What's Going On Wednesday: December 2, 2015

It feels like yesterday that we were welcoming November in Montgomery, and now all of a sudden December is here! Christmas countdowns are on, the ACA Christmas decorations are up, hay is being fed to supplement fall grazing and our cattlemen are trading in sweat towels and water jugs for coats and coffee thermoses. It's December which means several things for the ACA. Find out with today's #WhatsGoingOnWednesday Bama Beef Blog post. 

Skip the Shopping Frenzies

Christmastime means shopping. It means finding the perfect gifts for your family and friends. Find the perfect gift for your cattlemen and western enthusiasts at The MOOseum gift shop and the ACA online store. You wouldn't believe all we offer- Montana Silversmith jewelry, Arthur Court serveware, ACA and SLE apparel, books and belt buckles! That's right, and all in-store purchases are 20% off for ACA members. Online purchases come with free shipping for our members- call us for the promo code! SHOP NOW

Pull Out the Recipe Cards

Now through December 15, visit the ACA Facebook page and post your favorite holiday roast recipe for a chance to win a roasting package sure to cook the perfect Christmas roast! The package includes a Crock Pot, meat thermometer and a $25 beef certificate! All you have to do to enter is post your favorite recipe for roast to our page...it's that easy! 

AISA Football All-Stars

The ACA is hosting the Alabama Independent School Association All-Star Football players to a steak dinner this evening at the Cattlemen's Building. The group will also have a discussion about the importance of beef in the diet. Congrats to all the AISA All-Star Football Players and welcome to the ACA.

Tackling Obesity at the ACA

Tomorrow, the ACA will host the Obesity Task Force quarterly meeting in the building. This group is comprised of dietitians and health professionals who aim to improve the obesity epidemic in Alabama. ACA's Erin Beasley will speak to them about beef nutrition resources and give an update on the “Protein + Exercise=Success” challenge we did in October/November with the Family and Consumer Science teachers in Alabama.

Branding Education for Food Service

ACA's Erin Beasley will participate in the sales meeting at Sysco Central AL by providing an educational program on branded beef specifications on Friday. Salesmen will have their questions

answered about marbling scores, carcass maturity, breed programs, etc. It's all in a day's work for the Beef Girl.

SLE Rodeo Tickets 

Speaking of gifts, give the gift of family fun for Christmas this year! Buy SLE Rodeo tickets for your friends or family...or yourself! The 59th Annual SLE Rodeo will come to town March 17-19, 2016 at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. Ticket sales open on all platforms December 10, and there's FIVE easy ways to buy tickets:

1. Print the 2016 Rodeo Ticket Order Form and mail to us at 201 South Bainbridge Street, Montgomery, AL 36104
2. Call 1-888-2RODEO2
3. Purchase at the Alabama Cattlemen’s building or the Garrett Coliseum
4. Purchase online at Ticket Master
5. Purchase at your local Publix stores

You can beat the rush by calling Jessica at 1-888-2RODEO2 today with you order. Call us with questions, and visit www.SLERodeo.com for more information on the 2016 rodeo! Watch out for contests and entertainment announcements on our Facebook page. We're working hard this week on advertising and pursuing sponsorship opportunities. 

In case you didn't know, Pro Rodeo master comedian Lecile Harris is taking the SLE Rodeo stage for our upcoming rodeo to celebrate his 60th anniversary in the business! In celebration of this milestone, Lecile has released an autobiography of his adventures titled Lecile: This Ain't My First Rodeo. Lucky for you, we have them for sale in our gift shop today for $20 (plus shipping, if applicable). Give the gift of laughter and adventure this Christmas and go on a trip through Lecile's memories! 

