Alabama Cattlemen's Association

Bama Beef News | February 2026

Welcome to the Bama Beef Blog, where you can check out the latest monthly news from the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program and the Southeastern Livestock Expo. Keep reading for more info!

JOIN US AT THE ACA CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW

Registration is still open for the 83rd Annual Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Convention & Trade Show, set for March 6–7, 2026, in Mobile. This year’s #BamaBeefMeet promises to deliver the state’s premier weekend for the beef industry, featuring educational workshops, youth competitions, Alabama’s largest beef industry trade show, delicious beef meals, and outstanding fellowship. Make plans to join us for this event. Register BY FRIDAY to secure your meal tickets at https://cvent.me/AK74OL.

This year’s event will feature a robust lineup of educational sessions and workshops designed to equip producers with timely, practical information. Following a Zoetis New World screwworm (NWS) Workshop in the Trade Show, General Session 1 will open with an engaging discussion on cybersecurity on the farm. General Session 2 will shift focus to election polling insights, offering a broader look at the political landscape. Meanwhile, our Cattlemen’s Educational Series will tackle the question, “How Much Can I Pay for My Heifers?” with guidance from Extension experts Ken Kelley and Max Runge.

Don’t forget our annual Alabama BeefPAC Auction, the state’s largest trade show, junior cattle career contests, a meeting of the Alabama CattleWomen’s Association and more. This year’s Alabama BeefPAC Auction is loaded with exceptional items! Check out the offerings here.

Schedule: https://cvent.me/qoV9wy
Registration: https://cvent.me/AK74OL
Junior Contest Registration: https://cvent.me/1aqzml

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

The ACA is proud to be home to 6,810 members and counting as remittances continue to flood secretaries’ mailboxes statewide! We are grateful for the grassroots efforts of our county organizations and look forward to another year of membership advocacy alongside you.

Don’t forget! We look forward to awarding our Over the Top County and Top Hand Club prizes at Convention, thanks to our friends and sponsors at SunSouth, John Deere, TriGreen Equipment, Priefert Ranch Equipment, Hartford Veterinary Services & Supply and Momentum Ag. Special thanks to these sponsors for their support of our grassroots efforts!

County Meetings

County leaders, be sure to call or email ACA Director of Membership Jessica Kennedy with the date, time, and location of your upcoming annual meeting and let her know if a postcard will need to be sent out to members informing them of the meeting. Reminder: those need a minimum of two weeks’ notice for processing and mailing!

UPCOMING AJCA EVENTS

Youth Career-Centered Contests — REGISTRATION CLOSING TOMORROW

Registration for the Youth Career-Centered Contests at the 83rd Annual ACA Convention & Trade Show in Mobile, Alabama, is closing Thursday, February 26. The contests will take place on Friday, March 6. Contest entry is FREE, monetary prizes will be awarded, and lunch will be provided to contestants and coaches!

These contests are open to youth ages 9–21 as of March 6, 2026, who are involved in AJCA, Alabama 4-H, or Alabama FFA.

Rules Packet: https://tinyurl.com/54bsmux9
Registration: https://cvent.me/1aqzml

SLE Youth & Collegiate Livestock Judging Contest

Registration is now open for the 11^th Annual SLE Youth and Collegiate Livestock Judging Contest. The contest will take place on Wednesday, March 11, at the Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. This contest is open to youth contestants ages 9-18, as well as two-year and four-year colleges. More information can be found HERE.

AJCA Youth Spring Field Day

The AJCA Spring Youth Field Day will take place on Wednesday, April 1, at CK Cattle in Hope Hull, AL. Due to starting the AJCA Cattle Working Contest, we will only be hosting one field day this spring. This event is FREE and open to all Alabama youth. Sessions will focus on Beef Quality Assurance and participants will receive their BQA certification. Lunch will be provided. Click HERE for more information and to register!

Youth Cattle Working Contest – Registration Now Open!

We are excited to introduce the inaugural AJCA Cattle Working Contest in 2026. This competition is designed to develop youth skills in animal management and handling while emphasizing teamwork and Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) best practices. This competition is open to high school freshmen through high school seniors. Working as a team of three, participants will efficiently process three stocker calves using BQA guidelines. With this being a new competition, we will be hosting one state contest this year. The state contest will take place at Mid-State Stockyards in Letohatchee on Saturday, May 2.

As this is the inaugural AJCA Cattle Working Competition in Alabama, there will be a maximum number of 15 teams that can compete in this year’s state competition. Each county may enter only one team in the state competition. Team entries will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Counties wishing to enter more than one team may place additional teams on a waitlist. If fewer than 15 teams are registered by the entry deadline, counties will be invited to bring additional teams from the waitlist. Please note that we hope this limitation will change in years to come if the competition is successful. Winners from the state competition will go on to compete at the National Cattle Working Competition in September. Registration is now open! Click HERE to register and access the rules and other resources that will help you prepare for the contest.

Political Round-Up

The 2026 Alabama Legislative Session began January 13, launching 105 busy days in downtown Montgomery. From Day 1, ACA lobbyists Erin Beasley and Kayla Greer have worked in the Statehouse engaging lawmakers, tracking legislation and advocating for Alabama’s cattle producers. The Alabama House of Representatives and Alabama Senate are each allotted 30 legislative days within the 105-calendar-day window, which runs through April 28.

As the session enters its second half, ACA is closely monitoring the FY27 General Fund (SB146) and Education Trust Fund (HB238) budgets to protect key agricultural priorities. Areas of focus include support for the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries, career technical education and FFA programs, Junior Cattlemen initiatives, and continued funding for the Conservation Incentive Program administered through the Alabama Agricultural & Conservation Development Commission.

Several policy measures also remain front and center. SB85, sponsored by Sen. Larry Stutts, addresses the definition of a veterinary-client-patient relationship, seeking to balance veterinary oversight with the realities of over-extended large-animal veterinarians. HB175, the “Farm-to-Food Bank Act,” would provide a state income tax credit for farmers who donate edible agricultural products to qualified food banks. The bill passed the House unanimously and now awaits Senate consideration.

SB263 addresses animal abandonment, establishing criminal penalties while maintaining an agricultural exemption and refining definitions to protect generally accepted farming practices. HB414 would remove the current misdemeanor penalty for transporting live feral swine — legislation the ACA is opposed to.

Another widely discussed measure, SB71 — the Sound Science Act — would prevent state agencies from adopting environmental regulations stricter than federal standards and require rulemaking to rely on the best available scientific data. Meanwhile, SB148, known as the “30-Day Notice Bill,” would require municipalities to provide advance notice before implementing certain taxes or fee increases.

With a full agenda ahead and election season approaching, legislative days are expected to move quickly. For a complete report and detailed bill analysis, be sure to read the March edition of the Alabama Cattleman magazine. For policy questions or concerns, contact ACA Executive Vice President Erin Beasley or Director of Legislative Affairs Kayla Greer.

Saddle Up for the 2026 SLE Rodeo

Don’t miss your chance to see MONKEYS RIDING DOGS at the 2026 SLE Rodeo March 20-22 at the Garrett Coliseum! This year will also feature a Stock Dog Demonstration (free to attend after Cowboy Church on Sunday). The schedule is packed with new rodeo fan experiences including an after party on Saturday night, live music in the new Fan Zone before every performance, a Kids Corral in the livestock barn, and an Agriculture Education Barn. Be sure to check out www.SLERodeo.com/events so you don’t miss any of the fun. As always, we want this to be an affordable family outing, so here’s your tip: call or visit the Garrett Coliseum box office when ordering your tickets to avoid paying the extra Ticketmaster fees! We hope to see you soon at the Greatest Show on Dirt!

FFA Day on the Hill

On February 24, in honor of FFA Week, more than 300 Alabama FFA Association members gathered in Montgomery for FFA Day on the Hill. The ACA had the pleasure to host 100 of those students for a program at the Cattlemen’s Building. Guest speakers included Sen. Randy Price, Secretary of State Wes Allen, Rep. Van Smith and Rep. Jeff Sorrells. Students also visited The MOOseum and learned about our association!

After presentations, students headed to the State House for a day of seeing the legislative process in action. Thanks to all who joined us and helped make it a success!

To celebrate FFA Week and Give FFA Day, you can make a donation at this link.

NCBA Releases 2026 Policy Priorities at CattleCon

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) recently announced its 2026 policy priorities following approval by the organization’s Executive Committee at CattleCon 2026. NCBA’s focus centers on policies that directly impact producer profitability, including reducing regulatory costs, defending free markets, expanding trade opportunities, and maintaining strong beef demand.

“NCBA focused on practical, workable solutions that produced meaningful policy wins in 2025,” said NCBA President Gene Copenhaver, a Virginia cattle producer. “NCBA’s efforts resulted in key tax and regulatory improvements, including expanded estate tax exemptions, a new Waters of the U.S. rules, and the rescission of the Bureau of Land Management Public Lands Rule, providing greater certainty and opportunity for cattlemen.”

Check out the March edition of the Alabama Cattleman for a complete report of 2026 NCBA Policy Priorities.

Present at CattleCon were numerous members of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association who participated in business meetings taking place to set the above policies.

USDA Issues Final Emergency Livestock Relief Program Payments for 2023 and 2024 Drought, Flood and Wildfire Losses

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) has issued final Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) payments totaling more than $1.89 billion. Eligible applicants who applied for ELRP 2023 and 2024 Flood and Wildfire (ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW) assistance will receive 100% of their eligible calculated payment in a single lump sum. USDA is also making a second payment to producers who previously received their initial factored payment for ELRP 2023 and 2024 assistance for losses due to eligible drought and wildfires. For questions about this program or payments, contact your local FSA office.

BEEF 101 – OPPORTUNITY FOR PRODUCERS TO ATTEND

Spring 2026 Beef 101 sessions kicked off this month! We held two sessions in Auburn where we welcomed students from Dothan High School, Maplesville High School, G.W. Carver High School, and Enterprise High School.

Due to a recent group dropping out, we are opening an opportunity for producers to attend on Wednesday, March 25! The typical agenda includes a beef production overview, a day in the life of beef cattle producers, a look at the industry from large animal veterinarians and a carcass fabrication demonstration in the Auburn Meat Lab. However, if we receive enough producer interest, we will tailor the first half of the day specifically for producers by bringing in industry professionals to discuss beef production and forages. The session will be a mix of high school students and beef producers.

We have 32 spots open on Wednesday, March 25. Registration for this session will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Click HERE to register for this Beef 101 session!

If you have any questions or would like more information, contact ACA Manager of Youth Programs and Marketing Bailey Watson at bwatson@bamabeef.org.

2026 ALABAMA JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL BEEF COOKOFF IS OPEN FOR REGISTRATION

The 2026 Alabama Junior and Senior High School Beef Cookoff will be held Friday, April 10, at the Riverchase Career Connection Center. This contest is open to the winning students (one junior division and one senior division) from each designated county beef cookoff hosted by Family and Consumer Science, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, the Alabama CattleWomen’s Association, or Alabama Cooperative Extension System county contest coordinators. For eligibility information or to register students, visit BamaBeef.org/Cookoff. Registration closes Friday, March 13.

YOUNG CATTLEMEN’S LEADERSHIP PROGRAM CLASS XIII- APPS NOW OPEN!

Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) Class XIII applications are now available online and will close March 22. The YCLP is funded by the Alabama Beef Checkoff and serves to develop young leaders in the state cattle industry. There will be six (6) YCLP sessions for a select group of young cattlemen between the ages of 22 and 40 looking to take on more leadership and responsibility within the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and its county affiliates. Participants will network with other young cattlemen, tour diverse cattle operations, and develop advocacy and leadership skills as it relates to beef cattle production— all while learning more about the industry we represent. Applications and additional program details can be found at www.BamaBeef.org/YCLP, or by contacting ACA Manager of Industry Outreach Michael Smith at 334-265-1867.

LOUISE WILSON ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP

The Alabama CattleWomen’s Association’s Louise Wilson Academic Scholarship is now open for applications. New for 2026, ACWA is hosting applications online, with the option to submit via the online form or by mail. The application deadline is February 27, 2026. All applications must be submitted online or postmarked by this date to be considered. Click Here to Learn More

CATTLE CONNECT PODCAST

Tune into the Cattle Connect podcast weekly on Friday mornings at 7AM. Listen is as staff discusses beef industry news, hits on a variety of educational topics and explores the many facets of the ACA!

BLACK VULTURE DEPREDATION SUB-PERMIT

Livestock producers experiencing depredation from black vultures may now apply for a no cost Black Vulture Depredation Sub-Permit through the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries. All approved applicants will be allowed to take up to three black vultures as long as the statewide take number has not exceeded 500. If 500 vultures are harvested in the state, applicants will receive an email notifying them that no more vultures may be taken during the permit period. For more information, visit agi.alabama.gov.

BAMA BEEF EVENTS CALENDAR

The Bama Beef Events Calendar (www.BamaBeef.org/events) is full with county cattlemen’s, youth and Extension activities as we look toward the upcoming months. Check it daily to make sure you don’t miss an event near you!

Thanks for reading this month’s post, brought to you by the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program! Until we post again, we want to remind you that you can stay in touch with us by following us on Facebook or Instagram.

Bama Beef News | January 2026

CHECKIN’ ON THE CHECKOFF– 2025 ALABAMA BEEF CHECKOFF PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

We had a successful year promoting beef to consumers, hosting impactful youth events, and supporting programs for beef producers across the state. Below are some highlights of what we accomplished this past year through the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program.

