What's Going On Wednesday: March 23, 2016

Forgive us for not getting a post out last week. In the midst of all the craziness from the SLE Rodeo, tasks had to be prioritized. On the bright side, things are finally slowing down around the ACA office, and we're back to tell you all about what's going on and what's ahead for the ACA. Keep reading to stay in touch with your state office staff. There's lots to look forward to around here!

SLE Rodeo Rides Away

We are saying "so long" to the 59th annual SLE Rodeo and packing away all that comes with it. This year's rodeo featured the best bucking stock and cowboys we've ever seen. You'd have to go to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas to see better competition. Not only that, but an arena record was broken in barrel racing.

We had incredible attendance and feedback from outside events that happened around the rodeo. Folks loved having the Cinch Junior and Senior High School Rodeo in the Garrett Coliseum arena, and a huge highlight this year was the inaugural 4-H, FFA and Collegiate Livestock Judging Competition where over 200 students judged beef cattle, hogs, sheep and goats at Garrett Coliseum. Five SEC teams also were there to practice their judging on their way to Houston Rodeo. It was a fantastic event with a great turnout. The NBHA barrel racing, team roping and Junior Beef Expo events also had a great turnout with impressive competition.

Alabama Ag Credit

The Cowboy Cookoff was a success with about 300 people showing up to help judge the People's Choice category. Congrats to Alabama Ag Credit for winning 1st place in People's Choice and Judge's Panel and to team "Grill Me Tender" for taking second on the Judge's Panel. 

Membership

We are within 1500 members of our 12000 member goal, folks! Get out and get recruiting; not only will it help the state association, but it could win you some awesome prizes. We have had 16 counties go "Over the Top," and they all received 20 SLE Rodeo tickets, courtesy of the SLE. Just in case you need some incentive to get out and recruit, check out these 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, Snead Ag. For every new member you recruit, your name and the new members names go in the drawing. ACA members also have the opportunity to purchase more chances to win by calling ACA at 334-265-1867.

A Checkoff Preview

Your checkoff dollars will be used to educate a wide variety of influencers next month. April will feature four BEEF 101 programs at Auburn University, a dinner and discussion meeting with Montgomery Dietetic Association and a farm tour at CK Cattle Company in Hope Hull for culinary students and chefs. Get ready for some great updates from these worthwhile events.

A new contest, Bama’s Best Beef, will kick off on Monday, April 4th. This online contest will be completely consumer driven to find the most unique and delicious beef dish served at an Alabama restaurant. Stay tuned for more details as we get closer to the promotion kick-off!

Alabama Legislature

The Ag Coalition continues to monitor the activity of the Alabama Legislative Session. The session is about at its halfway point and will take next week off for Spring Break. Particular interest has been taken in monitoring the General Fund and Education budgets, and to date, they are moving along without any revenue increases that would negatively affect Alabama agriculture. 

Speaking of government, Dr. Billy Powell, ACA President Bill Lipscomb and President-Elect Richard Meadows are finalizing their plans for their trip to Washington D.C. While there, the trio will join with 30 other state cattlemen's associations to attend the Spring Legislative Conference. This trip will provide our state cattlemen's representatives with the opportunity to go on office visits with Alabama's congressional delegation!

Welcome Back, Madison

Madison Tew worked tirelessly to make
the 9th annual AJCA Round-Up a
success!

We are excited to announce that the young and talented Madison Tew of Dale County will be returning to her desk at the ACA office again as the summer intern. Madison' main task will, of course, be to plan the AJCA Round-Up held July 22-23 at Garrett Coliseum's livestock barns. 

Madison will be joining us on an official internship required as part of her agricultural communications curriculum at Mississippi State University. She was the taskmaster of last year's show and did an outstanding job, so we are excited to have her on the team for the 10th annual AJCA Round-Up!

YCLP Class III

County Presidents should be on the lookout for applications for the Young Cattlemen's Leadership Program- Class III. Those will be coming your way shortly as the class's first meeting will be May 11 in Montgomery. Be thinking about your nominations. 

Good Friday

After an eventful two months, the ACA staff will be enjoying some rest at home in honor of Good Friday, March 25. The office will be closed all day, but we will return bright and early on Monday morning. 

