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.
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.
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. 
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
