Political Round-Up: Sine Die Edition

The 2026 Alabama Legislative Session has adjourned sine die, concluding a fast-paced 30-day session. Though expected to be budget-focused, lawmakers introduced more than 1,100 bills, creating an active policy environment.

The FY27 General Fund (Act #2026-383) and Education Trust Fund (Act #2026-380) were signed into law by Governor Kay Ivey. The ETF totals $10.9 billion (up 5.7%), and the General Fund totals $3.74 billion (up 1%). ACA priorities—including funding for the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries, career technical education, FFA, Junior Cattlemen programs, CIP, and CAFO support—were maintained or increased. SB85 clarifies the veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR), requiring a valid relationship before treatment and allowing prescription refills for up to 12 months. SB361, or “Beau’s Law,” establishes statewide dog tethering standards. Amendments added exemptions for agricultural dogs and clarified enforcement. Despite ACA opposition, the bill was enacted as Act #2026-427.

Energy policy also emerged as a key issue. The “Power to the People Act” (HB475) expands the Public Service Commission, increases oversight, freezes utility rates for two years, and creates a Secretary of Energy.

Despite expectations of a simple session, ACA remained engaged to protect agriculture and property rights. Read the full Political Round-Up: Sine Die Edition in the May edition of the Alabama Cattleman magazine or tune into our Sine Die episode on the Cattle Connect podcast, available in the player below.

Save the Date: Primary Elections 

The Alabama BeefPAC Committee has been busy in the last year evaluating candidates and making decisions on support. The following candidates for constitutional races are supported by the BeefPAC:

Cattlemen members are encouraged to exercise their constitutional right by going out to vote in the statewide primary election on May 19. From Governor to local races, Alabamians will begin to decide which elected officials will earn a spot on the ballot in November for the general election. 

Regional Meetings Are Back! 

We are proud to host a series of summer regional across the state this summer, providing members with valuable opportunities to connect, learn, and engage closer to home. Held in conjunction with Alabama Beef Systems Extension educational workshops, the regional meetings will feature timely educational content alongside the fellowship ACA members have come to expect at these popular cookouts. Conference agendas and registration details will be shared each month in the magazine for the upcoming meeting, and members are encouraged to mark their calendars now and plan to attend a meeting in their area:

–Friday, June 12, 9AM-3PM: Priceville Event Center, Priceville

–Thursday, June 25, 4PM-8PM: Enterprise Civic Center, Enterprise

–Thursday, July 9, 2PM-6PM: YNOT Event Center, Valley Grande

–Thursday, July 16, 4PM-8PM: Wetumpka Civic Center, Wetumpka

–Friday, August 7, 8AM-2PM: Grace Fellowship Church, Atmore

NCBA Legislative Fly-In

In April, ACA state officers took flight to our nation’s capital for the 2026 NCBA Legislative Conference. While there, ACA leadership visited with Alabama delegation including Rep. Barry Moore, Rep. Dale Strong, Rep. Gary Palmer, Sen. Katie Britt, Rep. Mike Rogers, and Sen. Tommy “Coach” Tuberville. The conference brought together cattle producers from across the country to advocate for policy solutions that strengthen America’s cattle industry and rural communities. Throughout the conference, producers met with federal officials and engaged directly with policymakers on Capitol Hill to ensure the voice of cattle producers is heard in Washington.

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

The ACA is proud to be home to 8,220 members and counting as the second batch of membership remittances have hit mailboxes statewide! We are grateful for the grassroots efforts of our county organizations and look forward to another year of membership advocacy alongside you.

Recruitment Prizes

Each year at convention, the ACA awards individuals and county chapters for their grassroots recruitment efforts. Thanks to the generosity from our membership sponsors at Priefert, Hartford Veterinary Supply LLC, SunSouth LLC, TriGreen Equipment and John Deere, the ACA looks forward to awarding outstanding prizes for grassroots recruitment efforts at the 2027 ACA Convention & Trade Show— February 19-20, 2027 in Montgomery, AL. Reminder: The June 30th ACA red coat deadline is approaching quickly! 

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!