What's Going On Wednesday: Feb. 17, 2016

The countdown to Convention is beginning to dwindle! The staff is busy in preparation for the big event next week and are looking so forward to seeing all the attendees, hear all the speakers and enjoying all the food, fellowship and fun. There's so much to look forward to, but Convention isn't the only thing on your state staff's calendar. We're here, there and everywhere working to represent Alabama cattlemen and the beef industry.

Saddle up for a update on what's going on around the ACA this week:

Membership Update

Total membership for 2016 to date is 7,512! Help us reach our goal of 12,000 members! This month is your final opportunity to renew or join at the $30 rate. The dues increase will take effect on March 1st. 

Dates to remember for membership- Feb. 26 is the final chance for your county to go "Over the Top" by five members to qualify for the President's red coat. Congrats to Colbert, Crenshaw and Sumter counties who have already gone "Over the Top." Good work getting your membership up this year!

April 30 is the deadline for Top Hand Club (see prizes in the January 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. 

Stay up to date on events coming your way by visiting the Cattlemen's Calendar. 

ACA Convention and Trade Show- NEXT WEEK!

ACA officers and staff are finalizing plans for the “Iron City Beef Bash” coming up in Birmingham! It's going to be a great time of fellowship and education, so don't miss out.

If you haven't regisitered for the 73rd annual ACA Convention and Trade Show, then now's the time! Pre-registration, which would sign you up for meals, closes February 18.

We have a great lineup of guest speakers and a sold-out trade show for the Iron City Beef Bash Alabama Senior Senator Richard Shelby will be the keynote speaker at the legislative luncheon while Kim Stackhouse-Lawson, Ph.D., Administrator for the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, will be the general session guest speaker. Other guest speakers include USMEF's Dan Halstrom who will speak on "What Lies Ahead for the Beef Export Market," Soren Rodning, DMV, from Auburn University, nationally-recognized Extension Ag Economist Dr. Derrell Peel from Oklahoma State University and NCBA Executive Director of Producer Education Josh White. 

Our trade show is sold out with over 60 vendors including companies like Tri-Green, Priefert, Fuller Supply, Deep South Livestock, Merck, New Holland North America, Southern Silage Company, Drummonds Farms, BamaWise, Verizon Wireless and many, many more! The trade show alone is worth the trip to the Iron City!

Friday night's Rotational Grazing is going to be a great time for all with fun, fellowship and boot, scoot and boogy-in' to Tim Tyler the Piano Man! We also have a great selection of items for Beef PAC auction planned for Friday night with World Champion Auctioneer Branden Neely along with some very interesting items. You do not have to be present to participate and we will send you a list of auction items soon!

A special thanks to this year's Convention sponsors Alabama Farm Credit/Alabama Land Credit, Alabama Farmers Cooperative. Alabama Farmers Federation, AgriLabs, Alabama CattleWomen’s Association, First South Farm Credit, Fuller Supply Company/Preifert Ranch Equipment, Morgan Stanley, ServisFirst Bank, Southeast AgNet and the Southeastern Livestock Exposition.

More information regarding this year's convention is in January's issue of the Alabama Cattleman and there will be more in February's upcoming issue. Register online or by mail today by clicking the link above. Reserve your room at the Sheraton: CLICK HERE or call 205-324-500 BEFORE Feb. 21!

(Group code: AL CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION)

ACA Staff Promotes the Convention

Staffers Kayla Greer and Curt Berry hit the road early Monday morning in route to Hoover to do a live interview with ACB33|40 "Talk of Alabama." Want to see the interview? CLICK HERE

Legislative Front- Ag Coalition Meets at ACA

To stay in touch with other agribusinesses and commodities during the ongoing legislative session, the Ag Coalition meets in the ACA building on Tuesday to discuss upcoming bills and legislative discussions.

The Legislature is meeting three days this week instead of the normal two. According to ACA's lobbyist Dr. Billy Powell, hall talk now is that the necessary sunset bills are handled, to start moving on the General Fund budget in the Senate and the Education Budget in the House. Everyone Dr. Powell has spoken with sure hopes to end this session early with all work completed  so they will not need to be called back into any Special Sessions.

It's important to have an Association representative monitoring and protecting your livelihood while you continue to invest in it. To donate to the PAC, click here. 

Sysco Central Alabama Promotion

The beef checkoff is funding another beef sales promotion with Sysco Foodservice. Three weeks into the two-month promoti

on, an increase of over 10,000 lbs of beef have already been sold. The sales team at Sysco is working hard to sell as much as they can to try and win the grand prize of a Yeti cooler. Stay tuned for the results of this great beef promotion.