Marketing & Consumer Outreach:

College Football Graphics on AL.com: 24.4 million impressions
Southeastern States Summer Grilling Campaign on Connected TV and Audio Platforms: 3.9 million video impressions; 2.3 million audio ad listens
National Club Store E-commerce Campaign ($5,000): 88,000 households reached; $107 worth of beef sales per dollar invested

October Beef Month:

Statewide press release announcement on Oct. 1
Digital advertising on WSFA, AL.com, and YellowHammer News
Alabama Weather Network Commercials
Statewide County Cattlemen’s chapter activities
Cooking segments on local news channels
Backstretch banner at Talladega Superspeedway

Education & Outreach:

Spring and Fall Beef 101s: 850 total participants
Alabama Dietetics Association Beef Operation Tour: 17 dietitians attended
SLE Rodeo Beef Cookoff: 30 competitors across the U.S.
MLB Speedway Classic in Bristol, TN: 91K attendees

Producer Engagement:

County Grant Program: 5 counties funded
Cattlemen of Beef Month: 27 county submissions
Cattle Connect Podcast: 27 checkoff related episodes
YCLP: 4 sessions in 2025; 25 total members

Youth Programs:

AJCA Youth Convention Contest: 85 youth participants
AJCA Youth Fall & Spring Field Days: 400 youth attendees
19^th Annual AJCA Round-Up: 118 youth participants

Research:

6 projects funded benefitting Alabama cattle producers: 1 meat science, 2 genetics and reproduction, 3 forages and pasture management
Total investment = $50,000

REGISTER FOR THE ACA CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW

Registration is open for the 83rd Annual Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Convention & Trade Show, set for March 6–7, 2026, in Mobile. This year’s #BamaBeefMeet promises to deliver the state’s premier weekend for the beef industry, featuring educational workshops, youth competitions, Alabama’s largest beef industry trade show, delicious beef meals, and outstanding fellowship. Make plans to join us for this hallmark event and be sure to take advantage of Early Bird pricing before it ends on February 6. Register today at https://cvent.me/AK74OL.

Don’t forget our annual Alabama BeefPAC Auction, the state’s largest trade show, junior cattle career contests, a meeting of the Alabama CattleWomen’s Association and more. We’ll see you in Mobile!

Event Website: https://cvent.me/KMm95W

Registration: https://cvent.me/AK74OL

Trade Show Booth Registration: https://cvent.me/ry7dR0

Junior Contest Registration: https://cvent.me/1aqzml

Lodging: https://cvent.me/LM0dQz

Schedule: https://cvent.me/qoV9wy

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

The ACA is proud to be home to 5,362 members and counting as remittances continue to flood secretaries’ mailboxes statewide! We are grateful for the grassroots efforts of our county organizations and look forward to another year of membership advocacy alongside you.

ACA Membership Tops 10,000 Strong

As the 2025 membership year closed on December 31, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association proudly celebrated a major milestone—more than 10,000 members statewide. The 2025 year ended with a total of 10,128 ACA members, a testament to the strength and unity of Alabama’s cattle industry.

Several counties worked especially hard to finish the year Over the Top, qualifying for the drawing for a Priefert Squeeze Chute, generously provided by Priefert Ranch Equipment and Hartford Veterinary Supply, to be awarded at convention in March. Congratulations to the following counties for reaching this goal: Barbour, Blount, Bullock, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Crenshaw, Dallas, DeKalb, Elmore, Hale, Houston, Jackson, Lamar, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Madison, Monroe, Morgan, Perry, Pickens, St. Clair, Sumter, Tallapoosa, Walker, Washington, Winston counties.

Thank you to our county leadership and members who made this achievement possible.

County Meetings

County leaders, as county meetings begin the planning process, please remember to send those dates into the state office. Call or email ACA Director of Membership Jessica Kennedy with the date, time, and location of the meeting and let her know if a postcard will need to be sent out to members informing them of the meeting. Reminder: those need a minimum of two week’s notice for processing and mailing!

*NEW* Membership Cards in 2026

By now, members should have received a newly designed membership renewal letter featuring a peel-and-play membership card. Please note: the card will not be active until 2026 dues are paid through your local chapter or online at BamaBeef.org/Join. Questions? Contact our office at (334) 265-1867. If your remittance came with a mail-in slip with your renewal information, you are due to renew. If you did not have the additional mailer slip in your envelope, your membership is current and good to go!

January Political Round-Up

The 2026 Alabama Legislative Session began January 13, with lawmakers moving quickly through seven of the 30 allotted legislative days, to date, signaling a fast-paced session. While the session is expected to move quickly, several issues could affect the pace, including the Simplified Sellers Use Tax (SSUT), rural healthcare, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

With primary elections approaching, legislators are expected to prioritize passage of the Education Trust Fund (ETF) and General Fund (GF) budgets, confirmation of key appointments, and consideration of sunset and local legislation.

This session also marks the final year in the current State House. Lawmakers will convene in the new Alabama State House beginning in 2027.

YCLP Class XII Completes Wiregrass Session

The Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) Class XII recently completed its fifth and final session ahead of graduation in the Wiregrass region.

The session began Friday at the Wiregrass Research and Extension Center in Headland, where participants received media and public relations training led by ACA’s Kayla Greer and Dale Sandlin of Southeast AgNet. The training focused on effective communication and sharing the story of the beef cattle industry with the public and the media.

Students then traveled to JYJ Red Angus for a tour of the Yance family’s operation, including the feedlot and a heifer pasture during calving season. The day concluded with a group dinner at Conestoga Steakhouse in Dothan.

On Saturday, the class visited the Shirah family’s multigenerational farm and seed mill in Barbour County. Participants took part in leadership training centered on conducting effective county cattlemen’s meetings, with scenario-based exercises and feedback from Dr. Adam Cletzer, who also led a session on conflict resolution. The session wrapped up with a home-cooked lunch before the class hit the road home.

Thank you to the hosts, sponsors, and industry professionals who helped make this final session a success. To apply for the newest class of the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program, visit www.BamaBeef.org/YCLP.

UPCOMING AJCA EVENTS

Youth Career-Centered Contests — Registration Now Open

Registration is now open for the Youth Career-Centered Contests at the 83rd Annual ACA Convention & Trade Show, taking place March 6, 2026, in Mobile, Alabama. Contest entry is FREE, and lunch will be provided to contestants and coaches! Registration will remain open through February 26, 2026. These contests are open to youth ages 9–21 as of March 6, 2026, who are involved in AJCA, Alabama 4-H, or Alabama FFA.

Rules Packet: https://tinyurl.com/yt6fs7kw
Registration: https://cvent.me/1aqzml

SLE Youth & Collegiate Livestock Judging Contest

AJCA Youth Spring Field Day

Save the date for the Spring Youth Field Day that will take place on Wednesday, April 1! The location has not been confirmed, but it will be in central part of Alabama. Due to starting the AJCA Cattle Working Contest, we will only be hosting one field day this spring. Stay tuned for more details to come!

NEW in 2026: Youth Cattle Working Contest

Working as a team of three, participants will efficiently process three stocker calves using BQA guidelines. With this being a new competition, we will be hosting one state contest this year. The state contest will take place at Mid-State Stockyards in Letohatchee on Saturday, May 2.

Planning is still currently underway, so stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

20^th Annual AJCA Round-Up: Save the Date

The 20th Annual AJCA Round-Up will be held July 23–26, 2026, at the Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery, Alabama. More information will be shared in the coming months—mark your calendars now! For questions regarding upcoming AJCA events, please contact Bailey Watson at bwatson@bamabeef.org.

LFP AVAILABLE IN 30 ALABAMA COUNTIES

Drought conditions plagued most of the state from summer through fall months, triggering numerous counties eligible for the Livestock Forage Program (LFP). This program, offered through the Farm Service Agency (FSA), provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who have suffered grazing losses for covered livestock. It also covers producers of grazed forage crop acreage of native and improved pastureland with permanent vegetative cover or acreage planted specifically for grazing. For more information about this program or to sign up in one of the above mentioned counties, contact your local FSA office or visit www.farmers.gov.

Counties qualified for LFP include Barbour, Bibb, Butler, Chambers, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Dallas, Escambia, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Henry, Houston, Lauderdale, Lee, Marengo, Monroe, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Shelby, Sumter, Tuscaloosa and Wilcox counties.

New Dietary Guidelines Emphasize Beef’s Place in a Healthy Diet

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Alabama Cattlemen’s Association welcomed the release of the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) on January 7. The updated DGAs nearly double the recommended daily amount for protein intake, increasing it to 1.2-1.6 grams per kilogram body weight, depending on your age group and individual caloric needs. The document focuses on building a healthy diet around whole foods, limiting highly processed foods and added sugars, and prioritizing protein at every meal like nutrient-dense beef. Red meat is specifically mentioned as a healthy source of protein in a varied, balanced diet.

The updated Dietary Guidelines are simplified and more consumer-friendly than previous cycles. The streamlined approach taken by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. keeps science-backed recommendations at the heart of the DGAs, but makes them far more practical for the families, caregivers, school administrators, and medical professionals who are making decisions every day about what to feed our children, seniors and Americans of all ages. Other recommendations in the DGAs include:

Incorporate beef tallow and other healthy fats into the cooking process.
Use healthier cooking methods like baking, broiling, roasting, stir-frying, or grilling, all of which can be used with the wide variety of retail beef cuts available to American families.
Introducing nutrient-dense foods like meat during infancy and early childhood to support growing children.

USDA Names Trump Administration Appointees to the Alabama Farm Service Agency State Committee

The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) recently announced the appointment of five leaders in agriculture to serve on the Alabama USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) state committee, several who are members of the association. Members of the FSA state committee are appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and, in support of the Trump Administration’s Farmers First commitment, members of the FSA state committee are responsible for the oversight of farm programs and county committee operations, resolving program delivery appeals from the agriculture community, maintaining cooperative relations with industry stakeholders and keeping producers informed about current FSA programs.

Each FSA state committee is comprised of three to five members including a designated chairperson. The individuals appointed to serve on this committee for Alabama are:

Roy Shepherd Morris Sr., Chair (Shorter)
Wallace Drury, Member (Greensboro)
William (Billy) D. Hixon, Member (Banks)
Michael D. Reeves, Member (Hartselle)
Dr. Mykel Rae Taylor, Member (Auburn)

ACA HOSTS DISTINGUISHED YOUNG WOMEN OF ALABAMA LUNCHEON

Contestants of the 2026 Distinguished Young Women of Alabama Scholarship Program visited the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association for a luncheon on Thursday, January 22. Contestants from counties across Alabama enjoyed learning about the beef industry through a visit with ACA staff, a tour of The MOOseum, and a delicious steak salad provided by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program. Contestants also got to enjoy a special visit from Senator Katie Britt!

LOUISE WILSON ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP

SPRING 2026 BEEF 101 PROGRAM FULLY BOOKED

The 2026 Spring Semester Beef 101 program is now fully booked! This program is held at Auburn University and offers a pasture to plate beef education experience for high school and collegiate culinary, hospitality, nutrition, or agriculture students. The agenda includes a beef production overview, a day in the life of beef cattle producers, a look at the industry from large animal veterinarians and a carcass fabrication demonstration in the Auburn Meat Lab. If you missed the chance this semester, or would like to know more about the program, contact ACA Manager of Youth Programs and Marketing Bailey Watson at bwatson@bamabeef.orgfor more information or to be put on the email list to be notified when dates go live for the Fall semester.

It’s Time for the SLE Rodeo

Mark your calendars to experience more than just rodeo action at the Southeastern Livestock Exposition (SLE) Rodeo in Montgomery, AL! Here’s what makes this year a must-see:

Monkey Business Returns – Crowd-favorite monkeys riding dogs are back and guaranteed to bring laughs for all ages.
Dusty Myers Is Back – PRCA Top 5 Rodeo Clown Dusty Myers returns with big laughs and nonstop entertainment.
Brand-New Fan Zone – Open three hours before every performance, featuring live music and a beer garden.
Agriculture Education Barn – Hands-on learning experiences highlighting Alabama agriculture.
Kids Corral – A fun, interactive space just for kids, also open three hours prior to each rodeo.
Stock Dog Demonstration (Sunday) – Watch talented working dogs showcase their skills and precision.

Come early, bring the family, and enjoy a full rodeo experience from start to finish! View the entire event schedule on www.SLERodeo.com. Make sure to call or visit the Garrett Coliseum box office when purchasing your rodeo tickets to avoid paying Ticketmaster fees!

CATTLE CONNECT PODCAST

BLACK VULTURE DEPREDATION SUB-PERMIT

BAMA BEEF EVENTS CALENDAR

Bama Beef News | December 2025

REGISTER FOR THE ACA CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW

Registration is open for the 83rd Annual Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Convention & Trade Show, set for March 6–7, 2026, in Mobile. This year’s #BamaBeefMeet promises to deliver the state’s premier weekend for the beef industry, featuring educational workshops, youth competitions, Alabama’s largest beef industry trade show, delicious beef meals, and outstanding fellowship. Make plans to join us for this hallmark event, and be sure to take advantage of Early Bird pricing before it ends on February 6. Register today at https://cvent.me/AK74OL.

This year’s event will feature a robust lineup of educational sessions and workshops designed to equip producers with timely, practical information. Following a Zoetis New World screwworm (NWS) Workshop in the Trade Show, General Session 1 will open with an engaging discussion on cybersecurity on the farm. General Session 2 will shift focus to election polling insights, offering a broader look at the political landscape. Meanwhile, Cattlemen’s College will tackle the question, “How Much Can I Spend on a Replacement Heifer?” with guidance from Extension experts Ken Kelley and Max Runge.

Don’t forget our annual Alabama BeefPAC Auction, the state’s largest trade show, junior cattle career contests, a meeting of the Alabama CattleWomen’s Association and more! We’ll see you in Mobile.

Event Website: https://cvent.me/KMm95W

Registration: https://cvent.me/AK74OL

Trade Show Booth Registration: https://cvent.me/ry7dR0

Junior Contest Registration: https://cvent.me/1aqzml

Lodging: https://cvent.me/LM0dQz

Schedule: https://cvent.me/qoV9wy

2026 Beef Checkoff Marketing Plan Approved

This fall, cattle producers completed a survey evaluating National and State Beef Checkoff–funded programs. Producer feedback helped shape the draft 2026 marketing plan, which was reviewed by the Beef Checkoff Council in December. Budgets were finalized for key program areas including consumer outreach, producer education, youth development, research, and administration.

Highlighted initiatives for 2026 include BEEF 101 educational sessions, continued Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner.advertising, expanded e-commerce efforts to grow beef sales, and enhanced youth programming. View the full marketing plan at BamaBeef.org/Checkoff.

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

The ACA has officially gone OVER THE TOP with over 10,000 members! We are grateful for the grassroots efforts of our county organizations and look forward to another year of membership advocacy alongside you.

County Meetings

*NEW* Membership Cards in 2026

Members will soon receive a newly designed membership renewal letter featuring a peel-and-play membership card. Please note: the card will not be active until 2026 dues are paid through your local chapter or online at BamaBeef.org/Join. Questions? Contact our office at (334) 265-1867.

