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!

What's Going On Wednesday: August 19, 2015

We weren't kidding when we said August was a busy month! Brace yourself because you're about to see why! Get the scoop about what's happening in the ACA office for this week's #WhatsGoingOnWednesday!

The MOOseum Remodel

ACA staff is getting re-engaged this week on The MOOseum renovation project. After 20+ years and thousands of families later, it could use a freshening up! That's why Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week have in part been dedicated to the project and deciding on needed upgrades and how to accomplish those!

We are excited for the future of The MOOseum and its ability after this renovation to integrate into the hands-on, technological world we live in...but don't worry, that good ole' Alabama Cattlemen's heritage will still remain nestled at the very core of The MOOseum. 

Speaking of The MOOseum, if you're a school teacher or home school teacher looking for a fun educational experience for your students, book your tour today! Just call Jessica at (334) 265-1867!

Alabama's Best Steak

Congratulations to the 2015 Alabama's Best Steak contest "Fiery 4" finalists! 

• OH! Bryan's Family Steakhouse, Tuscumbia
• Bull Pen Steakhouse, Oakman
• Elmer's Restaurant, Notasulga
• The Old Barn Restaurant, Goshen 

These four finalist will compete in anonymous taste-test judging throughout the month of September! Stay tuned to find out who's home to Alabama's best ribeye steak!

Political Front

The ACA will be working with the Alabama Farmers Federation to co-host a fundraiser for Danny Crawford, a long-time ag leader and special election candidate for House District 5. The fundraiser will be held Thursday, August 20 from 4-6 pm at the ACA building. 

Bettering Alabama's BQA

Friday, August 21 will host a meeting for Alabama's Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program. Dr. Soren Rodning is the recently-named BQA coordinator for the state of Alabama, and ACA staff will be meeting with him Friday to discuss ideas for expansion of the program in the state and ways to increase the number of BQA-certified producers across Alabama. 

Stay tuned on upcoming BQA programs!

ACA Summer Board Meeting

On August 27, ACA Board members will gather from around the state to discuss upcoming events, vote on association matters and get an update from the executive office. A reminder to the Board members to mark their calendars and an encouragement to our members to contact your county president following the meeting to get updates about what went on. As a member, it's important to stay in the know!

Save the Dates

Go ahead and mark your calendars for the 2016 ACA Convention and SLE Rodeo. The ACA Convention will be held February 26-27 at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Birmingham, and the SLE Rodeo comes to town March 17-19 at Garrett Coliseum. 

Save the dates and get excited for our upcoming events! We can't wait to see you there!

Growing the AJCA

The Alabama Junior Cattlemen's Association (AJCA) is more than just calf shows. It's more than scholarships, ribbons and awards. It's a way to involve Alabama's youth in the beef industry so that they can learn early about our industry. Building on that education, it's a way to train, mold and develop our youth into future leaders. It's a way for today's leaders to invest in tomorrow's success. 

We firmly believe in this at the ACA, and that's why staffer Curt Berry has been assigned the task to increase AJCA member numbers across the state. Help him in this task, and sign your kids up! Click here to join online today!