Alabama Junior & Senior High School Beef Cook-Off

Eighteen talented students from across Alabama gathered at the Riverchase Career Connection Center in Birmingham on April 10 for the 2026 Alabama Junior and Senior High School Beef Cook-off! As judges tasted an impressive lineup of dishes, contestants had the opportunity to take part in two engaging educational sessions focused on the beef industry. Ricky Colquitt, Shelby County Cattlemen’s Association member, and Michael Smith, ACA Manager of Industry Outreach, led a beef cookery demonstration for attendees. Josie Jones, ACA Director of Strategic Partnerships, also shared insights on Alabama’s beef industry. Top honors went to Katie Holmes of Vinemont High School in Cullman County, who was named the 2026 Overall Best in Beef winner for her New York Strip Steak.

A special thanks to Chef Carter and her students at the Riverchase Career Connection Center, the Alabama CattleWomen’s Association, and Theresa Long with FCCLA for their help in making this event a success! We are also grateful to our judges who volunteered their time to taste some delicious dishes! 

Beef Takes the Spotlight at Talladega

As part of a Southeastern State Partnership, the ACA teamed up with NASCAR driver Jeb Burton at Talladega SuperSpeedway on April 24 to promote beef to race fans. Jeb distributed two beef prize packs filled with beef and branded items, while additional promotional items like koozies and towels were shared with fans throughout the day. Be sure to watch for the “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.” logo on Jeb’s car throughout the race season!

LFP AVAILABLE IN 43 ALABAMA COUNTIES

Drought conditions have plagued a majority of the state, 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  counties listed below, contact your local FSA office or visit www.farmers.gov.

Counties qualified for LFP include Autauga, Baldwin, Barbour, Bibb, Bullock, Butler, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Dallas, Dekalb, Elmore, Escambia, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Russell Shelby, Sumter, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Washington and Wilcox counties.

Serving Local at the SERO Junior Chef Cook-off

On April 24, the ACA partnered with Sweet Grown Alabama to provide a locally sourced lunch at the SERO Junior Chef Cook-off, hosted by “Break for a Plate Alabama” in Birmingham. Competitors and coaches from eight states enjoyed a meal featuring local products, including beef. A special thank-you to the Jefferson County Cattlemen’s Association for helping prepare delicious burgers for attendees!

Alabama Junior Cattlemen Update

On April 1, more than 80 junior cattlemen from across Alabama gathered at CK Cattle in Hope Hull for the 2026 AJCA Spring Youth Field Day! The event provided a hands-on learning experience focused on practical skills and industry knowledge. Participants rotated through seven stations centered on Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) principles, gaining insight into best management practices. They also observed a demonstration of the new Youth Cattle Working Competition and toured CK Cattle. By the end of the day, each student had earned their BQA certification. In addition to the educational sessions, participants enjoyed a hamburger lunch and time to connect with peers from across the state.

The Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association extends its appreciation to volunteers from Auburn University’s Department of Animal Sciences and the Animal Sciences and Forages Extension Team for leading the stations. We are also grateful to the Madaris and Evans families for their hospitality, excellent facilities, and farm tour. Supported by the Alabama State Beef Checkoff Program, the Spring Youth Field Day remains a highlight of the season!

AJCA Round-Up

The 20th Annual AJCA Round-Up will be held July 23-26 at the Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. The event will feature a cattle show, educational contests, and an educational session for attendees. Keep an eye out for more details and registration to come in mid-May! 

Mosey On Over To The MOOseum: Your Family’s Summer Destination in Montgomery

As the summer heat starts to roll in and you look for ways to keep your little buckaroos entertained, look no further than The MOOseum. Located below the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and Southeastern Livestock Exposition offices in Montgomery, it’s the perfect spot to bring the family for a day of beef production discovery and fun.

The MOOseum offers a deep dive into the rich heritage of Alabama’s cattle industry. With educational displays that cover everything from the early days of ranching to modern agricultural practices, there is something for everyone to learn. It isn’t just a history lesson, though—interactive activities allow kids (and kids at heart) to immerse themselves in the agricultural lifestyle. While you are here, we also encourage our members to take a look around the rest of the building- we are happy to give you a tour!

This FREE space is open and ready to welcome you throughout the week. The MOOseum is open Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM & 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM (Note: The building is closed daily from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM for lunch). Free parking is available on-site. Stop by this summer, enjoy the air conditioning and celebrate the lifestyle that keeps Alabama going strong!