YCLP Alumni Explore D.C. Advocacy

Members of the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) Council visited Washington, D.C. in December, where they gained firsthand insight into federal policymaking, met with Alabama’s congressional delegation, and toured the U.S. Capitol. The trip also included visits to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Center for Public Policy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

On Capitol Hill, YCLP members met with U.S. Representatives Barry Moore, Terri Sewell, Mike Rogers, and Robert Aderholt; Senator Tommy Tuberville; and staff from Senator Katie Britt’s office. Discussions focused on key industry priorities, including New World screwworm (NWS), private property rights, and the impacts of recent market volatility.

LFP Available in 30 Alabama Counties

Drought conditions plagued most of the state from summer through fall months, triggering numerous counties eligible for the Livestock Forage Program (LFP). This program, offered through the Farm Service Agency (FSA), provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who have suffered grazing losses for covered livestock. It also covers producers of grazed forage crop acreage of native and improved pastureland with permanent vegetative cover or acreage planted specifically for grazing. For more information about this program or to sign up in one of the abovementioned counties, contact your local FSA office or visit www.farmers.gov.

NEW in 2026: Youth Cattle Working Contest

In place of the AJCA Spring Youth Field Days, AJCA is excited to introduce an inaugural Youth Cattle Working Contest in 2026. This competition is designed to develop youth skills in animal management and handling while emphasizing teamwork and Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) best practices.

Working as a team, participants will efficiently process three stocker calves using BQA guidelines. The top teams from each region will advance to the state competition, and state winners will have the opportunity to compete in the National Cattle Working Contest.

Competition Details:

Teams will consist of three members
Teams may represent county 4-H programs, FFA chapters, cattlemen’s groups, or be comprised of individuals from different counties within the same region
All team members must be AJCA members and hold a current BQA certification

Mark Your Calendars for the TENTATIVE 2026 Dates:

Friday, April 17, 2026: Region 1 Pre-Qualifier (AJCA Districts 1 & 2) – Location TBD
Friday, April 24, 2026: Region 2 Pre-Qualifier (AJCA Districts 3 & 4) – Location TBD
Saturday, May 9, 2026: State Competition – Location TBD

Planning is currently underway, so stay tuned for finalized dates and additional details as they become available.

20^th Annual AJCA Round-Up: Save the Date

The 20th Annual AJCA Round-Up will be held July 23–26, 2026, at the Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery, Alabama. More information will be shared in the coming months—mark your calendars now!

For questions regarding upcoming AJCA events, please contact Bailey Watson at bwatson@bamabeef.org.

ACA Hosts AISA All-Star Football Players

The Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) All-Star Football players visited the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association on Monday, December 1. During their visit, the players enjoyed a steak dinner provided by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program and Big Mike’s Steakhouse, followed by a presentation highlighting the work of the ACA and the role beef plays as a nutrient-rich fuel to keep athletes strong and competition-ready. We are thankful for ACA Past President, Jimmy Holliman, for leading such a successful event for the past 12 years!

EVE BRANTLEY TAPPED FOR DIRECTOR OF ALABAMA EXTENSION

Auburn University has named Eve Brantley as the 1862 Extension director for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, effective Jan. 1, 2026, Auburn President Christopher B. Roberts announced in early December.

The appointment follows years of Brantley’s leadership within Alabama Extension, where she has served in roles ranging from multi-county agent to associate director. She also served as director of Auburn’s Water Resources Center and has been a long-standing member of the faculty in the College of Agriculture’s Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences.

As the 1862 Extension director, Brantley will serve as the chief administrative officer for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, which is administrated jointly by Auburn and Alabama A&M. She will provide vision and leadership that support the system’s long-standing tradition of excellence in education, applied research, service and statewide outreach. She will report directly to Auburn President Roberts in collaboration with Alabama A&M University President Daniel K. Wims and will work in joint leadership with the 1890 Extension administrator at Alabama A&M. In this role, Brantley will guide more than 700 faculty and staff across both campuses and in all 67 Alabama counties. She will oversee strategic planning, statewide programming and partnership development with public and private organizations that support Extension’s work across Alabama.

LOUISE WILSON ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP

SLE Rodeo Updates

Tickets are now on sale for the largest professional rodeo in Alabama! Don’t miss your chance to experience world-class rodeo action at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. Purchase tickets at SLERodeo.com or by calling the Garrett Coliseum at (334) 356-6866. Ticketmaster is the only authorized ticketing platform for the SLE Rodeo—beware of ticket scammers on social media.

The Southeastern Livestock Exposition (SLE) is proud to announce the first annual SLE Scholarship Program, which provides crucial financial support for the next generation of agricultural leaders. Rooted in the SLE’s mission to preserve farming and ranching through youth opportunities, this scholarship is designed for students pursuing a degree in an agriculture-related field to ensure a strong future for the industry. A $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to each selected winner at a SLE PRCA Rodeo performance in Montgomery, March 20-26, 2026. For qualifications and to complete the application process, visit- www.SLERodeo.com/Scholarship

CATTLE CONNECT PODCAST

Holiday Closure Notice

The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association will be closed December 24–January 2 as we celebrate the holidays. We’ll return to normal business hours on Monday, January 5. From all of us, Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year!

ALABAMA HAY LISTINGS

Looking for hay to buy or want to list hay for sale? Look no further than the Alabama Hay Listings website housed by the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries. Click here to learn more and view listings now!

BLACK VULTURE DEPREDATION SUB-PERMIT

BAMA BEEF EVENTS CALENDAR

The Bama Beef Events Calendar (www.BamaBeef.org/events) is beginning to fill up with county cattlemen’s, youth and Extension activities as we look toward the upcoming months. Check it daily to make sure you don’t miss an event near you!

Bama Beef Blog | November 2025

Convention Registration, Now Open!

Registration is officially open for the 83rd Annual Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Convention & Trade Show, set for March 6–7, 2026, in Mobile. This year’s #BamaBeefMeet promises to deliver the state’s premier weekend for the beef industry, featuring educational workshops, youth competitions, Alabama’s largest beef industry trade show, delicious beef meals, and outstanding fellowship. Make plans to join us for this hallmark event, and be sure to take advantage of Early Bird pricing before it ends on February 6. Register today at https://cvent.me/AK74OL.

This year’s event will feature a robust lineup of educational sessions and workshops designed to equip producers with timely, practical information. Following a New World Screwworm (NWS) Workshop in the Trade Show, sponsored by Zoetis, General Session 1 will open with an engaging discussion on cybersecurity on the farm. General Session 2 will shift focus to election polling insights, offering a broader look at the political landscape. Meanwhile, Cattlemen’s College will tackle the question, “How Much Can I Spend on a Replacement Heifer?” with guidance from Extension experts Ken Kelley and Max Runge.

Event Website: https://cvent.me/KMm95W

Registration: https://cvent.me/AK74OL

Trade Show Booth Registration: https://cvent.me/ry7dR0

Junior Contest Registration: https://cvent.me/1aqzml

Lodging: https://cvent.me/LM0dQz

Schedule: https://cvent.me/qoV9wy

Cattlemen of Beef Month

Each year, the Cattlemen of Beef Month Contest shines a spotlight on the creativity, dedication, and grassroots energy of Alabama’s county Cattlemen’s chapters. Held in conjunction with one of the association’s most celebrated traditions—October Beef Month—the contest encourages local chapters to champion beef promotion in fun, meaningful, and highly visible ways within their communities.

Designed to inspire engagement at the local level, the contest awards points to chapters for a wide variety of activities. Whether hosting community events, setting up promotional booths, selling steak sandwiches, sponsoring local programs, volunteering, or presenting Cowboys in the Classroom sessions, every effort contributes to a county’s overall score. With participation running through October 31, chapters work all month long to showcase beef and strengthen ties with consumers across Alabama.

After tallying all points, one chapter rises to the top—earning the title Cattlemen of Beef Month and recognition for their outstanding commitment to promoting beef and building community connections. This year, Clay County Cattlemen’s Association earned first place, leading the state with their impressive involvement and outreach. They were followed by Geneva County Cattlemen’s Association in second place and Lauderdale County Cattlemen’s Association in third.

Congratulations to all participating counties for their hard work and enthusiasm. Your efforts continue to make a lasting impact in communities across Alabama. Great work, cattlemen!

Thankful for Our Partners

The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Associate Member Program brings together businesses and firms that support every facet of the state’s cattle industry — from production and feeding to marketing and more. By investing at various levels (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze), Associate Members not only gain visibility through print, digital, and event-based opportunities, but also become vital partners in growing and strengthening the cattle community.

In this season of Thanksgiving, we are proud to highlight our 2025 Associate Members, including ALFA Insurance, SunSouth Equipment, TriGreen Equipment, John Deere, AgriTech, Alabama Farmer’s Cooperative, Alabama Ag Credit, Alabama Farm Credit, Premier Select Sires, Ag Spray Equipment, Lake Majestik Farms, Corteva Agriscience, and Tucker Milling. Their support powers our mission and echoes to the grassroots of our organization!

Gator Delivered ✅

We were thrilled to deliver a brand-new John Deere TX Gator to our 2024 Gator Giveaway winner, Rylee Hathcox of Chilton County. Rylee’s name was drawn from all those who joined as new members in 2024 or recruited a new member, and we’re grateful for the continued support that makes this annual tradition possible. We extend a sincere thank you to our outstanding sponsors—SunSouth LLC, TriGreen Equipment, and John Deere—whose support and generosity help drive this program forward and strengthen Alabama’s cattle industry. Congratulations, Rylee, and enjoy the ride!

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

Membership Prizes

Reminder! All counties who go Over the Top by the end of 2025 will be entered in a drawing for the Priefert Squeeze Chute, donated by our friends and supporters at Priefert Ranch Equipment and Hartford Veterinary Supplies, while the county who increases by the largest percentage will earn a Priefert head gate! New members— and their recruiters— will go into a drawing for a John Deere Gator, brought to you by our friends at SunSouth, TriGreen Equipment and John Deere. We are also thrilled to welcome a new Membership Sponsor to our herd— let’s welcome our friends and partners at Momentum Ag!

County Meetings

County leaders, as county meetings begin the planning process, please remember to send those dates into the state office. Call or email ACA Director of Membership Jessica Kennedy with the date, time, and location of the meeting and let her know if a postcard will need to be sent out to members informing them of the meeting. Reminder: those need a minimum of two weeks notice for processing and mailing!

2025 Bainbridge Block Party

At this year’s Bainbridge Block Party, more than 350 attendees gathered for an afternoon of community, food, and fellowship on Bainbridge Street in Montgomery. Guests enjoyed toe-tappin’ musical tunes from Ed Whatley, along with burgers, all-beef hotdogs, chicken wings, tours of The MOOseum, and a festive fall-themed farmers market. The event also offered a great opportunity for visitors to learn more about the agricultural organizations and partners housed along Bainbridge Street. We extend a special thank-you to our co-hosts—the Alabama Forestry Association, Alabama Poultry & Egg Association, and Sweet Grown Alabama—for helping make this annual community celebration a success.

Wrapping Up Fall 2025 Beef 101

The end of October and beginning of November marked the close of our Fall 2025 Beef 101 series at Auburn University. It was another exciting season of hands-on learning for the next generation of culinary and agricultural leaders! Over our final three sessions, we were thrilled to welcome high school culinary students from Butler, Henry, Elmore, Shelby, Winston, Chambers, Jefferson, and Coffee counties, along with a collegiate group from Trenholm State Community College.

In total, more than 350 students participated in six sessions throughout the fall. Through this Alabama Beef Checkoff–funded program, students gained a comprehensive look at Alabama’s beef industry from pasture to plate. From connecting directly with producers and veterinarians to observing a live carcass fabrication by the Auburn University Meat Lab team, participants walked away with valuable knowledge they can carry into future careers.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the producer and veterinarian guest speakers who shared their time and expertise, offering students a real-world perspective on the beef industry. We’re also grateful for the unwavering support of the Auburn University Beef Unit and Meat Lab crews, whose work behind the scenes helped make every session smooth, educational, and engaging. With a successful fall series in the books, we’re already looking forward to kicking off the program again this spring!

YCLP Class XII in Northeast Alabama

YCLP Class XII wrapped up Session 4 in Northeast Alabama this weekend with a full slate of tours and leadership training. The group visited Debter Hereford Farm in Horton, where the Debter family shared their story and multigenerational involvement in the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association. Dr. Adam Cletzer of Auburn University led an engaging leadership seminar, followed by a stop at High Rock Farm with the Walker family for a tour of their farm store and a steak dinner at the on-site event center. The evening featured remarks from ACA Past President Clay Kennamer, RVP David Walker, and RVP Jeremy Pearson. Thanks to all the hosts, speakers, and industry leaders who made this session a meaningful weekend of learning and leadership development!

SLE Scholarship program

CATTLE CONNECT PODCAST

ALABAMA HAY LISTINGS

BLACK VULTURE DEPREDATION SUB-PERMIT

BAMA BEEF EVENTS CALENDAR

Thanks for reading this month’s post, brought to you by the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program! Until we post again, we want to remind you that you c

Bama Beef News | October 2025

2025 Alabama Beef Checkoff Survey: Your Valuable REsponse is needed!

The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association is calling on beef producers and industry partners across the state to share their feedback and help guide future Beef Checkoff programming. Your input ensures that Alabama Beef Checkoff dollars are invested where they matter most—supporting the strength and success of Alabama’s beef industry through:

Education and promotion of beef production and cookery.
Research and innovation that advance production efficiency & product quality.
Producer resources that help drive long-term sustainability.

Your survey responses will remain completely anonymous. To say thank you for your input, the first 50 respondents to complete the survey will receive a $50 discount on one registration to the 83rd Annual ACA Convention & Trade Show happening in Mobile, AL March 6-7, 2026.

To protect anonymity, at the end of the survey, you’ll have the option to provide contact information via a separate link if you’d like to qualify for the incentive. This link and your personal details will not be connected to your survey responses in any way. Take the Survey

FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS, APPS CLOSE SOON!

Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarships CLOSE for application this Sunday, November 2. Opportunities are available for all stages of postsecondary education— from incoming freshmen to doctoral candidates who are members, or whose parents or grandparents are members, for at least two consecutive years.

Explore these many opportunities and apply online by Sunday evening at www.BamaBeef.org/Scholarships.

USDA PROVIDing $1 BILLION TO LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS IMPACTED BY FLOOD OR WILDFIRE IN 2023 AND 2024

Note: Despite the federal government shutdown, local FSA offices are now open with limited staff. Call to make an appointment today!