ACA Convention and Trade Show

Save the dates for the 2016 ACA Convention and Trade Show! Cattlemen will join from across the state on February 26-27, 2016 at the Sheraton in Downtown Birmingham for education, updates, fellowship and a trade show that alone is worth the trip! Senator Richard Shelby and NCBA's Dr. Kim Stackhouse are just two of the speakers to look forward to at this year's convention! ACA staffers are also working with the Sheraton staff to plan menus, room arrangements and prices. The completed schedule along with Convention registration will be released online by December 20. Complete info will be in the January issue of the Alabama Cattleman magazine.

Tidbits, Updates and Announcements:

• The final proof for 2016 State Checkoff Marketing Plan has been sent to press! Copies will be sent to Board of Directors and auction markets statewide. It will also be available online for viewing. 
• The deadline for receiving Foundation scholarship applications has passed. Those applications are now being sorted through and are getting ready for presentation to the selection committee. 
• AU Animal Science scientists will be excited to find out if their funding requests were approved by Board for beef cattle research projects. Be on the lookout for those notifications. 
• Dr. Billy Powell and Curt Berry will be attending the Black and White Bull Sale Friday and Next Step Cattle Company sale on Saturday. They're also stopping by the AGR Christmas Classic steer show in Auburn to support the ACA's sponsorship of the show. While in Auburn, they'll also be presenting the sponsorship check for FFA Steer show the following day.

What's Going On Wednesday: November 4, 2015

Well that's a wrap for the 2015 October Beef Month, and it was successful to say the least! Just because Beef Month is over doesn't mean that your ACA staff is kicking up its boots and taking a breather. It just means it's time to start digging into plans for 2016! ACA Convention, SLE Rodeo, Cowboy Cookoff and Junior and Senior High School Cookoffs are just around the corner! That doesn't include events defined in the 2016 Alabama Beef Checkoff Marketing Plan, which is becoming full of beefy ways to spread the word about our favorite protein! 

Take a second to check out #WhatsGoingOn around the ACA this week!

2016 Marketing Plan

After last week's marketing plan task force meeting, your ACA staffers are glued to the computer screens this week recording all the notes taken and applying them to the marketing plan template! After all the blanks are filled in, budgeting will begin and then the Executive Committee will discuss what we've got! Our marketing plan is the driving force behind all of our beef promotion, education and research in the state, so that's why we pay careful mind to its construction!

November Board Meeting

The next two weeks will be spent preparing for Executive Committee meeting November 18 and November Board meeting the following day. The Board meeting is where budgets for the General Fund, State and National Checkoffs and Foundation will be presented for approval along with 2016 Checkoff Marketing Plan. Be on the lookout for Facebook updates and pictures from the meeting. 

Upcoming County Meetings

Pike County Cattlemen's Association met
November 2 at Cattlemen's Park in Troy.

There's lots of county meetings going on this month! Keep reading to make sure you won't miss yours!

County meetings are important because that's where you can get state updates and get involved on the local level!

• Butler County: Saturday, November 7th 
• Barbour County: Thursday, November 12 at 6:30 pm, Texasville Community House, 2429 County Road 53, Texasville, Alabama. Please RSVP by Wednesday, November 11, 2015, by calling Merri Robinson at (334) 775-3284.
• Sumter County: Thursday, November 19th at 6pm, Livingston Civic Center
• Randolph County: Thursday, November 19th 
• Lauderdale County: Thursday, Nov. 19th at Crosspoint Church of Christ 
• Conecuh County: Sat., November 21st at 6pm, Repton School

October Beef Month- Sysco Promotion

 During October Beef Month, Sysco Gulf Coast ran a “Sell the Sizzle” beef promotion with their sales team. Each salesmen was charged with selling the most beef he/she could during the month. The ACA provided cash prizes to the top sellers. This year’s promotion produced an increase of over 95,000 lbs. of beef compared to September. 

In a climate of high beef prices, this is very positive and a great use of checkoff dollars to keep beef demand high. Hats off to the sales team!

Environmental Stewardship Award

ACA staffer Curt Berry met on Tuesday with Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS), Alabama Dept. of Ag and Industries and Alabama Soil and Water Conservation district representatives to discuss a future annual state contest for a beef cattle environmental stewardship award. The winner from the state contest will be entered into the national contest put on by NCBA. Look for that in the future!