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!

State Beef Checkoffs Meet in Austin, TX

Dr. Powell will spend Thursday and Friday at a State Checkoff Execs meeting in Austin, TX hosted by the Texas Beef Council. To date, there are 14 states with separate checkoff programs and another 10+ states working on their own program. The purpose of this meeting is to share ideas and discuss ways to work more closely together.  

Social Media Update

Staffer Kayla Greer has been working with national staff to get recommendations for improving our social platforms from the NCBA digital lab. After an evaluation and several phone calls and email conversations, some new ideas have been discussed. Stay tuned to our social platforms to see what happens. 

FACEBOOK

TWITTER
INSTAGRAM

JBE Planning

Staffer Curt Berry is burning up the Junior Beef Expo planning grounds. This week, his focus has been primarily on breaking up the classes for the heifer and steer shows, organizing and ordering ribbons and finalizing sponsorships. Curt has been working closely with Nate Yeager, Jimmy Holliman, Rusty Roden and Van Smith to plan this year's show and is very appreciative of all the hard work and support this group has put forth! Great job, gentlemen. 

The 2016 Junior Beef Expo will take place March 18-20 at the Garrett Coliseum livestock barns. 

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 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 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.

What's Going On Wednesday: February 10, 2016

WHEW! The staffers had mentally prepared for a busy first few months of 2016 but WOW, things are moving quickly. It's all good, exciting things taking place here at the ACA, so keep reading to find out #WhatsGoingOn this Wednesday around the ACA. 

Membership Update

Total membership for 2016 to date is 7,092! Help us reach our goal of 12,000 members! This month is your final opportunity to renew or join at the $30 rate. The dues increase will take effect on March 1st. 

Dates to remember for membership- Feb. 26 is the final chance for your county to go "Over the Top" by five members to qualify for the President's red coat. Congrats to Colbert and Sumter counties who have already gone "Over the Top." Steve James from Colbert County has been hard at working recruiting members, and with the help from his Board, they have gone over by 15 with 162 members! Sumter County also has a new president, Sid Nelson, and is over by eight with 94 members! Good work getting your membership up this year!

April 30 is the deadline for Top Hand Club (see prizes in the January 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. 

This Week's County Meetings:
Thursday, Feb. 11: Baldwin, 6pm
                               Autauga, 6pm
                               Washington
Friday, Feb. 12: Calhoun, 6pm
                           Pickens

Learn more by viewing the Cattlemen's Calendar. 

Legislative Front

ACA's lobbyist Dr. Billy Powell is monitoring the Legislative Session during the second week. In just two short weeks, over 200 bills have been introduced, and that's why it's important to have an Association representative monitoring and protecting your livelihood while you continue to invest in it. To donate to the PAC, click here.

The Ag Legislative Coalition met Tuesday in the ACA Board Room. The Coalition is watching discussions on raising fuel taxes to be sure that rural bridges and roads are a top priority.

Also on Tuesday, Dr. Powell participated in the Alabama Agribusiness Council Board meeting and Legislative Reception.

SLE Rodeo Kickoff Media Luncheon

Don Gay from Frontier Rodeo Co. as
he is interviewed by WSFA

Wednesday was a busy day as the ACA staff put on its SLE staff hat to help coordinate and operate the SLE membership meeting and the Kickoff Media Luncheon. Fifty-nine members of the Montgomery media enjoyed a delicious steak meal, got the details about the SLE Rodeo Week and heard eight-time world champion bull rider Don Gay talk about the plans to produce one of the best rodeos east of the Mississippi. We appreciate Don for flying in for today's meeting!

View more pics from the event on the SLE Rodeo Facebook Page.

ACA Convention and Trade Show

ACA officers and staff are finalizing plans for the “Iron City Beef Bash” coming up in Birmingham! It's going to be a great time of fellowship and education, so don't miss out.

If you haven't registered for the 73rd annual ACA Convention and Trade Show, then now's the time! Pre-registration, which would sign you up for meals, closes February 18.

We have a great lineup of guest speakers and a sold-out trade show for the Iron City Beef Bash Alabama Senior Senator Richard Shelby will be the keynote speaker at the legislative luncheon while Kim Stackhouse-Lawson, Ph.D., Administrator for the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, will be the general session guest speaker. Other guest speakers include USMEF's Dan Halstrom who will speak on "What Lies Ahead for the Beef Export Market," Soren Rodning, DMV, from Auburn University, nationally-recognized Extension Ag Economist Dr. Derrell Peel from Oklahoma State University and NCBA Executive Director of Producer Education Josh White. 