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is issuing approximately $1 billion in emergency reliefpayments to help offset increased supplemental feed costs due to qualifying flood or wildfire. Livestock producers can receive payment for one or both years. https://tinyurl.com/ELRP2324

Approved counties in Alabama for flood for named storm event “Francine” and “Helene,” September 2024: Autauga, Barbour, Bullock, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Choctaw, Clay, Cleburne, Coffee, Colbert, Coosa, Cullman, Dale, Dallas, Elmore, Fayette, Franklin, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lee, Macon, Marion, Montgomery, Morgan, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Sumter, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, and Winston counties.

OCTOBER BEEF MONTH STATE PROMOTION ACTIVITIES

This year marked 61 years of celebrating Alabama’s beef industry, and the momentum was stronger than ever. From proclamation signings and community events to digital campaigns and influencer features, beef took center stage across the state all month long. Check out how the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and our industry partners promoted beef through statewide activations and special events in honor of October Beef Month!

October is Beef Month Proclamation Signing

Governor Kay Ivey, joined by ACA officers Randy Moody (Vice President), Keith Glover (President), Wyatt Sasser (President-Elect), and ACA Director of Strategic Partnerships Josie Jones, signed a proclamation declaring October as Beef Month in Alabama. This annual signing marks 61 years of celebrating Alabama’s beef cattle industry.

Walk of Life Remix

On October 11, ACA’s Bailey Watson joined members of the Elmore County Cattlemen’s Association to proudly promote both breast cancer awareness and October Beef Month during the Joy to Life’s Foundation Walk of Life Remix in Wetumpka.

Alabama National Fair Beef Cookoff

Also on October 11, the Alabama National Fair hosted its annual Beef Cookoff, sponsored by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program. KoryAnn Watt with the Alabama CattleWomen’s Association spent the day delicious beef dishes and sharing the message of beef with fairgoers!

Talladega SuperSpeedway

Beef promotion took the fast lane at the Talladega YellaWood 500 on October 19, where the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. logo was proudly displayed along the backstretch of the racetrack. ACA’s Michael Smith joined members of the Alabama Beef Checkoff Council and their families to enjoy a day at the track celebrating beef and racing.

Beef 101

On October 24, culinary students from Butler County Career Academy, Abbeville High School, Holtville High School, and Shelby County High School joined us at Auburn University for our Fall 2025 Beef 101 series! Students explored Alabama’s beef industry from pasture to plate by connecting with industry professionals and observing a live carcass fabrication demonstration by the Auburn University Meat Lab team.

Influencer Activation

Alabama Beef Checkoff Program influencers kept beef front and center throughout October by featuring beef recipes on social media and local news outlets across the state.

Kathy Adams Phillips of Kathy’s Southern Kitchen showcased several beef-inspired recipes on her social media platform and news outlets, including a cooking segment with Alabama beef producer Kenny Woodham.
Registered Dietitian Jessica Ivey highlighted beef’s nutrition and versatility by demonstrating how to make homemade sloppy-joe hoagies with Wickles Pickles on ABC 3340 in Birmingham.
The Bama-Q team joined the celebration in Troy, grilling up beef meatball kabobs for football fans.

Digital Marketing

October Beef Month was promoted through a statewide digital marketing campaign featuring ads on YellowHammer News, 256 Today, The Daily Hammer, Soul Grown Alabama, Alabama Weather Network, WSFA, and AL.com. The campaign included digital banners, social media features, and connected TV commercials. Shelby Easterling and Randy Moody were spotlighted in Get to Know Alabama video segments on Soul Grown Alabama, which highlighted Alabama beef producers in celebration of October Beef Month.

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

The ACA is aiming to go Over the Top again in 2025— help us get over 10,000 members! As we are 10 months into the membership year, we are proud to report that we represent 9,917 members and growing more each day as remittances from the third mail-out return daily to the office. We are grateful for the grassroots efforts of our county organizations and look forward to another year of membership advocacy alongside you!

Membership Prizes

County Meetings

County leaders, as county meetings begin the planning process, please remember to send those dates into the state office. Call or email ACA Director of Membership Jessica Kennedy with the date, time, and location of the meeting and let her know if a postcard will need to be sent out to members informing them of the meeting. Reminder: those need a minimum of two weeks notice for processing and mailing!

DROUGHT MONITORING

The Alabama State Climate Office needs your boots-on-the-ground reports to ensure your community’s drought status is represented accurately on the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) Map.

Why does this matter? First, the USDM maps are drawn by demographers outside of Alabama that otherwise do not have access to real-time ground data. Second, USDA drought relief funding can depend on how your area is reflected.

Don’t wait until deadlines this fall. Start capturing and reporting your conditions today to make sure Alabama agriculture isn’t left behind. Submit your data through the Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) tool here: 🔗 tinyurl.com/CMOR-2025

BAINBRIDGE BLOCK PARTY 2025

Join the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association, the Alabama Forestry Association and Sweet Grown Alabama for the 2025 Bainbridge Block Party on Tuesday, November 18 11AM-2PM at the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association office in Montgomery for FREE burgers, chicken wings, a fall festival and agriculture fun!

An annual event, the Bainbridge Black Party celebrates the Alabama agricultural trade organizations that call Bainbridge Street home! Join us for a day of good food, good fun and all things ag and forestry!

SLE Honored for “Best Footing”

The SLE Rodeo has been selected as a recipient of a Justin Boots Best Footing Award from the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association! This award is determined by votes from the WPRA membership and Circuit Directors. Each year, the WPRA recognizes the top three committees in each of the 12 circuits who put forth the effort to ensure their rodeo has the safest, most consistent ground conditions throughout the entire rodeo. This ensures not only safety, but a level playing field for all of the barrel racing contestants. During the PRCA Convention in Las Vegas, SLE will be recognized at an awards banquet for winning 2nd place in the Southeastern Circuit for the 2025 season!

ALABAMA NATIONAL FAIR LIVESTOCK SHOW PLACINGS

Junior cattlemen across the state came to Montgomery October 3-4 to exhibit their cattle in the Alabama National Fair Youth Beef Cattle Show hosted by the Alabama Farmers Federation. Congratulations to the winners:

Senior Showmanship:

Champion: Rileigh Mears, Blount County

Reserve Champion: Emma King Armstrong, Dale County

Third Place: Lilly Smith, Chilton County

Fourth Place: Luke Meadows, Houston County

Fifth Place: Caleb Cook, Autauga County

Intermediate Showmanship:

Champion: John Mathew Carnley, Coffee County

Reserve Champion: Claire Smith, Chilton County

Third Place: Camden Upchurch, Clay County

Fourth Place: Cole Smith, St. Clair County

Fifth Place: Brady Adams, Tallapoosa County

Junior Showmanship:

Champion: Bryson Upchurch, Clay County

Reserve Champion: Jessi Maples, Chambers County

Third Place: Brooklyn Price, Lee County

Fourth Place: Rylie Maples, Chambers County

Fifth Place: Easton Elrod, Cullman County

ACWA Louise Wilson Showmanship Scholarship: Emma King Armstrong, Dale County

Top 5 Market Animals

Champion Steer: Jessi Maples, Chambers County

Reserve Champion Steer: Mason Smith, Marshall County

3^rd Overall Steer: John Matthew Carnley, Coffee County

4^th Overall Steer: Emma King Armstrong, Dale County

5^th Overall Steer: Mason Smith, Marshall County

Top 5 Breeding Heifers:

Champion Heifer: John Matthew Carnley, Coffee County

Reserve Champion Heifer: Camden Upchurch, Clay County

3^rd Overall Heifer: Jessi Maples, Chambers County

4^th Overall Heifer: Bryson Upchurch, Clay County

5^th Overall Heifer: Rileigh Mears, Blount County

Top 5 Bred and Owned Heifers:

Champion Bred and Owned Heifer: Rylie Maples, Chambers County

Reserve Champion Bred and Owned Heifer: Sara Beth Faust, Blount County

3^rd Overall Bred and Owned Heifer: Brylee Goode, Lauderdale County

4^th Overall Bred and Owned Heifer: Hunter Smith, St. Clair County

5^th Overall Bred and Owned Heifer: Megan Crittenden, Elmore County

Bull Show:

Champion Bull/Bred and Owned Bull: Silas Gullatt, Lee County

Reserve Champion Bull/Bred and Owned Bull: Brooklyn Price, Lee County

COUNTY CATTLEMEN CELEBRATE OCTOBER BEEF MONTH ACROSS ALABAMA

County Cattlemen’s Associations across Alabama have been hard at work promoting October Beef Month in their local communities, and we couldn’t be prouder of their creativity and dedication! From cookouts and classroom visits to parades and social media challenges, our counties found unique ways to share the story of beef and celebrate 61 years of October Beef Month.

Check out some of the activities our local associations have reported so far and be sure to follow us on social media to see how they’re wrapping up this exciting month of beef promotion!

Barbour County Cattlemen’s Association

Barbour County Cattlemen hosted a Cattle and Forages Farm Tour.

Blount County Cattlemen’s Association

Blount County Cattlemen’s Association went to Cleveland Elementary School where they spoke to 60 students about the beef industry.
Blount County Cattlemen’s Association held their annual Blount County Beef Cookoff where students around the county brought their beef dishes and prepared them for judges.
Blount County Cattlemen hosted a steak sandwich sale.

Clay County Cattlemen’s Association

Clay County Cattlemen’s Association cooked steak sandwiches and beef hotdogs for a first responder appreciation dinner.
Clay County Cattlemen prepared hamburger sliders for a local school’s homecoming event.
Clay County Cattlemen served burgers to the JV football team at Central High School.
Clay County Cattlemen partnered with Extension to host the 2025 Beef Cookoff.
Clay County Cattlemen had a steak sandwich sale while doing concessions at a football game.
Clay County Cattlemen hosted a steak sandwich sale and helped at a Harvest Festival.
Clay County Cattlemen hosted a steak sandwich sale in Ashland.
Clay County Cattlemen read to 16 classes at Lineville Elementary School. They read a book written by member Will Jordan, that was later donated to the school library.

Colbert County Cattlemen’s Association

Colbert County Commission proclaimed October as Beef Month with Colbert County Cattlemen’s Association President Janna Edgin, and ACA Regional Vice President Junior Riner.
Colbert County Cattlemen’s Association participated in the first Ag Festival for the town of Leighton, Alabama. Cherokee High School FFA and Colbert County Junior Cattlemen participated in the promotions.
Colbert County Cattlemen’s Association partnered with Extension to host a Beef Essay contest.
Colbert County Cattlemen invited all 8 Colbert County Schools to participate in a “Cattle Rancher Dress Up” Day.
Colbert County Cattlemen partnered with four local radio stations to have October Beef Month commercials aired 80 times throughout the month.

Conecuh County Cattlemen’s Association

Conecuh County Cattlemen set up a booth and enrolled new members at the annual Flat Rock Day in Conecuh County.
Conecuh County President Hunter House joined the Conecuh County Commissioners for a proclamation signing declaring October as Beef Month.

Dallas County Cattlemen’s Association

In support of October Beef Month, the Dallas County Cattlemen’s Association fed ribeye sandwiches to Morgan Academy’s undefeated Pee Wee team for their pregame meal before the Tombigbee League’s Championship game.

Elmore County Cattlemen’s Association

Elmore County Cattlemen’s Association provided a grill, $500.00 worth of steak sandwiches, beef hotdogs, condiments, assistance & supervision as a fundraiser for the Tallassee FFA Chapter.
Elmore County Cattlemen provided 600 all-beef hot dogs to attendees at the Farm City Festival in Wetumpka, AL.
Elmore County Cattlemen served steak sandwiches to the Kowaliga Bunko Club. Starting a new tradition, ECCA is now calling it “KOW BUNKO”.
Elmore County Cattlemen sponsored a steak sandwich sale at Tractor Supply in Millbrook in support of October is Beef Month and a fundraiser for Stanhope Elmore High School FFA.
Elmore County Cattlemen worked a booth and participated in the Joy to Life Walk for Breast Cancer in Wetumpka.
Elmore County Cattlemen worked with Elmore County Extension agents to host a youth cattle showing school. This is an ongoing effort to boost interest in youth cattle shows and return the county program back to historic levels.
Elmore County Cattlemen’s Association hosted a Holtville FFA Steak Sandwich Sale Farmer’s Market Wetumpka, AL.
Elmore County Cattlemen grilled and donated beef hot dogs for Wetumpka Gardens Assisted Living.
Elmore County Cattlemen cooked and served a cube steak breakfast for a Men’s Fellowship Breakfast at Brush Poppers Cowboy Church Wetumpka, AL.
Elmore County Cattlemen held a Cowboys in the Classroom Coloring contest for seven classes at Redland Elementary School.

Geneva County Cattlemen’s Association

Geneva County Cattlemen hosted a livestock judging clinic.
Geneva County Cattlemen hosted the 3rd Annual Geneva County Career Tech Chili Cook-off.

Houston County Cattlemen’s Association

Houston County Cattlemen joined Dothan city Mayor Mark Saliba for a proclamation signing declaring October as Beef Month. Houston County CattleWomen’s member, Chelsea Gieselmann, Houston County Secretary/Treasurer, Serah Hall, and Houston County Cattlemen’s board member, Will Meadows, attended the signing.
Houston County Cattlemen’s and CattleWomen’s Associations Setup at Landmark Parks farm day.

Jackson County Cattlemen’s Association

Jackson County Cattlemen hosted a steak sale for October Beef Month.
Jackson County Cattlemen sold over 600 steaks at a steak sandwich sale.

Lauderdale County Cattlemen’s Association

Lauderdale County Cattlemen cooked ribeye steak sandwiches at the October Fest in St. Florian promoting beef. They cooked approximately 800 sandwiches.
Lauderdale County Cattlemen grilled 150 ribeye steak sandwiches for the Florence Utility Department.
Lauderdale County Cattlemen hosted their annual heifer show on October 25^th, where county kids came out to the rustic rail arena and competed for prizes and buckles that will be presented at the annual meeting.
Lauderdale County Cattlemen’s member Alyssa Thomas read to classes at Lexington Elementary School.

Lamar County Cattlemen’s Association

Lamar County Cattlemen hosted a steak sandwich sale at Old Fashion Day in Sulligent on October 4th. They were able to debut their new grill and prepare 800 steak sandwiches.