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.

A Successful Convention & New Slate of Officers

The dust has settled after hosting 800+ attendees at #BamaBeefMeet, and ACA officers and staff are thrilled with the turnout of the 83rd Annual ACA Convention, which took place March 6-7 in Mobile! In addition to an excellent trade show featuring 90+ vendors, an outstanding line-up of educational speakers, nonstop fellowship and delicious beef meals, the association accomplished all the business required at the annual event—and broke a few records along the way!

First, the membership approved the annual audit reports from 2025, which highlighted outstanding stewardship of association, Beef Checkoff and foundation funds. Next in line was the election of new officers. President Wyatt Sasser (Covington County) will lead the charge with support from President-Elect Randy Moody (Madison County), Vice President Jim Miller (Jefferson County) and Treasurer Richard Meadows (Houston County). Additionally, four new regional vice presidents were elected to serve various regions across the state, and they are: Patrick Shirley (St. Clair County), Ben Johnson (Randolph County), Dan Goode (Lauderdale County) and Mark Matthews (Elmore County). Learn more about each of these association leaders in the upcoming April edition of the Alabama Cattleman magazine.

After a day of association business, exploring the trade show and learning in various educational sessions, attendees gathered for food and fun at the Buckles & Bids Banquet and 2026 Alabama BeefPAC Auction where a record-breaking $78,000 was raised to support pro-agriculture candidates in Alabama politics. Thank you to each of the buyers and donors who made that event so memorable!

The cherry on top of convention was the Cattlemen’s Heritage Banquet where we honored two new Alabama Livestock Hall of Fame inductees—Chuck Madaris (Lowndes County) and Leo Hollinger (Wilcox County)—graduated students of the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program Class VII and hosted the Changing of the Guard Ceremony. Deep gratitude and congratulations are in order for Immediate Past President Keith Glover of Hale County for an outstanding year of service to the ACA! Get the full scoop on the annual convention—including all the outstanding youth competition winners—in the April edition of the Alabama Cattleman magazine.

SLE Rodeo

Another action-packed SLE Rodeo & Livestock Week has come and gone, tying up a 69th year of ProRodeo in Montgomery’s Historic Garrett Coliseum! With over 17,000 rodeo fans on the grounds and more than $75,000 in scholarships awarded to the next generation of agriculture in Alabama, the SLE Mission is alive and well! In addition to the Poarch Band of Creek Indian Scholarships, the SLE also awarded $1,000 scholarships to 13 students studying agriculture in Alabama!

From a $10,000 bounty bull ride to the Junior Livestock Exhibition and the new Experience Montgomery Fan Zone to the Alabama Select SLE Horse Sale, the 2026 rodeo brought the cowboy way of life to the Capital City. Be sure to save the dates for next year’s event, coming back to town March 19-21, 2027! 

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

The ACA is proud to be home to 7,647 members and counting as the second bath of membership remittances prepare to hit mailboxes in April! We are grateful for the grassroots efforts of our county organizations and look forward to another year of membership advocacy alongside you.

Recruitment Prizes

Each year at convention, the ACA awards individuals and county chapters for their grassroots recruitment efforts. Thanks to the generosity from our membership sponsors at Priefert, Hartford Veterinary Supply LLC, SunSouth LLC, TriGreen Equipment and John Deere, the ACA awarded outstanding prizes for grassroots recruitment efforts. 

Priefert Chute: All county chapters who went “Over the Top” in 2025 by recruiting more members than the previous year went into a drawing for a Priefert squeeze chute. Congratulations to the Jackson County Cattlemen’s Association being this year’s winners!

Priefert Head Gate: As an added incentive for countywide membership recruitment, a Priefert head gate is awarded to the county chapter with the highest percentage increase in membership during the year. This year’s recipient is the Walker County Cattlemen’s Association. 

Priefert Panels: The state’s top recruiter was Mark Matthews of Elmore County. Mark recruited 35 members in 2025, earning him ten 12’ Priefert panels to put to work on his operation. 

John Deere TX Gator: For every new member recruited throughout the year, both the new member and their recruiter are entered into a drawing to win a John Deere TX Gator—a prize made possible by our partners at SunSouth LLC, TriGreen Equipment and John Deere. This year’s lucky winner is James Robert Parnell of Chilton County. 

