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: 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 25, 2015

It's certainly getting chilly out there, folks! 

Hay bales are hitting the ground to feed cattle as holiday feasts hit tables to feed families. Summer sunshine turns into winter frost. Green pastures turn into range pellets, and short-sleeved shirts are traded for long johns. It's that magical time of year when calves are born daily and sunrises are viewed through the windshield of a feed truck. That's right, wintertime is quickly approaching. 

What your ACA staff is most excited about, however, is that holiday season means roast season, and as soon as the holidays are past us, we get to buckle down for Convention and the SLE Rodeo! As this short, holiday week comes to a close today, there's not much to cover but see #What'sGoingOn with the staff this week. 

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Scholarships, Get Your Scholarships!

The beef industry in Alabama does more than produce a high-quality protein for people all over the world to enjoy. It even helps send young adults to college! The Alabama Cattlemen's Foundation awards more than $50,000 in scholarships each year at the ACA Convention. Several of these scholarships are funded through private donations to the Alabama Cattlemen's Foundation while many are funded through the sale of the "Cowboy Tag" license plate. Applications must be mailed on or before Dec.1! More information and applications for ACF's scholarships are available at http://www.bamabeef.org/events_scholarships.html.

ACA Convention and Trade Show

Save the dates for the ACA Convention and Trade Show to be held Feb. 26-27, 2016 at the Sheraton Hotel in Downtown Birmingham. Senator Richard Shelby will greet attendees and Dr. Kim Stackhouse from NCBA will be discussing everyone's favorite buzz word- sustainability! 

Join us for a great producer education and networking opportunity!

SLE Rodeo

SLE Rodeo is March 17-19, 2016 at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery, Ala. Save the date and be on the lookout for ticket orders to open on all platforms on December 10. There's FIVE easy ways to get your 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

The Sweet Young'Uns will be performing for Friday night's Dancin' in the Dirt concert, and the Saturday night band is still in the works! Most excitingly, we are pleased to welcome Pro Rodeo master comedian Lecile Harris to the SLE Rodeo stage as he celebrates his 60th year of performing as a rodeo clown! In celebration of this event, Lecile has released an autobiography titled Lecile: This Ain't My First Rodeo. Buy it today at the Cattlemen's Building! 

This year's rodeo is bound for great family fun! Join us!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!