Limestone County Cattlemen’s Association

Limestone County Cattleman John Christopher Batts read to the 4K class at Julian Newman Elementary School in Athens, AL as part of the Cowboys in the Classroom program.
Limestone County Cattlemen sold over 1,400 steak sandwiches at the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddler’s Convention.
Limestone County Cattleman Jimmy Gilliam read to 3rd graders at Creekside Elementary School for October Beef Month.
Limestone County Cattleman David Wilbanks read to Blue Springs Elementary Pre-K class.
FACS students from Limestone County competed in a beef cookoff at the Career Tech Center sponsored by the Limestone County Cattlemen’s Association. All participants were fed steak and prize money was awarded.

Marshall County Cattlemen’s Association

Marshall County Cattlemen hosted a homeschool co-op farm tour at High Rock Farm in Horton, AL.
Marshall County Cattlemen provided lunch and were able to speak to the Marshall County Leadership Challenge about the Association and our mission.
Marshall County Cattlemen hosted a fall cattlemen’s workshop where the topics covered were cattle feeding and land mitigation.

Perry County Cattlemen’s Association

Perry County Cattlemen set up a booth at the Ducks Unlimited event in Marion. They served New York strips, handed out some beef swag, and talked about membership opportunities to the attendees.
Perry County Cattlemen has launched their chapter’s Facebook page for the first time to promote October Beef Month.

Randolph County Cattlemen’s Association

Randolph County Junior Cattlemen went to Handley Middle School to teach the 4th graders about beef month and the beef industry in Alabama.
Randolph County Cattlemen’s Association hosted their membership dinner meeting on October 2nd.
Randolph County Cattlemen’s and Jr. Cattlemen’s Associations went to Boondock’s BBQ and Creamery on October 25^th to promote beef.
Randolph County Cattlemen’s and Jr. Cattlemen’s Associations read to classes at Wedowee Middle School, Knight Enloe Elementary, Wadley School, and Faith Christian School for Cowboys in the Classroom.

Shelby County Cattlemen’s Association

Shelby County Cattlemen provided Steaks in the Classroom at Pelham Park Middle School. They provided a lesson on the beef cattle industry in Alabama and served the students ribeye and flat iron steaks. They also demonstrated proper grilling techniques for preparing delicious steaks.

St. Clair County Cattlemen’s Association

St. Clair County Cattlemen provided steaks for the Leadership St. Clair County group. They were able to provide a great meal and speak about the importance of beef cattle to the county and state.

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Bama Beef News | September 2025

Response to Latest New World Screwworm Development in Mexico

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) CEO Colin Woodall responded to the announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that a new case of New World screwworm has been detected in the Mexican state of Nuevo León, less than 70 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border:

“It is extremely concerning for the American cattle industry that New World screwworm has moved so far north in Mexico and now is just 70 miles from the border. The speed that screwworm has moved through Mexico is a reminder that this pest poses a critical and urgent threat to America’s cattle producers.

“NCBA appreciates all the resources Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has invested in protecting American agriculture from the New World screwworm. Designating funds for a domestic sterile fly facility, exploring new technologies for sterilizing flies, enhancing fly surveillance, and coordinating with other departments across the U.S. government are all important steps for safeguarding the U.S. cattle industry. We are also encouraged by the Food and Drug Administration’s work to authorize emergency treatments for screwworm, and we look forward to additional product approvals.

In mid-September, Alabama agencies, the Livestock Marketing Association, producers, and state veterinarians from across the Deep South met at the Cattlemen’s building for an NWS workshop. Led by State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier, the program combined expert presentations with scenario-based training to prepare for a potential detection in the homeland.

The exercise identified key areas for consideration and set the stage for ongoing collaboration as states refine best management practices and address cattle movement if cases advance north of the Mexican border.

DROUGHT MONITORING

The Alabama State Climate Office needs your boots-on-the-ground reports to ensure your community’s drought status is represented accurately on the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) Map.

FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS now open!

Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarships are now open for application, brought to you by the Cowboy vanity car tag and many, generous endowment families! Opportunities are available for all stages of postsecondary education— from incoming freshmen to doctoral candidates who are members, or whose parents or grandparents are members, for at least two consecutive years.

Explore these many opportunities and apply online at www.BamaBeef.org/Scholarships. Applications close Sunday, November 2.

USDA to Provide $1 Billion to Livestock Producers Impacted by Flood or Wildfire in 2023 and 2024

Approved counties in Alabama for flood for named storm event “Francine” and “Helene,” September 2024: Autauga, Barbour, Bullock, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Choctaw, Clay, Cleburne, Coffee, Colbert, Coosa, Cullman, Dale, Dallas, Elmore, Fayetteville, Franklin, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lee, Macon, Marion, Montgomery, Morgan, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Sumter, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, and Winston counties.

275 Youth Participate in AJCA Fall Field DayS

In September, the Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association (AJCA) brought youth from across the state together for its annual North and South Fall Field Days. The South event was hosted at Adams Angus Farms in Union Springs on September 3, while the North event took place at Tennessee River Music in Fort Payne on September 10.

During both field days, participants dove into hands-on learning opportunities by exploring performance data and EPDs, evaluating live cattle, and strengthening their reasons skills. These interactive sessions not only strengthened their knowledge but also helped prepare them for future success in the cattle industry.

In total, more than 275 youth took part in this Alabama Beef Checkoff–funded program. A special thanks goes to Youth Livestock Program Manager, Reid McGuire, Auburn University Interim Livestock Judging Coach, Abby Johnson, and the Auburn University Livestock Judging Team for leading the educational sessions. We are also grateful to the Bullock County and DeKalb County Cattlemen’s Associations for serving up a tasty meal of hamburgers and hotdogs to round out the day!

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

The ACA is aiming to go Over the Top again in 2025— help us get over 10,500 members! As we are nine months into the membership year, we are proud to report that we represent 9,762 members and growing more each day as remittances from the third mail-out return daily to the office. We are grateful for the grassroots efforts of our county organizations and look forward to another year of membership advocacy alongside you!

Membership Prizes

County Meetings

As county meetings begin the planning process, please remember to send those dates into the state office. Call or email ACA Director of Membership Jessica Kennedy with the date, time, and location of the meeting and let her know if a postcard will need to be sent out to members informing them of the meeting. Reminder: those need a minimum of two weeks notice for processing and mailing!

AJCA Board of Directors Kick Off the Year with September Meeting

Earlier this month, the 2025–2026 AJCA Board of Directors gathered in Montgomery for their first quarterly meeting of the year. The weekend began at the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association headquarters, where directors reviewed highlights from the 19th Annual AJCA Round-Up.

From there, the group traveled to Kick Back Ranch and Event Center in Ramer, AL, for team building, planning, and fellowship. Directors spent time getting to know one another, setting expectations for their roles, and preparing for the exciting year ahead. A special thank you goes to Mindy Newell and her team at Kick Back Ranch and Event Center for their warm hospitality and support in making the weekend a success!

Auburn Ag Roundup: Beef, Brisket & Spirit

On September 13, ACA’s Bailey Watson and Erin Beasley joined forces with the Auburn Collegiate Cattlemen & CattleWomen’s Association at the 46th Annual Auburn Ag Roundup at Ag Heritage Park.

Attendees stopped by the beef booth to enjoy delicious brisket samples, pick up beef promotional materials, and connect with Alabama cattlemen before heading into Jordan-Hare Stadium to cheer on the Auburn Tigers as they faced South Alabama.

Beef 101 Continues Strong

On September 22, FFA students from Talladega County and Family and Consumer Science students from Geneva County took part in Beef 101 at Auburn University’s Beef Teaching Unit and Meat Lab.

Throughout the day, the 55 students explored the full “pasture to plate” experience by learning about beef production, visiting with local producers, and observing a live carcass fabrication. The program gave students a firsthand look at the beef industry while connecting classroom knowledge to real-world applications.

Beef Checkoff Council Approves Production Research

At its September quarterly meeting, the Alabama Beef Checkoff Council welcomed researchers from Auburn University to present an overview of submitted proposals for applied production research.

After review, the following projects were selected to receive funding through the Alabama State Beef Checkoff:

Epigenetic Biomarkers of Fertility: Predicting Pregnancy Outcomes in Beef Heifers at Artificial Insemination (Banerjee et al)
Drylot vs. Grazing: What Pays in the Southeast? (Justice et al)
Investigating Consumer Preference for Novel, Nutrient-Enhanced Ground Beef Products (Douglas et al)
Evaluating a Rapid Immunity Test for Early Prediction of Heifer Fertility (Diniz et al)
Extending Grazing Opportunities: Evaluating Late-Planted Cool Season Annuals For Beef Systems (Dillard et al)
Determining Best Management Practices for Vaseygrass Weed Control in Forage Systems (Russell et al)

Governor Kay Ivey Proclaimed October 12th as Farmers’ Day in Alabama

Governor Kay Ivey and Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries (ADAI) Commissioner Rick Pate officially proclaimed October 12th as Farmers’ Day in Alabama during a ceremony at Sweet Creek Farm Market in Pike Road, Ala. The proclamation highlighted an essential role that Alabama’s farmers play in sustaining families, contributing $77.3 billion annually to the state’s economy.

“Alabama farmers are the backbone of our communities. They work tirelessly to put food on our tables, clothes on our backs and keep our rural economies strong,” said Commissioner Rick Pate. “Farmers’ Day and our Thank A Farmer initiative are about more than just recognition; they are about instilling a deeper appreciation for the farmers and ranchers whose hard work sustains us all.”

Governor Ivey’s proclamation served as a call to action for all Alabamians to pause and recognize the sacrifices, dedication and resilience of the state’s farming families.

The announcement also shined a spotlight on ADAI’s Thank A Farmer initiative, which Commissioner Pate launched in January 2025. The initiative emphasizes the daily impact of farming on the lives of every Alabamian. Farmers and rancher’s sacrifices do not always make the headlines, but it sits on every dinner table.

For information or the Thank A Farmer initiative visit, www.ThanksToFarmers.com.

Bainbridge Block Party 2025

Savor the Fall Season with Beefy Comfort Foods

The Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand shares a few soup, stew, and classic comfort recipes perfect for sweater weather.

As the air turns crisp and the days grow shorter, nothing satisfies more than warm comfort food. That’s why the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand, funded by Beef farmers and ranchers, is sharing a few soup, stew, and classic comfort recipes that will have you falling in love with the changing season.

Slow Cooker Beef Pot Roast Soup takes all the rich, homey flavors of a classic Sunday roast and transforms them into an effortless, set-it-and-forget-it meal. Simply take one Cross Rib Roast or Chuck Roast and add vegetables, beef broth and spices to a slow cooker. By dinnertime, your kitchen will be filled with the comforting scent of roast without all the extra work.

This Beef Enchilada Soup brings all the bold, zesty flavors of your favorite enchiladas into a single, comforting bowl. After cooking up some ground beef, combine broth, enchilada sauce, tomatoes, beans, corn, green chilies and taco seasoning in a slow cooker – another recipe to make those busy fall weeknights easy.

If you love a good pot pie, this Beef Pot Pie takes the classic comfort food recipe and incorporates beef in the easiest way. Using tender braised stew meat, this recipe gives you flexibility to incorporate a cut of Beef you have on hand, or you find in the weekly supermarket specials. Just cook your stew meat with a variety of vegetables and spices until tender then transfer to a pie dish and let it bake until your pie crust is flaky and golden brown. And if you want to up your pie crust game, this Beef Tallow Pie Crust recipe is perfect for those looking for a little extra flavor – and will surly impress guests!

For more recipe inspiration this fall season, visit BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com.

Supporting Alabama Extension

ACA staffers Erin Beasley and Kayla Greer were proud to represent ACA at a luncheon held during an Alabama Extension Agriculture, Natural Resources and Forestry agents, who gathered in the Montgomery area to begin planning for 2026 programming.

These agents play a vital role in educating citizens and providing technical assistance to farmers and landowners across the state. We’re grateful for the opportunity to collaborate and support their efforts for the future of Alabama agriculture.

CATTLE CONNECT PODCAST

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BAMA BEEF EVENTS CALENDAR

The Bama Beef Events Calendar (www.BamaBeef.org/events) is beginning to fill up with county cattlemen’s, youth and Extension activities as we look toward the late spring and summer months. Check it daily to make sure you don’t miss an event near you!

Bama Beef News | August 2025

Bailey Watson Joins ACA Staff

On August 11, Bailey Watson joined the staff at the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association as our new Manager of Youth Programs & Marketing!

Bailey grew up on a part-time cow/calf operation in Southwest Virginia, where her family raises purebred Simmental and SimAngus cattle. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Animal and Poultry Sciences from Virginia Tech in May 2023 and her master’s degree in Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications from the University of Tennessee in May 2025. Deeply passionate about the beef industry, Bailey is excited to be a part of the ACA team, where she looks forward to serving members and supporting the next generation of cattlemen through the Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association and a variety of youth development programs sponsored by the Alabama Beef Checkoff.

Bailey will also manage the grassroots extension of the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand to Alabama’s consumers! Learn more about Bailey on her introductory episode of the Cattle Connect podcast.

Jones Named Director of Strategic Partnerships

The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) is pleased to announce the promotion of Josie Jones to the newly created role of Director of Strategic Partnerships. This promotion recognizes Jones’ two years of dedicated service to the ACA, where she has primarily focused on beef education and Alabama Beef Checkoff Program communications.

Since 2023, Jones has managed Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner brand promotions in Alabama, led culinary education outreach, further developed the Beef 101 program, and handled communications for the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program. In her new position, Jones will pivot her focus to expanding the efforts of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation through enhanced program tracking, grant writing, and asset development. During the Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation “off-seasons,” Jones will serve as a contract staffer for the Southeastern Livestock Exposition, where she will bolster communications and logistics support for annual membership events, media relations, and fundraising initiatives.

This strategic position was recently developed in response to the significant growth experienced by both the Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation and the Southeastern Livestock Exposition. The expanded role will provide crucial staff support to sustain these organizations’ ongoing advancements.

AUBURN FOOTBALL FAMILY DINNER

On August 3, ACA staff and members of the Elmore County Cattlemen’s Association, Montgomery County Cattlemen’s Association and Lee County Cattlemen’s Association grilled 200 ribeye steaks for the annual Auburn Football Family Dinner! This event is an annual partnership to provide the players and coaching staff with a delicious and nutritious beef-focused meal to kick off the season right. Between a visit with Coach Hugh Freeze, meeting favorite players, discussing beef as part of a nutritious diet and handing out every last steak, this event was a beef promotion success.