Our trade show is sold out with over 60 vendors including companies like Tri-Green, Priefert, Fuller Supply, Deep South Livestock, Merck, New Holland North America, Southern Silage Company, Drummonds Farms, BamaWise, Verizon Wireless and many, many more! The trade show alone is worth the trip to the Iron City!

Friday night's Rotational Grazing is going to be a great time for all with fun, fellowship and boot, scoot and boogy-in' to Tim Tyler the Piano Man! Other entertainment and a photo booth sponsored by the Southeastern Livestock Expo will be available as well!

A special thanks to this year's Convention sponsors Alabama Farm Credit/Alabama Land Credit, Alabama Farmers Cooperative. Alabama Farmers Federation, AgriLabs, Alabama CattleWomen’s Association, First South Farm Credit, Fuller Supply Company/Preifert Ranch Equipment, Morgan Stanley, ServisFirst Bank, Southeast AgNet and the Southeastern Livestock Exposition.

More information regarding this year's convention is in January's issue of the Alabama Cattleman and there will be more in February's upcoming issue. Register online or by mail today by clicking the link above. Reserve your room at the Sheraton: CLICK HERE or call 205-324-500 BEFORE Feb. 21!

(Group code: AL CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION)

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 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 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.

Social Media Contest

You have until THIS FRIDAY to "share" this picture on the SLE Rodeo Facebook page to earn a chance to win two tickets to this year's Friday night rodeo! Don't miss out on this great opportunity! 

Click Here to Share

What's Going On Wednesday: Feb. 3, 2016

Rain, rain go away. Our cattlemen have cattle to feed today. 

We hope that all fared through this line of heavy storms well and that damages (if any) were minimal. It's a busy week as usual around the office and there's still a lot to get handled before we head north to Birmingham for Convention at the end of this month. Where, oh where, did January go? 

Keep reading to catch up with #WhatsGoingOn this rainy Wednesday around the ACA Building:

Membership Update

Total membership for 2016 to date is 6,646. This month is your final opportunity to renew or join at the $30 rate. The dues increase will take effect on March 1st. 

Dates to remember for membership. Feb. 26 is the final chance for your county to go "Over the Top" by five members to qualify for the President's red coat. April 30 is the deadline for Top Hand Club (see prizes in the January 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. 

This Week's County Meetings:
Thursday, Feb. 4: Cherokee, 6pm
                             Mobile, 7pm
                             Henry, 6:30pm
                             Tallapoosa, 6pm
                             Chambers, 6:30pm CST
Friday, Feb. 5:     Dale
Saturday, Feb. 6: Russell, 6pm EST
                            Choctaw, 6pm 
                            Fayette, 7pm 
                            Elmore, 6pm

Learn more by viewing the Cattlemen's Calendar. 

Legislative Front

The 2016 Legislative Session got underway Tuesday, and we expect another battle on the General Fund budget. There is very little support for increasing revenue so more cuts in agency funding appear to be on the table. President Jim Akin and Dr. Billy Powell listened closely to Governor Bentley’s “State of the State” address Tuesday evening, especially as he talked about plans to strengthen rural Alabama.

Did You Say the Cow Herd is Rebuilding?

We sure did...The nation’s cowherd is rebuilding after a downslide that bottomed out in 2014, according to the USDA’s January 1 inventory. The inventory showed that all cattle and calves in the U.S. totaled 92 million head, a 3% increase above the 89.1 million head on January 1, 2015.

In Alabama, cattle and calves showed an increase of 50,000 head as of January 1, making the new count 1.25 million head-

a whopping 104% increase. The increase also was reflected in beef cows and heifers that have calved. That number jumped three percent to 673,000 head, representing 21,000 more beef cows in the state.

Lauderdale County Cattle Rustling

In light of the unfortunate calf butchering occurrences that have taken place on Lauderdale County cattle operations, the ACA urges state cattlemen and cattlewomen to remember the Cattle Theft Reward member benefit.

