing this in preparation of a meeting with the Ag Coalition next week.

 

2016 SLE Rodeo

Lots of exciting things happening on the rodeo front! First, tickets sales open up on ALL platforms TOMORROW...just in time to give them as Christmas gifts!

• Call 1-888-2RODEO2 and order over phone
• Visit www.SLERodeo.com and order online through Ticketmaster.
• Visit the Cattlemen's building in Downtown Montgomery or the Garrett Coliseum and buy your tickets in person
• Mail in a ticket order form, which can her found here. 

You're not going to want to miss this family fun event packed with entertainment! 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 boogie 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). Hey, and just in case that's not enough excitement, Thursday night is First Responders Night where FREE general admission is granted to anyone who can present a first responders identification. Friday night is Ladies Night where all ladies tickets will be submitted for some juicy door prizes drawn for throughout the show! Lastly, bring those battle cries to the rodeo Saturday

night for College Night, where college students can receiver 4 tickets for only $40 with the presentation of a valid college i.d. 

You're not going to want to miss this event! Family fun and entertainment for all ages all while enjoying America's original sport, rodeo! 

Lecile Harris Novel

In celebration of 60 years as a rodeo master comedian, Lecile Harris has released an autobiography title Lecile: This Ain't My First Rodeo. Go on adventures through Lecile's memories and experiences with this book! You can buy it today for $20 at the Cattlemen's building! Stop by today and give the gift of rodeo, clownin' around and good, old-fashioned memories for Christmas!