Beef at the Bristol Speedway Classic

To quote a classic, you can say that beef and baseball “go together like peas and carrots.” That is why when the MLB Speedway Classic baseball game came to the historic speedway in Bristol, Tennessee, beef had to have a presence! To do that, the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program teamed up with State Beef Councils from Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia and Florida to promote beef regionally during the historic game.

The first-ever MLB game to be held at a NASCAR venue, the event broke the attendance record (previously set in 1954) by hosting over 91,000 attendees, including many Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds fans from Alabama. We were proud to be part of this all-American sports fusion where we featured a protein that all Americans know and love!

BARON’S BASEBALL PROMOTION

Continuing the baseball summertime beef promotions, more than 650 Birmingham Barons fans enjoyed beef with their baseball at Regions Field on August 9th for Country Music and Cowboy Night! ACA staff and members of the Jefferson County Cattlemen’s Association grilled steak samples and provided beef education at the Central Alabama event. Additionally, ACA President-Elect Wyatt Sasser kicked off the beefy evening by throwing the first pitch!

Fall Beef 101 Programs Kick Off Strong

ACA’s Josie Jones, Michael Smith, Erin Beasley, and Bailey Watson kicked off the first Beef 101 program of Fall 2025 on August 26 at Auburn University’s Beef Teaching Unit and Meats Laboratory. This event welcomed Wood Fruitticher Food Service professionals and Opelika High School culinary students for a full day of learning about beef production. Attendees had the opportunity to connect with industry professionals and observe a beef carcass fabrication demonstration.

We are grateful for the support of industry volunteers Shelby Marsh and Dr. Misty Edmondson, along with Beef Unit Manager Whitney Blackmon and Meats Lab Manager Barney Wilborn and their hardworking crews, whose expertise and teamwork made this event possible.

Funded by the Alabama Beef Checkoff, Beef 101 is an impactful program that helps participants better understand how beef makes its journey from pasture to plate. We are excited to continue sharing this story with more groups in the months ahead!

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

The ACA is aiming to go Over the Top again in 2025— help us get over 10,500 members! As we are eight months into the membership year, we are proud to report that we represent 9,550 members and growing more each day as membership mail-outs hit mailboxes! We are grateful for the grassroots efforts of our county organizations and look forward to another year of membership advocacy alongside you!

Membership Prizes

Reminder! All counties who go Over the Top by the end of 2025 will be entered in a drawing for the Priefert Squeeze Chute, donated by our friends and supporters at Priefert Ranch Equipment and Hartford Veterinary Supplies, while the county who increases by the largest percentage will earn a Priefert head gate! New members— and their recruiters!— will go into a drawing for a John Deere Gator, brought to you by our friends at SunSouth, TriGreen Equipment and John Deere!

County Meetings

YCLP Class 12 Session 2

On August 8, YCLP Class 12 completed its second session in the southwest corner of Alabama. The group gathered first at the Gulf Coast Cattlemen’s Conference to take in educational speakers and enjoy lunch, followed by an afternoon on the farm of YCLP Council Member Christopher Bell. The class then trekked to Luker Custom Meats, and concluded the day in Huxford, AL for a leadership lesson lead by Dr. Adam Cletzer and dinner provided by Monroe County Cattlemen’s Association. On Saturday, the class made its way to Pine Apple, AL for a tour of Murder Creek Cattle Company. J.J. and Lisa Watson provided lessons on reproductive technology and farm management followed by an incredible lunch for YCLP Class 12. Thanks to all who extended generous hospitality to the YCLP class and made this session one for the books!

Foundation Scholarships Opening Soon!

Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarships will open for application on September 1, brought to you by the Cowboy vanity car tag and many, generous endowment families! Opportunities are available for all stages of postsecondary education— from incoming freshmen to doctoral candidates who are members, or whose parents or grandparents are members, for at least two consecutive years.

Explore these many opportunities and remember to apply online at www.BamaBeef.org/Scholarships. Applications close Sunday, November 2.

Fall Youth Field Days, Happening Soon!

Registration is now open for the AJCA Fall Field Days & Judging Clinics, a free youth education opportunity designed to sharpen livestock knowledge and judging skills! This year, participants can choose from two convenient locations—Union Springs in South Alabama or Fort Payne in North Alabama—each offering the same hands-on judging clinic! Youth will learn directly from industry professionals through interactive sessions on EPDs and performance data, live cattle evaluation, oral reasons, livestock judging terminology, and more. Don’t miss this chance to build skills, gain experience, and connect with other young cattle enthusiasts. Learn more and register today at bamabeef.org/fieldday.

ACA Board of Directors Conducted Business at Summer Board Meeting

Special thank you to our volunteer leaders who joined us in Montgomery for the Summer Board of Directors Meeting on August 21. Together, members worked through important business of the association, including voting on amendments to the ACA Policy Handbook, receiving staff and program updates, hearing an overview of the Young Cattlemen’s Conference from Christopher Bell, welcoming Auburn University’s Livestock Judging Team members, and sharing county-level insights. This gathering served as a reminder of the strength of our organization when members come together to lend their voices, ideas, and leadership. We appreciate your continued commitment to being dedicated grassroots leaders of the ACA!

Stoppin’ in at STOCKYARDs

Throughout August, ACA Manager of Industry Outreach Michael Smith hit the road to visit with cattle producers and stockyard owners across the state. His stops included Uniontown Stockyard, Mid-State Stockyard and Coffee County Stockyard.

During each visit, Michael spent time visiting with sale day buyers and sellers and strengthening connections within the industry. He enjoyed meeting owners Jim & Jimmy Sealy in Uniontown; Scott Garrett, Dick Farrior and Billy Younkin at Mid-State; and Todd Nichols at Coffee County Stockyard.

These visits are part of ACA’s ongoing commitment to supporting Alabama’s cattle community, and Michael looks forward to continuing his tour throughout the fall months!

REPORT, REPORT, REPORT

Fall Armyworms are on the move! If you detect these resident pests in your pastures or hayfields, please report them to Extension at this link. Simply comment your county on the post!

Also, it’s said that we are always 10 days away from a drought here in the great State of Alabama. While we have enjoyed ample rain across the state this summer, help us monitor ground conditions (even in the good times!) by submitting images to CMOR. Snap a pic, upload it, report your location…and help drought demographers get a gauge on ground conditions, good and bad!

CATTLE CONNECT PODCAST

The August line-up of Cattle Connect podcast episodes includes:

Winter Forage Strategies: Preparing Now for a Productive Feeding Season ft. Josh Elmore
Exploring Alabama Agriculture’s Economic Growth Potential ft. Drs. Mykel Taylor and Kelli Russell
Meet Bailey Watson: ACA’s New Manager of Youth Programs & Marketing
Checkin’ on the Checkoff: Sizzling Summer Programs ft. Josie Jones & Michael Smith

This podcast is available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, iHeart Radio, YouTube, Amazon Music and at www.BamaBeef.org/Podcast.

ALABAMA HAY LISTINGS

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Bama Beef News | July 2025

19th Annual AJCA Round-Up

Nearly 120 youth, almost 130 head of cattle, parents, advisors and friends all gathered at the Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery for the 19^th Annual AJCA Round-Up July 24-27. Between professional development contests (essay writing, photography, ad design, poster design, salesmanship and photography) and livestock competitions (cattle shows, showmanship, livestock and judging), there was something for everyone! This event provides a vital platform for young individuals to sharpen their knowledge of the beef industry, develop real-world skills like public speaking and teamwork, and build connections within the agricultural community, all supported by funding from the Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation, the State Beef Checkoff and many generous industry partners! Thanks to all who sponsored, helped judge, provided food or simply came to watch. It was a great weekend!

Part of the event is the election of new AJCA Directors. We are proud to welcome new faces to the youth leadership team, and we are looking forward to working alongside this excellent group of junior cattlemen! The 2025-2026 Directors are:

President – Lyndee Meadows, Randolph County
Vice President – Shae McCain, Clay County
Secretary – Lilly Smith, Chilton County
Treasurer – Cooper Burgess, Blount County
District 1 Director – Laura-Landers Franklin, Marshall County
District 3 Director – Caleb Cook, Autauga County
District 4 Director – Luke Meadows, Houston County
District 4 Director – Annabelle Wesley, Pike County
At-Large Director – Aubrey Lovelady, Lee County
District 1 Director/ Ex-Officio – Amelia Thrower, Marshall County

Top 5 Breeding Heifers:

Supreme Champion Breeding Heifer – Laura-Landers Franklin, Simmental
Reserve Supreme Breeding Heifer – Camden Upchurch, Commercial
3rd Overall Breeding Heifer – Laura-Landers Franklin, Percent Simmental
4th Overall Breeding Heifer – Bryson Upchurch, Angus
5th Overall Breeding Heifer – John Matthew Carnley, Simmental

Top 5 Prospect Market Animals

Grand Champion Prospect Market Animal – Carson Fallin
Reserve Champion Prospect Market Animal – Bryn Lake
3rd Overall Prospect Market Animal – John Matthew Carnley
4th Overall Prospect Market Animal – Caleb Cook
5th Overall Prospect Market Animal – Mason Smith

Champion Progress Market Animals:

Grand Champion Progress Market Animal – Jessi Maples
Reserve Champion Progress Market Animal – Mason Smith

Champion Bulls:

Round-Up Champion Bull Brooklyn Price
Reserve Champion Bull Cooper Burgess

Top 5 Showmen, Per Division

Overall Junior Showman – Brooklyn Price
2nd Overall Junior Showman – Collins Cofield
3rd Overall Junior Showman – Bryson Upchurch
4th Overall Junior Showman – Jessi Maples
5th Overall Junior Showman – Holly Kate Dubose

Overall Intermediate Showman – Laura-Landers Franklin
2nd Overall Intermediate Showman – Lilly Smith
3rd Overall Intermediate Showman – Camden Upchurch
4th Overall Intermediate Showman – Cooper Burgess
5th Overall Intermediate Showman – Mason Smith

Overall Senior Showman – Wheeler Allen
2nd Overall Senior Showman – Sara Beth Faust
3rd Overall Senior Showman – Brylee Goode
4th Overall Senior Showman – Mikayla Walker
5th Overall Senior Showman – Emma King Armstrong

NCBA Secures Wins for Cattle Farmers and Ranchers in the One Big Beautiful Bill

Following President Donald J. Trump’s signing of the One Big Beautiful Bill into law, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) today highlighted key provisions in the bill that deliver wins for America’s family farmers and ranchers.

All of NCBA’s tax priorities are included in the One Big Beautiful Bill along with numerous Farm Bill provisions.

Tax Provisions for American Cattle Producers

Death Tax: The bill increases the Death Tax exemption to $15 million per individual or $30 million per couple, adjusted annually for inflation. This means if the value of your farm or ranch plus equipment, cattle, and other assets are less than $15 million individually or $30 million as a couple, you will pay no Death Tax.

Section 199A: The Section 199A Small Business tax deduction is made permanent at 20% by this bill. Section 199A allows small businesses, like family farms and ranches, to deduct 20% of their business income, helping them save more of their hard-earned money.

Section 179: Section 179 allows small businesses to deduct the cost of equipment. Thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill, farmers and ranchers will now be able to deduct up to $2.5 million in qualified equipment expenses. The phaseout threshold for this deduction is increased to $4 million and these limits will be adjusted annually for inflation.

Bonus Depreciation: Bonus depreciation allows small business owners to deduct the cost of equipment upfront, rather than deduct depreciation over several years. Under this bill, 100% bonus depreciation is made permanent.

Disaster-Related Casualty Loss: The Big Beautiful Bill permanently extends itemized deductions for personal casualty losses resulting from federally declared disasters. This is an extension of the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act that was previously supported by NCBA and enacted in December 2024.

Farm Bill Provisions for American Cattle Producers

Livestock Forage Disaster Program: The Big Beautiful Bill increases to two monthly payments for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program and expands the program by allowing it to kick in after 4 consecutive weeks of drought, rather than the previous 8 consecutive weeks.

Livestock Indemnity Program: The bill funds indemnity payments at 100% of the market value for livestock losses due to predation and 75% of market value for losses due to adverse weather. Additionally, there will be payments made for the loss of unborn livestock.

Voluntary Conservation Programs: The Big Beautiful Bill funds several voluntary conservation programs for six years, including:

$18.5 billion for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
$8.1 billion for the Conservation Stewardship Program.
$4.1 billion for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.
$2.7 billion for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

Additionally, the One Big Beautiful Bill does not include controversial provisions to sell public lands or expand eminent domain.

“NCBA thanks our state affiliates and congressional leaders for passing this legislation and we thank President Trump for signing it into law, showing he is a true friend to America’s cattlemen and cattlewomen,” Wehrbein added.

Stockyard Stop-Ins

This July, ACA Manager of Industry Outreach Michael Smith hit the road to visit with cattle producers and stockyard owners across the state. His stops included Tennessee Valley Stockyard in Florence, Cullman Stockyard, Frisco City Stockyard, Clay County Stcokyard in Lineville, Opp Stockyard, South Alabama Stockyard in Brundidge, and Alabama Livestock Auction in Uniontown.

During each visit, Michael spent valuable time visiting with sale day buyers and sellers, learning more about local operations, and strengthening connections within the industry. He enjoyed meeting owners Jim Martin in Florence, Hogey Parrish in Cullman, Tad Eason in Clay County, Michael Jordan in Frisco City, Henry Alford and Michael McCart in Opp, Stan and Melanie Adams in Brundidge, and Jimmy and Jim Sealy in Uniontown.

These visits are part of ACA’s ongoing commitment to supporting Alabama’s cattle community, and Michael looks forward to continuing his tour in the months ahead!

REGIONAL CATTLEMEN’S COOKOUTS- REGISTER NOW!

ACA’s summer regional cookouts are the talk of the town! This year, the ACA is teaming up with Alabama Extension to provide an educational program at each meeting— talk about a two-for-one! So far this summer, we have enjoyed our meetings in Cleveland (Blount County, North), Demopolis (Marengo County, West) and Wetumpka (Elmore County, Central). Lsst on the list- but certainly not least- is the Gulf Coast Cattlemen’s Conference & Regional Cattlemen’s Cookout coming up in Atmore on August 8. This event will be at Grace Fellowship Church, 8AM-2PM.