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!

Political Round-Up

The 2026 Alabama Legislative Session began January 13, launching a busy 105 days in downtown Montgomery. Since Day 1, ACA lobbyists Erin Beasley and Kayla Greer have worked diligently to track legislation, meet with lawmakers, and advocate for Alabama’s cattle producers.

As lawmakers return from Spring Break, activity is expected to ramp up quickly. With more than 1,100 bills introduced, ACA remains focused on key measures impacting agriculture.

Budget discussions continue on the FY27 General Fund and Education Trust Fund, with strong support for priority areas like the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries, career tech and FFA programs, Junior Cattlemen funding, and the Conservation Incentive Program.

Several bills remain top of mind. ACA is opposing dog tethering legislation (HB446/SB361) and encourages members to contact their legislators. Meanwhile, SB85—addressing veterinary-client-patient relationships—continues to move forward with a balanced approach that protects on-farm practices. Other measures, including the Alabama Agriculture Enhancement Program, the “30-Day Notice Bill,” and energy-related legislation, are also progressing through the process.

With the session expected to conclude in early April, movement will be swift in the final days. For a full legislative rundown and final outcomes, be sure to read the April edition of the Alabama Cattleman.

ACA Hosts Annual Legislative Breakfast

Great conversation set the tone our annual Senators Breakfast hosted March 19 at the Cattlemen’s Building—but it was the breakfast itself that truly stole the show!

Sen. Gerald Allen carried on tradition with his scratch-made biscuits, while Sens. Jack Williams and David Sessions kept the griddles busy with pancakes. Sen. Larry Stutts served up Conecuh sausage, and our friends at the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association prepared fresh, made-to-order omelets. To top it all off, sliced, grilled ribeye delivered a hearty start to a busy day at the State House .

This event is always a highlight of the legislative season, and we are proud to have a space that can host the crowd who comes to enjoy!

Support Alabama BeefPAC in Style

Pre-order your Alabama BeefPAC neck tie or wild rag—featuring unique brands from cattle farms across the state—for $100 each. Every purchase directly supports pro-agriculture candidates across Alabama’s executive, judicial, and legislative branches.

Don’t miss your chance to represent the industry while giving back—those interested are encouraged to purchase online at www.BamaBeef.org/Store.

UPCOMING AJCA EVENTS

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. 

House Agriculture Committee Advances Farm Bill 2.0

During March, the (Congressional) House Agriculture Committee advanced the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, also known as Farm Bill 2.0, out of committee. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) supports this legislation to finish the Farm Bill process and strengthen provisions that provide certainty to farmers and ranchers across the country.

A few items of interest to livestock producers in the current version of Farm Bill 2.0 include:

• Incorporates precision agriculture practices into the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and protects the 50% livestock carveout in the program.
• Expands the precision agriculture practices eligible under the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and increases the minimum payment to $4,000.
• Updates the limits on several types of FSA loans and expands access for new, young, beginning, and veteran producers.
• Bolsters the training and use of dogs to detect foreign pests and livestock/plant diseases.
• Clarifies states’ right to produce livestock within their borders without the imposition of state-level conditions or standards in effect in a different state providing a fix for the Prop 12 issue.
• Allows livestock auction owners to invest in packing facilities that process 700,000 head/year or fewer.
• Creates a pilot program to allow custom-exempt processors to sell beef direct-to-consumer within the state where the facility is located (with some reporting and labeling requirements.)
• Expands the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to include the Secretary of Agriculture for certain transactions, giving USDA a greater say in potential national security concerns involving the sale of agricultural land.

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.

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.

1. Schedule: https://cvent.me/qoV9wy
2. Registration: https://cvent.me/AK74OL
3. 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.

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.

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. 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 

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

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

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.

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. 

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

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

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

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.

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

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!

*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.

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 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

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

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

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! 

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

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 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!

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.

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.

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

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

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! 

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

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

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! 

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

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 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!

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

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

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!

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.

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! 

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

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 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!

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.

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.

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

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

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, 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

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

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

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!

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

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! 

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

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 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!

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.

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

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!

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

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! 

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

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

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 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!

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.

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

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! 

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. 

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

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 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!

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.