The ACA offers a Cattle Theft Reward program that prizes $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone stealing or destroying cattle on ACA member property. In order to qualify for the reward program, the following conditions must be met:

• The owner of the stolen/destroyed cattle must be a member in good standing of the ACA. 
• One or more of the ACA “No Trespassing” signs must have been posted on the farm at the time of the offense. 
• Applications for the award must be filed with the ACA within 30 days after the final conviction for the person stealing or destroying the cattle. 
• The president of the county chapter in which the cattle were stolen must certify that all of these rules and regulations were complied with.

It is important to note that law enforcement officers, stockyard employees or owners, part owners or employees of the cattle stolen or destroyed are not eligible of the reward. 

The ACA offers tips to its members that help deflect cattle rustling on Alabama farms. These tips include tattooing and branding cattle for the purpose of identification instead of relying solely on ear tagging, ensuring that the brand used is registered with the Stockyards & Brands Division of the Department of Agriculture and keeping detailed records on the type, description and number of cattle in each location. Other useful tips include locating loading pens away from highways, never keeping cattle penned overnight and varying the times of checking on or feeding cattle to keep employees, neighbors and others from noticing a pattern in daily routines.

Auburn Ag Alumni Wall of Honor

Dr. Billy Powell is headed to Auburn Thursday to be there in support of friends getting introduced onto the Auburn Ag Alumni Wall of Honor. Past ACA president Wayne Thames and longtime colleagues Jim Cravey and Dr. Stanley Wilson are being inducted. Barbour County cattlemen Walter Sonny Corcoran and longtime professor in Department of Animal Science and Alabama Livestock Hall of Fame member, Dr. Ralph Harris, are also being inducted posthumously.

ACA Convention and Trade Show

President Akin and Dr. Billy will go over final plans for the “Iron City Beef Bash” coming up in Birmingham while Jim is in Montgomery for the Legislative Session. The two, along with the rest of the state officer team and staffer Curt Berry, have been busy traveling across the state to visit county Annual Meetings to give updates on state programs and happenings. 

If you haven't registered for the 73rd annual ACA Convention and Trade Show, then now's the time! Pre-registration, which would sign you up for meals, closes February 18.

We have a great lineup of guest speakers and a sold-out trade show for the Iron City Beef Bash Alabama Senior Senator Richard Shelby will be the keynote speaker at the legislative luncheon while Kim Stackhouse-Lawson, Ph.D., Administrator for the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, will be the general session guest speaker. Other guest speakers include USMEF's Dan Halstrom who will speak on "What Lies Ahead for the Beef Export Market," Soren Rodning, DMV, from Auburn University, nationally-recognized Extension Ag Economist Dr. Derrell Peel from Oklahoma State University and NCBA Executive Director of Producer Education Josh White. 

Our trade show is sold out with over 60 vendors including companies like Tri-Green, Priefert, Fuller Supply, Deep South Livestock, Merck, New Holland North America, Southern Silage Company, Drummonds Farms, BamaWise, Verizon Wireless and many, many more! The trade show alone is worth the trip to the Iron City!

Friday night's Rotational Grazing is going to be a great time for all with fun, fellowship and boot, scoot and boogy-in' to Tim Tyler the Piano Man! Other entertainment and a photo booth sponsored by the Southeastern Livestock Expo will be available as well!

A special thanks to this year's Convention sponsors Alabama Farm Credit/Alabama Land Credit, Alabama Farmers Cooperative. Alabama Farmers Federation, AgriLabs, Alabama CattleWomen’s Association, First South Farm Credit, Fuller Supply Company/Preifert Ranch Equipment, Morgan Stanley, ServisFirst Bank, Southeast AgNet and the Southeastern Livestock Exposition.

More information regarding this year's convention is in January's issue of the Alabama Cattleman and there will be more in February's upcoming issue. Register online or by mail today by clicking the link above. Reserve your room at the Sheraton: CLICK HERE or call 205-324-500 BEFORE Feb. 21!

(Group code: AL CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION)

Social Media Update

The ACA's online presence and popularity has really taken a leap! On Tuesday, the ACA Facebook page celebrated reaching 6,000 likes, a 2,000 likes increase from May 2015. With weekly consumer-and-producer-targeted posts, this means the ACA is spreading the good word about beef and cattle production to more than 6,000 daily! It's Director of Social Media Kayla Greer's goal to have 8,000 likes by year-end. 

If you don't already "like" us, click here and do so! Enter our contests to win awesome, beefy prizes and follow our daily posts to learn more about the industry and about our favorite protein, beef!

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 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 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.

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.