The Gulf Coast Cattlemen’s Conference & South Alabama Regional Cattlemen’s Cookout is FREE for all to attend and does not require ACA membership. If you would like to become a member of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, do so by visiting www.BamaBeef.org/Join.

Special thanks to our 2025 Regional Cookout sponsors: Alabama Ag Credit, Alabama Farm Credit, the Alabama Beef Checkoff, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Speaks Land Company, ENVU, Agoro Carbon Alliance, and FERAppease.

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

The ACA is aiming to go Over the Top again in 2025— help us get over 10,500 members! As we are halfway into the membership year, we are proud to report that we represent 9,466 members and growing more each day as membership mail-outs hit mailboxes! We are grateful for the grassroots efforts of our county organizations and look forward to another year of membership advocacy alongside you!

Over the Top Counties in 2025

Congratulations to the 22 counties who went “Over the Top” by recruiting more members in 2025 than they had in 2024 by the June 30 deadline! This achievement is marked by the county president receiving an iconic ACA red coat.

Barbour, Bullock, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Crenshaw, Dallas, Elmore, Hale, Houston, Lamar, Lowndes, Macon, Madison, Monroe, Morgan, Sumter, Tallapoosa, Walker, Washington, and Winston counties! Thank you for your leadership and advocacy!

Membership Prizes

Reminder! All counties who go Over the Top by the end of 2025 will be entered in a drawing for the Priefert Squeeze Chute, donated by our friends and supporters at Priefert Ranch Equipment and Hartford Veterinary Supplies, while the county who increases by the largest percentage will earn a Priefert head gate! New members— and their recruiters!— will go into a drawing for a John Deere Gator, brought to you by our friends at SunSouth, TriGreen Equipment and John Deere!

Talking Conservation at Local Workgroups

To round out July, ACA staffers Kayla Greer and Michael Smith attended the Conecuh County Workgroup Meeting. With strong participation from conservation resource agencies, the gathering provided a valuable opportunity to hear directly from farmers, discuss their needs, and share tools and cost-share programs available to producers across Alabama.

Organizations in attendance include the Soil & Water Conservation Committee, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, the Alabama Farmers Federation, National Fish & Wildlife Service, and more!

ALABAMA GROCERS ASSOCIATION

ACA’s Josie Jones connected with grocery partners from across the state during the Alabama Grocers Association Annual Conference Trade Show in Destin, FL on July 15. By providing employee training resources, beef consumer education materials and facilitating store owner-producer relationships, the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program helps community members make informed choices at the meat counter.

Santa Gertrudis Youth Stop by ACA

Members of the National Junior Santa Gertrudis Association spent some time at the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association office in Montgomery today as part of GOALS (Gerts Ongoing Advanced Leadership Summit) 2025! The youth leaders enjoyed a beefy meal while learning about association functions in Alabama and visiting with ACA staff. They wrapped up the visit with a competitive beef-themed scavenger hunt through The MOOseum!

Report, Report, Report

Fall Armyworms are on the move! If you detect these resident pests in your pastures or hayfields, please report them to Extension at this link. Simply comment your county on the post!

Also, it’s said that we are always 10 days away from a drought here in the Great State of Alabama. While we have enjoyed ample rain across the state this summer, help us monitor ground conditions (even in the good times!) by submitting images to CMOR. Snap a pic, upload it, report your location…and help drought demographers get a gauge on ground conditions, good and bad!

CATTLE CONNECT PODCAST

The July line-up of Cattle Connect podcast episodes includes:

-Unlocking the Secrets of Beef Market Logistics ft. Don Wambles
-Connect to the Cattlemen: Cattle Education, One Child at a Time ft. Nikki Dyess
-Securing Your Farm’s Data: Cybersecurity Insights ft. Amanda Senn

This podcast is available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, iHeart Radio, YouTube, Amazon Music and at www.BamaBeef.org/Podcast.

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Bama Beef News | June 2025

Smith Joins ACA Staff

The ACA is proud to announce the hiring of Michael Smith for the role of Manager, Industry Outreach. A native of Maylene, AL, in Shelby County, Michael and his wife, Dr. Kelli Smith, have two adult daughters, Graci and Bradli. Together, the family owns Thousand Hills Cattle.

After serving nine years in the United States Air Force, Michael was honorably discharged and began a career in equipment sales in 2015. To meet his calling to serve people in need, Michael and Kelli formed Thousand Hills Cattle Inc., a 501(c)3 that exists to provide a new freezer stocked with beef to families in need, in January 2020. Thousand Hills Cattle owns no cattle of its own, which requires the organization to rely explicitly on beef cattle producers in Alabama for a year-round supply of beef. Their slogan is simple, “Cattlemen Producing Hope,” which Michael hopes conveys a simple truth that hope and faith for better days is always available.

Michael currently serves as the Vice President of the Shelby County Cattlemen’s Association and is an alumni of YCLP Class VIII. His experiences in YCLP led him to become a huge supporter of not just the ACA, but also of the Beef Checkoff Program. He believes that the direct support of the beef cattle industry through Checkoff resources helps to promote and sustain the daily efforts of cattle producers in Alabama. The networking and cherished friendships that Michael developed in YCLP have had direct impacts on his organization and the operations of his fellow alumni, across the state. “The YCLP is our conduit to future growth, relativity, and sustainment of the ACA for generations to come,” Michael said. “I am humbled and honored to be able to serve the cattle producers of this state, every single day.”

Learn more about Michael on the Cattle Connect podcast.

Alabama FFA Convention

National blue and corn gold flooded downtown Montgomery the first week in June. Always an impressive bunch of students, the ACA was honored to be part of the Alabama FFA State Convention festivities in numerous ways! ACA Director of Communications & Legislative Affairs enjoyed the opportunity to judge the Extemporaneous Speaking state contest and was floored at the speech-givers’ thoughtfulness, knowledge of critical industry topics and professional presentation skills. Staff also participated with a booth at the Career Show held in conjunction with the conference, and the ACA hosted the annual Alabama FFA Foundation Wall of Honor Luncheon where numerous individuals were inducted for their lifelong support of Alabama FFA. Last but certainly not least, the ACA and SLE were proud to sponsor the Livestock Evaluation CDE, Meats Judging CDE and the Beef Proficiency Awards. Congrats to the winners of those contests!

USDA Announces Sterile Fly Facility in Texas

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has launched an $8.5 million sterile New World screwworm (NWS) fly dispersal facility in South Texas and announced a sweeping five-pronged plan to enhance USDA’s already robust ability to detect, control, and eliminate this pest. These urgent actions are necessary to finish the fight against NWS and protect the United States.

NWS is a devastating pest that causes serious and often deadly damage to livestock, wildlife, pets, and in rare cases, humans. While NWS has been eradicated from the United States for decades, recent detections in Mexico as far north as Oaxaca and Veracruz, about 700 miles away from the U.S. border, led to the immediate suspension of live cattle, horse, and bison imports through U.S. ports of entry along the southern border on May 11, 2025.

Following the dispersal facility groundbreaking at Moore Air Base, Secretary Rollins will meet with APHIS’s cattle fever tick riders along the Rio Grande River. The Secretary will see firsthand the critical role tick riders provide for identifying wildlife and preventing the spread of wild disease. In the event NWS advances northward into the U.S., these tick riders will play a crucial role in spotting and combatting this pest.

Key Facets of USDA’s Five Pronged Plan to Address New World Screwworm

1. Stop the Pest from Spreading in Mexico and Ensure We Are Full Partners in Eradication

2. Protect the U.S. Border at All Costs

3. Maximize Our Readiness

4. Take the Fight to the Screwworm

5. Innovate Our Way to Eradication

“The only way to protect the American cattle herd from the devastating threat of New World screwworm is by having a sufficient supply of sterile flies to push this pest away from our border,” said National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Buck Wehrbein, a Nebraska cattleman. “To accomplish that, we need a sterile fly production facility of our own in the United States. Moore Air Base was previously part of our nation’s screwworm eradication effort in the 1960s and now this base will be the cornerstone of our renewed fight against this parasite.”

Batter Up, With Beef!

Beef and Baseball – the winning combo! Madison County Cattlemen and ACA staff highlighted the cattle industry at the Alabama Farm Credit and Trash Pandas Ag Night on June 13. Fans enjoyed beef recipes, grilling goodies and sustainability facts with their all-beef stadium hotdogs and homerun hits.

Stopping in Stockyards

With only a week of being a member of staff under his belt, ACA Manager of Industry Outreach Michael Smith hit the road in the new beef truck and paid a visit to the Coffee County Stockyard in New Brockton, AL. While in the area, he was also able to meet with some of ACA’s longtime partners with a visit to Southern Silage Supply in Andalusia and Circle W Trailers, Inc. in McKenzie. Michael has big plans to travel all across the state visiting cattle producers, stockyards, and all of our partner organizations.

Bell Represents Alabama at Young Cattlemen’s Conference

YCLP Council member and Class VI alumni Christopher Bell of Monroe County recently attended the 2025 Young Cattlemen’s Conference (YCC) with beef industry advocates from across the U.S. YCC gives these individuals the opportunity to explore beef production across the nation and build lasting industry relationships to strengthen both current and future industry voices.

“My favorite stop was the Tyson processing facility,” Bell said. “This facility turns the cattle we raise into a product that is desired and valued by the consumer. It really tied the whole beef industry together for me.”

In addition to packing plant and Five Rivers Feedyard, Bell toured NCBA Headquarters, Greely Hat Works, and Certified Angus Beef Headquarters. He also spent time in Washington D.C. receiving further education on current policy and advocating among House and Senate officials and their staff.

Beef for Father’s Day- A Continued Tradition

Since 1955, the Alabama CattleWomen’s Association (ACWA) has promoted “Beef for Father’s Day!” This year marked the 70th anniversary of the Beef for Father’s Day proclamation signing. The ACWA was honored to continue this tradition by presenting Gov. Kay Ivey a beautiful platter of ribeye steaks. ACA staff enjoyed the opportunity to be part of the presentation and signing of the official proclamation!

Checkoff Council Gathers in Montgomery

The volunteer leaders of the Alabama Beef Checkoff Council joined ACA staff in Montgomery for their second quarterly meeting on June 19. While in town, council members received a mid-year report of 2025 Checkoff Marketing Plan implementation, met new staff member Michael Smith, discussed upcoming programs and events, and heard a report from Bill Lipscomb, Autauga County cattleman who represents Alabama on the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) in Denver. We appreciate these volunteer leaders for their dedicated service and genuine insight as they steer the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program.

NOW HIRING!

The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association is hiring for the position of Manager, Youth Programs & Marketing. This position is responsible for the implementation of youth programs, digital communications and general beef cattle related events and is located at the Cattlemen’s headquarters in Montgomery, Alabama. Learn more about the role, its responsibilities and how to apply at www.BamaBeef.org/Staff.

REGIONAL CATTLEMEN’S COOKOUTS- REGISTER NOW!

ACA’s summer regional cookouts are the talk of the town! This year, the ACA is teaming up with Alabama Extension to provide an educational program at each meeting— talk about a two-for-one! Regional Extension agents and specialists will provide the educational components of the program, and the ACA will provide updates to attendees during a meal at each event. The first meeting, held at the Blount County Multipurpose Center in Cleveland, was a huge success! More than 100 cattle producers enjoyed a high-quality educational session, a delicious meal, and a state Cattlemen’s update. The cherry on top was the afternoon filled with fellowship!

Save the date for a meeting near you:

June 26 (TOMORROW)– The Cedars (Demopolis, AL), 11AM-3PM
July 17– Wetumpka Civic Center, 4PM-8PM
August 8-Grace Fellowship Church (Atmore, AL), 8AM-2PM

Educational workshops open to all. Meals are FREE for current members and $25/guest. Please note: The Gulf Coast Cattlemen’s Conference & South Alabama Regional Cattlemen’s Cookout is FREE for all to attend and does not require ACA membership. If you would like to become a member of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, do so by visiting www.BamaBeef.org/Join.

AJCA ROUND-UP AND DIRECTOR REGISTRATION- NOW OPEN!

The 19th annual AJCA Round-Up will be held July 24-27 at the Garrett Coliseum. The event will feature a heifer, bull and market shows, educational contests, and an educational session for attendees. Registration, the complete schedule, rules and sponsorship information can be found at https://cvent.me/8MEgbA. Registration closes in early July!

AJCA Director applications are also now open! AJCA Director Responsibilities Include:

Obtaining a positive attitude toward the AJCA and ACA
Collecting sponsorships for Round-Up
Attending and serving at the Round-Up, ACA Convention, AJCA field days, and all other AJCA-sanctioned events, unless in the case of emergency. (example: medical, family, or unforeseen circumstances)
Directors shall serve as an active director to represent their district and convey district ideas at AJCA Board meetings

Junior cattlemen interested in gaining valuable leadership experience and those interested in gettin more involved with AJCA events year round are encouraged to learn more and apply here: https://cvent.me/azrRqD. Applications close July 2, 2025.

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

The ACA is aiming to go Over the Top again in 2025— help us get over 10,500 members! As we are halfway into the membership year, we are proud to report that we represent 8,971 members and growing more each day as membership mail-outs hit mailboxes! We are grateful for the grassroots efforts of our county organizations and look forward to another year of membership advocacy alongside you!

Membership Deadlines to Remember

Remember, the Over the Top County Chapter deadline to earn your president a coveted ACA red coat is June 30, just FIVE days away! Membership must be in the office or entered in the database by June 30.

Membership Prizes

Reminder! All counties who go Over the Top by the end of 2025 will be entered in a drawing for the Priefert Squeeze Chute, donated by our friends and supporters at Priefert Ranch Equipment and Hartford Veterinary Supplies, while the county who increases by the largest percentage will earn a Priefert head gate! New members— and their recruiters!— will go into a drawing for a John Deere Gator, brought to you by our friends at SunSouth, TriGreen Equipment and John Deere!

CATTLE CONNECT PODCAST

The June line-up of Cattle Connect podcast episodes includes:

-Connect to the Cattlemen: Lights, Camera, Action! ft. Caleb Beason

-Beliving in the Future of Agriculture ft. Mackenzie Smith

-A Season of Change hosted by Kayla Greer

This podcast is available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, iHeart Radio, YouTube, Amazon Music and at www.BamaBeef.org/Podcast.

