What's Going On Wednesday: So Long, 2015!

Who can believe that there's just over a week left in the 2015 year? The state staffers feel so blessed and honored to be working for the best cattlemen there are, Alabama cattlemen. This is the last #WhatsGoingOn blog post of 2015. As we reflect over the year, it's been an exciting one for sure, but one that wouldn't be possible without our outstanding state officers, executive committee, Board, county officers, members and partner organizations. Happy New Year- let's make 2016 the best yet!

AJCA Directors Visit the Capitol City

ACA Director of Industry Relations and Youth Activities Curt, with the help of the state staff team, hosted a successful  AJCA Director's December meeting and leadership training session. The directors planned events for 2016, received social media, issues management and "ag"vocate training and dined at the Capitol City Club. Not only did they get to enjoy one another's company, but they learned great leadership skills to be used in the future and prepared for an exciting 2016 year!

Membership Update and County Annual Meetings

ACA Membership Coordinator Selina Knight wants to encourage everyone to pay annual dues NOW at only $30 or pay for three years at only $90! This is a reminder that the dues increase will take effect on March 1, 2016!

Check out the dates below for your upcoming annual meeting:

• Friday, Jan. 8 - Limestone County at the  Limestone Co. Event Center at 6:30 pm
• Friday, Jan. 8- Morgan County at Hartselle High School at 6:00 pm 
• Saturday, Jan. 9- Marshall County at the Guntersville Recreation Center at 6:00 pm
• Thursday, Jan. 14- Crenshaw County at Tom Harbin Ag Center in Luverne at 7:00 pm
• Thursday, Jan. 14- Hale County at the Hale County Armory in Greensboro at 6:00 pm. 
• Friday, Jan. 15- Coffee County
• Friday, Jan. 15 – Lamar County at the Vernon Auditorium at 7:00 pm 
• Saturday, Jan. 16th- Colbert County at 5:00 pm
• Saturday, Jan. 16th- Clarke County at Clarke Prep School 6:30 pm
• Sat. Jan. 16th - Cullman County at Cullman Civic Center at 6:00 pm
• Saturday, Jan. 16th- Madison County
• Saturday, Jan. 16th- Walker County at Huckleberry Farms at 6:30 pm. 
• Tuesday, Jan. 19th- Talladega County
• Thursday, Jan. 21- Monroe County at the Monroeville Community House
• Thursday, Jan. 21- Houston County at Houston County Farm Center at 6:30 pm
• Thursday, Jan. 28- Lee County at Lazenby Farms 6:00 pm
• Saturday, Jan. 30- Franklin County at 6:00 pm
• Saturday, Jan. 30- Jackson County 
• Saturday, Jan. 30- Jefferson County at the Gardendale Civic Center. 
• Sunday, Jan. 31- Montgomery County Annual Meeting and Junior Cattlemen County Beef Expo Show at the Teague and Lewis Barns of the Garrett Coliseum. Show starts at 2:30 pm and meeting starts at 5:30 pm.

SLE Rodeo and ACA Convention

Save the dates for the 2016 ACA Convention to be held Feb. 26-27 at the Sheraton Hotel in Downtown Birmingham. The Iron City Beef Bash has an exciting lineup of speakers and industry representatives ready to educate you on today's cattle industry. The trade show will have a host of equipment, trinkets and information readily available for you to see! Don't miss the 2016 Convention!

Also, save the dates for the 2016 SLE Rodeo- March 17-19. 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 dancin' 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). Visit SLERodeo.com to learn more about this year's show! Family fun and entertainment for all ages all while enjoying America's original sport, rodeo!

Christmas and New Year Office Closure

Today, after the checks are signed, the January magazine is sent to press and all systems are shut down, the ACA state office and The MOOseum will close from Dec. 24- Jan. 4 in observance of the Christmas and New Year season This will give the state staffers a chance to relax, catch their breath and enjoy family time just before the ACA Convention and SLE Rodeo come to town! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our members and partner organizations!

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!