SLE Rodeo Plans in Full Swing

Who's getting ready for the 2016 SLE Rodeo?! We are, and that's why staffers met this week to discuss details for this year's rodeo! There's lots to look forward to, so save the dates for March 17-19. We will see you at the rodeo! 

Be on the lookout for updates and announcements on the SLE Rodeo Facebook page and at www.SLERodeo.com. 

Statewide Bull Sales

CK Cattle in Hope Hull recently hosted
it's annual headquarters sale.

Your ACA state officers and staff have traveled here, there and everywhere across the state visiting bull sales this fall! They've all been top notch with quality bulls, great crowds and solid prices. If you've got questions about upcoming bull sales, call Curt Berry at 334-265-1867 or check out the latest Alabama Cattleman magazine for sale ads and information. 

Alabama Agribusiness Council

ACA Executive VP Dr. Billy Powell is attending the Alabama Agribusiness Council Board meeting today, November 4. He's doing what he can to stay atop the state's agribusiness climate to better serve the ACA members on the legislative and leadership front. 

Save the Date

ACA Convention will be here before you know it! Mark your calendar for February 26-27, 2016 at the Sheraton Hotel in Birmingham for the 2016 ACA Convention and Trade Show! Some great Cattlemen's Colleges and discussions are in the works! You don't want to miss the Convention this upcoming year!

What's Going On Wednesday: October 28, 2015

Believe it or not, November is almost here! While the 2015 year may be winding down, our schedules are not! In fact, you'll find that we are already busy making plans for 2016! It's an exciting time for the ACA with October Beef Month in full swing, Beef Checkoff Marketing Plan task force meetings, a new membership year approaching and Convention just around the corner! Staying busy for Alabama's cattlemen is what the ACA staff loves to do. 

See #WhatsGoingOn this week at the Cattlemen's building in Montgomery!

2016 Marketing Plan Task Force Meets

Each year, a strategic marketing plan must be implemented to dictate how Alabama's beef checkoff dollars will be spent. With 2016 on the horizon, the task force had its first meeting of the strategic planning process on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at the Cattlemen's offices. 

The group of more than 40 Alabama cattlemen and industry influencers gathered Tuesday morning to hear a quick overview of the day from ACA's Dr. Billy Powell and Erin Beasley then were given an overview of national beef checkoff programs from NCBA representative Shawn Darcy. Shawn's talk gave an interesting perspective of what consumers and the millennial generation understand and want of the beef industry.  After Shawn finished up his presentation, the task force divided into three breakout groups focused on producer communication and youth activities, consumer promotion and education and crisis preparedness. To break up the time of the day's long meetings, the group was treated to a delicious steak lunch!

It was a productive day, indeed, and big leaps were taken in the creation of the 2016 Marketing Plan. The ACA staff would like to thank all those who attended and gave their input. Checkoff dollars belong to our state's cattlemen, and we want to make sure we use them to their benefit and desire!

Congrats to The Old Barn Restaurant!

The Old Barn Restaurant in Goshen, AL was named home to the 2015 Best ribeye steak in Alabama! To award this accomplishment, ACA staff and regional media gathered at the restaurant last Friday evening for a press conference and plaque presentation! They even enjoyed sitting down to Alabama's Best Steak!

Bull Sales and Livestock Shows

ACA's Curt Berry has found himself on the roads a lot during this fall season in Alabama. He's traveled from one side of the state to the other attending bull sales. This past weekend, he had the pleasure of attending the Debter Hereford Farm annual sale in Horton, AL in Blount County. This coming Friday, he won't have to travel too far to attend the CK Cattle Bull Sale in Hope Hull, AL near Montgomery.  