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Bama Beef News | May 2025

Foundation Scholarship Program Soars With Record Highs in 2025

On May 2, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation (ACF) awarded a record-breaking $152,750 to 160 deserving high school, collegiate and postgraduate students from across Alabama. This is the largest amount and number of recipients awarded in a single year in ACF history! Congratulations to this year’s recipients, and thank you to the generous donors and those who have purchased the Cowboy vanity car tag for making this possible!

Read the upcoming Alabama Cattleman June magazine for a complete rundown on this year’s recipients or check out the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association on Facebook page.

Political Round-Up: Sine Die Edition

The final gavel of the 2025 Alabama Legislative Session has fallen, marking the adjournment “Sine Die” of the three-and-a-half-month-long legislative season. ACA lobbyists Erin Beasley and Kayla Greer are pleased to report a successful session for Alabama’s beef cattle industry. Below is a brief summary of bills that the ACA governmental affairs team engaged on throughout the session and where the legislation landed in the political process. A full report can be read in the June issue of the Alabama Cattleman magazine.

Education Trust Fund (ETF) & General Fund (GF) Budgets

The FY26 Education Trust Fund and General Fund Budgets have been signed by Gov. Kay Ivey and will be effective on Oct. 1, 2025. The $10 billion ETF presented secure funding for Junior Cattlemen programs, career technical education, Alabama FFA programs and livestock programming at Auburn University. As for the GF, the ACA was pleased to see level funding for the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries as well as the requested increase of $500,000 for the Conservation Incentive Program (CIP), which is housed within the Alabama Agriculture and Conservation Development Commission and administered through the Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee. Learn more about the CIP by tuning into the Cattle Connect podcast— Season 1 Episode 37 “All About the Conservation Incentive Program ft. Alabama Soil & Water’s Ashley Henderson”— or by visiting www.AlabamaSoilAndWater.gov/cip.

Alfa Health Plans

Congratulations are due to our friends and partners at the Alabama Farmers Federation as their talented team of governmental affairs professionals worked tirelessly to see the Alfa Health Plans legislation across the street to Gov. Ivey’s desk for signature. Additional congratulations are due to Rep. David Faulkner, the bill sponsor who championed HB477 across the finish line. This legislation allows Alfa to offer an affordable healthcare option to Alabama’s farmers and small business owners who are members of the Federation and qualify for coverage. Those interested in pursuing Alfa Health Plans are encouraged to follow the Alabama Farmers Federation online and be on the lookout for information as they spend the latter half of 2025 standing up the program that will offer these policies. We look forward to sharing information as it is made available.

Logging Legislation

After rigorous amendments, SB110, sponsored by Sen. Jack Williams of Mobile County, passed out of the House in the late hours of April 29 and has since been signed into Alabama Law by Gov. Ivey. Originally intended to allow for the redistribution of weight per axle on trucks hauling timber within the state, throughout the political process, the bill was stripped of any language that dealt with axle loads and, rather, placed emphasis on highway safety and simplifying the appeals process.

Captive Cervid Disease Management

HB509 sponsored by Rep. Jeff Sorrells covered a variety of topics within the Whitetail breeding industry, but one section related to disease monitoring caused the ACA to engage. As originally written, the bill would prohibit a state agency from restricting the movement of cervids in the case of any disease— including diseases that are communicable across cloven-hoofed species. After negotiations, a peace-of-mind amendment was adopted in the Senate and concurred in the House that involves the State Veterinarian and the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries in the event of such a disease.

Veterinary-Client-Patient Relationship

SB185, sponsored by Sen. Randy Price of Lee County, sought to redefine the Veterinary-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) in Alabama Code. However, stringent language required that a VCPR be established for diagnosis and treatment on a “case-specific” basis, which activated the livestock sector. Special thanks are due to Sen. Price, who kept the legislation from movement until a compromise was met. While negotiations failed to form a compromise during this session, the ACA team looks forward to working with the Alabama Veterinary Medical Association (ALVMA) in the off-season to ensure a practical approach to livestock veterinary care is established.

Grocery Tax, Down Again

In an unexpected move, Alabama’s legislative body decreased the Grocery Tax by another 1 percent, reducing it to 2 percent total. This means that since the onset of the Grocery Tax reduction, the consumer tax is now halved from its original amount of 4 percent of the gross proceeds of the sale of food. With the rising costs of groceries, this is an impactful move for all Alabama consumers.

While the team monitored a plethora of legislation throughout the busiest 105 days in Montgomery, these are the priority bills that took precedence above the rest. Tune into the Cattle Connect podcast— Season 2 Episode 19 “Political Round-Up: Sine Die Edition,” which aired Friday, May 16, to hear this report, and more. Visit www.BamaBeef.org/Podcast. Now, off to an exciting campaign season!

Federal Policy Update: Beef Bulletin

While statewide policy-making has slowed down with the adjournment of the Session, Washington D.C. is still abuzz with headlines rolling out daily. Check out the most recent Beef Bulletin featuring NCBA CEO Colin Woodall with the latest in federal policy news as it pertains to the beef cattle industry!

Carroll, Cavanaugh Tapped for USDA-FSA and USDA-RD

In May, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the latest slate of presidential appointments for key Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Rural Development (RD) state director roles. Monica Carroll of Dale County was tapped for the role of executive director of Alabama’s FSA while President of the Alabama Public Service Commission (PSC) Twinkle Cavanaugh was appointed to serve as the director for the state’s USDA-RD program.

Carroll and her family operate a diversified farm including poultry, cattle and row crops. She previously chaired the FSA State Committee during President Trump’s first term and is currently a board member for the Alabama Resource Conservation and Development Council. She also serves on the Alabama Farmers Federation State Women’s Leadership Committee.

Cavanaugh was first elected to the PSC in 2010, becoming president in 2012. She was last re-elected in 2024. The PSC is responsible for regulating utility companies in the state. The open commissioner position will be filled by appointment of Gov. Kay Ivey.

Now Hiring!

Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) Kicks Off Class XII

Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) Class XII kicked the year off in May in conjunction with the Spring Board of Directors Meeting. The crew of 26 young producers spent time with volunteer leaders from across Alabama to hear an overview of recent state programming, discuss county leaders’ responsibilities and learn from Alabama State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier about the The New World Screwworm (NWS) and measures being taken to protect U.S. cowherds. Afterward, class members toured the Alabama State House to cover the legislative process and the ACA’s involvement in developing beef industry-positive laws before wrapping the evening up with some fun at CK Cattle in Hope Hull. The next day, members toured the Alabama Farmer’s Federation and the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries offices to learn about agricultural partner organizations in Montgomery.

Meet this year’s class by visiting www.BamaBeef.org/YCLP.

Secretary Rollins Suspends Live Animal Imports Through Ports of Entry Along Southern Border

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced in May the suspension of live cattle, horse, and bison imports through U.S. ports of entry along the southern border due to the continued and rapid northward spread of New World Screwworm (NWS) in Mexico, effective immediately. The announcement is the latest move to halt the spread of this invasive pest that puts the entire U.S. livestock industry at risk.

The United States has long maintained its commitment to fighting NWS by funding the production of sterile flies needed to keep this pest out of Central and North America. Despite the United States’ work to control the pest, weak governmental participation in Central America allowed the insect to spread north out of Panama.

Effective eradication requires a three-pronged approach:

Robust active field surveillance with education and outreach to ensure prevention treatment, and early detection;
Controlled animal movement to limit spread; and
Sustained sterile insect dispersal.

Suspending livestock transport through southern ports of entry will assist in the effort to limit northbound transport of NWS through livestock commerce, and will allow the U.S. to reassess whether current mitigation standards remain sufficient. It is important to note the northward spread of NWS is possible through natural wildlife movements, including wildlife that transit the border region without impediment.

Regional Cattlemen’s Cookouts- Register Now!

Save the date as the popular summer regional meetings will take place again beginning in June. This year, the ACA is teaming up with Alabama Extension to provide and educational program at each meeting— talk about a two-for-one! Regional Extension agents and specialists will provide the educational components of the program, and the ACA will provide updates to attendees during a meal at each event. Save the date for a meeting near you:

June 12– Blount County Multipurpose Complex, 2PM-7PM
June 26– The Cedars (Demopolis, AL), 11AM-3PM
July 17– Wetumpka Civic Center, 4PM-8PM
August 8-Grace Fellowship Church (Atmore, AL), 8AM-2PM

AJCA Round-Up and Director Registration- Now Open!

AJCA Director applications are also now open! AJCA Director Responsibilities Include:

Obtaining a positive attitude toward the AJCA and ACA
Collecting sponsorships for Round-Up
Attending and serving at the Round-Up, ACA Convention, AJCA field days, and all other AJCA-sanctioned events, unless in the case of emergency. (example: medical, family, or unforeseen circumstances)
Directors shall serve as an active director to represent their district and convey district ideas at AJCA Board meetings

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

The ACA is aiming to go Over the Top again in 2025— help us get over 10,500 members! As we are halfway into the membership year, we are proud to report that we represent 8,174 members and growing more each day, especially as the second remittance mailout has begun to find its way back to county secretaries. We are grateful for the grassroots efforts of our county organizations and look forward to another year of membership advocacy alongside you!

Membership Deadlines to Remember

Remember, the Over the Top County Chapter deadline to earn your president a coveted ACA red coat is June 30, just ONE month away! Membership must be in the office or entered in the database by June 30.

Membership Prizes

Reminder! All counties who go Over the Top by the end of 2025 will be entered in a drawing for the Priefert Squeeze Chute, donated by our friends and supporters at Priefert Ranch Equipment and Hartford Veterinary Supplies, while the county who increases by the largest percentage will earn a Priefert head gate! New members— and their recruiters!— will go into a drawing for a John Deere Gator, brought to you by our friends at SunSouth, TriGreen Equipment and John Deere!

CATTLE CONNECT PODCAST

The May line-up of Cattle Connect podcast episodes include:

-Bull Development- What You Need to Know ft. Dr. Chance Armstrong

-Ag & Forestry Grow Alabama ft. Grace Ellis

-Political Round-Up: Sine Die Edition hosted by Erin Beasley & Kayla Greer

-Southern Border Shutdown ft. State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier

This podcast is available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, iHeart Radio, YouTube, Amazon Music and at www.BamaBeef.org/Podcast.

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Thanks for reading this month’s post! Until we post again, we want to remind you that you can stay in touch with us by following us on Facebook or Instagram.

JOIN US AT THE ACA CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

UPCOMING AJCA EVENTS

Political Round-Up

Saddle Up for the 2026 SLE Rodeo

FFA Day on the Hill

NCBA Releases 2026 Policy Priorities at CattleCon

USDA Issues Final Emergency Livestock Relief Program Payments for 2023 and 2024 Drought, Flood and Wildfire Losses

BEEF 101 – OPPORTUNITY FOR PRODUCERS TO ATTEND

2026 ALABAMA JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL BEEF COOKOFF IS OPEN FOR REGISTRATION

YOUNG CATTLEMEN’S LEADERSHIP PROGRAM CLASS XIII- APPS NOW OPEN!

LOUISE WILSON ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP

CATTLE CONNECT PODCAST

BLACK VULTURE DEPREDATION SUB-PERMIT

BAMA BEEF EVENTS CALENDAR

CHECKIN’ ON THE CHECKOFF– 2025 ALABAMA BEEF CHECKOFF PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

REGISTER FOR THE ACA CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

January Political Round-Up

YCLP Class XII Completes Wiregrass Session

UPCOMING AJCA EVENTS

LFP AVAILABLE IN 30 ALABAMA COUNTIES

New Dietary Guidelines Emphasize Beef’s Place in a Healthy Diet

USDA Names Trump Administration Appointees to the Alabama Farm Service Agency State Committee

ACA HOSTS DISTINGUISHED YOUNG WOMEN OF ALABAMA LUNCHEON

LOUISE WILSON ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP

SPRING 2026 BEEF 101 PROGRAM FULLY BOOKED

It’s Time for the SLE Rodeo

CATTLE CONNECT PODCAST

BLACK VULTURE DEPREDATION SUB-PERMIT

BAMA BEEF EVENTS CALENDAR

REGISTER FOR THE ACA CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW

2026 Beef Checkoff Marketing Plan Approved

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

YCLP Alumni Explore D.C. Advocacy

LFP Available in 30 Alabama Counties

NEW in 2026: Youth Cattle Working Contest

20th Annual AJCA Round-Up: Save the Date

ACA Hosts AISA All-Star Football Players

EVE BRANTLEY TAPPED FOR DIRECTOR OF ALABAMA EXTENSION

LOUISE WILSON ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP

SLE Rodeo Updates

CATTLE CONNECT PODCAST

Holiday Closure Notice

ALABAMA HAY LISTINGS

BLACK VULTURE DEPREDATION SUB-PERMIT

BAMA BEEF EVENTS CALENDAR

Convention Registration, Now Open!

Cattlemen of Beef Month

Thankful for Our Partners

Gator Delivered ✅

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

2025 Bainbridge Block Party

Wrapping Up Fall 2025 Beef 101

YCLP Class XII in Northeast Alabama

SLE Scholarship program

CATTLE CONNECT PODCAST

ALABAMA HAY LISTINGS

BLACK VULTURE DEPREDATION SUB-PERMIT

BAMA BEEF EVENTS CALENDAR

2025 Alabama Beef Checkoff Survey: Your Valuable REsponse is needed!

FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS, APPS CLOSE SOON!

USDA PROVIDing $1 BILLION TO LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS IMPACTED BY FLOOD OR WILDFIRE IN 2023 AND 2024

OCTOBER BEEF MONTH STATE PROMOTION ACTIVITIES

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

DROUGHT MONITORING

BAINBRIDGE BLOCK PARTY 2025

SLE Honored for “Best Footing”

ALABAMA NATIONAL FAIR LIVESTOCK SHOW PLACINGS

COUNTY CATTLEMEN CELEBRATE OCTOBER BEEF MONTH ACROSS ALABAMA

CATTLE CONNECT PODCAST

ALABAMA HAY LISTINGS

BLACK VULTURE DEPREDATION SUB-PERMIT

BAMA BEEF EVENTS CALENDAR

Response to Latest New World Screwworm Development in Mexico

DROUGHT MONITORING

FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS now open!

USDA to Provide $1 Billion to Livestock Producers Impacted by Flood or Wildfire in 2023 and 2024

275 Youth Participate in AJCA Fall Field DayS

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

20^th Annual AJCA Round-Up: Save the Date