Following Friday's sale, Curt will spend his weekend at the Alabama National Fair here in Montgomery offering assistance in the cattle shows that occur during fair season. If any of our AJCA members are planning to be there, look out for Curt and give him a shout! 

SLE Exec and Staff Plans for Rodeo

This afternoon, SLE staffers and the executive committee will meet via conference call to discuss some of the nitty gritty details of the 2016 SLE Rodeo. We are getting very excited for this year's performances, and hope that you are getting ready to attend! Ticket sales will be up before you know it, but until then save the dates for March 17-19, 2016 at the Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery! 

Wrapping Up Beef Month

ACA staffer Erin Beasley will be in Birmingham Thursday, Oct. 29 to finish up October Beef Month activities. At noon, beef will be featured on FOX 6 news in a cooking segment. That evening, 60 dietitians from the area will join the ACA for a beef program to discuss hot topics in the cattle industry and how to incorporate lean beef into a healthy diet. 

Erin's worked hard during October Beef Month, and her efforts are appreciated by staff and Alabama's cattlemen!

County Meetings Galore!

Don't miss your county meeting in November! Here's the information we have on upcoming November meetings!

• Pike County: Monday, November 2 at 6pm, PCCA Building in Troy 
• Butler County: Saturday, November 7th 
• Barbour County: Thursday, November 12 at 6:30 pm, Texasville Community House, 2429 County Road 53, Texasville, Alabama. Please RSVP by Wednesday, November 11, 2015, by calling Merri Robinson at (334) 775-3284.
• Sumter County: Thursday, November 19th at 6pm, Livingston Civic Center
• Randolph County: Thursday, November 19th 
• Lauderdale County: Thursday, Nov. 19th at Crosspoint Church of Christ 
• Conecuh County: Sat., November 21st at 6pm, Repton School

Final Call: Beef Up Your Tailgate

This Saturday, October 31 is your FINAL chance to enter into the October Beef Month #BeefUpYourTailgate contest! It's easy to enter- simply use beef in a tailgate recipe at this weekend's games, take a picture of your friends, family and beef menu item and post it to the ACA Facebook page! It's that easy, and it's worth it for the awesome prize package that comes along with it! Learn more here.  

2016 ACA Membership

Renewal statements will be mailed for 2016 dues next week! Currently dues remain at $30, and the dues increase to $50 will take effect on March 1, 2016.

ACA members are eligible for an amazing discount program! Check it out:

• 1-year subscription to the Alabama Cattleman magazine
• www.bamabeef.org—FREE shipping on purchase online store 
• Cattlemax - 10% discount www.cattlemax.com/alcattle
• The MOOseum—20% OFF your total purchase in store purchase 
• Priesters Pecans—20% OFF a single item at any retail store
• Walker Lands & Cattle, LLC — $250 OFF a purchase of a Gooseneck Brand livestock trailer (Rodney Walker 256-846-5066)
• DELL computers - www.dell.com/mpp AT&T Wireless—http://www.att.com/wireless/aca
• Bush Hog—$250 OFF any Bush Hog Brand product valued at $5,000 or above
• American Fast Lube—$7 OFF an oil changes and 10% off any other service
• Air Evac Lifeteam—$10 OFF any one year membership
• Enterprise Car Rentals—Discounts offered to ACA members 
• Healthy Lifestyle —FREE Pharmacy Card www.bamabeef.pharmacycard.org
• Wyndham Hotel Group—15% OFF rates 

National and State Conventions

Save the dates! The NCBA Beef Meet will be held January 27-29, 2016 in San Diego! To learn more about this year's #BeefMeet and to swing a sweet deal on registration costs, read Region 2 NCBA Marketing Ambassador and ACA member's Michelle Bufkin blog spot HERE. She's happy to help with any questions and offers promotional codes.

Shortly after the 2016 #BeefMeet comes the ACA Convention. The convention will be held in Birmingham this year at the Sheraton Hotel Feb. 26-27, 2016. Be looking out for more information, but until then, save the date!

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.