We’ve got two themes floating around the office this week. (1) Praying for rain and (2) National Blue and Corn Gold. We’re hoping for a rainy FFA Week here in Montgomery and across the state. As thousands of FFA students head to the Capital City, we pray rain clouds head to Alabama, and the forecast is looking good for both. Get that hay in and saddle up for a rainy weekend…finally!
FFA Week in Montgomery
Those iconic corduroy jackets have painted Downtown Montgomery as thousands of young students in agriculture are in town for the annual Alabama FFA Convention! We’re proud to be involved with this outstanding association in a number of ways this week as today we host the FFA Wall of Honor Luncheon, man a booth representing the AJCA at the Trade Show and tomorrow President Chris Langley will have the honor of presenting the Livestock and Meats Evaluation CDE awards to outstanding FFA chapters who competed in these events. The MOOseum is also open for tours, and the opportunity to tour the entire ACA building is on the table for any teacher who stops by with a group. If you’ve got children or students in town, make sure to tell them to stop by and see us!
Disaster Relief Bill awaits Signature
The long-awaited and much-needed disaster relief bill received final 
passage and is on its way to the desk of President Trump for consideration. The ACA would like to the thank the Alabama delegation for its continuous efforts to see this bill through.
“For eight long months, farmers in the Wiregrass and throughout the Southeast have waited for disaster relief aid after Hurricane Michael devastated the region last October,” Congresswoman Martha Roby (R-Montgomery) said in a statement. “I am very proud that Congress has at last delivered this long-overdue assistance, and I am eager to see President (Donald) Trump sign this bill into law to finally help the many Americans who have suffered extreme devastation in the wake of natural disasters across the country.”
The $19.1 billion disaster aid package includes over $3 billion for agricultural programs; payments for crop and livestock losses due to hurricanes, typhoons, volcanic activities, tornados, floods, snowstorms or wildfires during 2018 and 2019; $480 million for the Emergency Forest Restoration Program, which provides assistance to owners of private forests to restore disaster-damaged forests; $558 million for the Emergency Conservation Program, which provides emergency funding and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters; and $150 million for Rural Community Facilities Program, which provides grants for facilities to provide health care, education, public safety and public services to rural communities.
(Info: Alabama Political Reporter)
Grilling, Marinating and Talkin’ Beef
MOOving Along in The MOOseum
The MOOseum renovation is making strides as final edits have been sent along to the designers, quotes are being collected and the project’s lead designer is making a final trip to town for complete review before fabrication begins! ACA staffers Erin Beasley and Kayla Greer are adding the finishing touches to some of the new features of the children’s educational center and are excited for the project to begin coming to life in the near future with plans for completion by AUGUST! Stay tuned as The MOOseum moooooves forward with renovation.
AJCA ROUND-UP registration now open
Registration for the 2019 “Christmas in July” AJCA Round-Up is now live at BamaBeef.org/RoundUp. We’ve got contest entry, animal entry and novice entry…so enter the site prepared with alllllllll the info you’ll need to successfully complete including AJCA membership number, EID tag numbers, premise I.D.’s, etc. You don’t want to miss this holly jolly youth development event riding in on its sleigh July 18-21 at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery!
Speaking of youth cattle shows, ACA Director of Field Services Morgan Pounds enjoyed her weekend at the Crenshaw County Belt Buckle Classic: Summer Edition…and boy, what a show! With over 150 participants, Saturday was an eventful day in Luverne for this first-time show. Morgan enjoyed helping at check-in where she saw so many bright, young faces of Junior Cattlemen and in the ring throughout the day. Two thumbs up for a great event, Crenshaw County!
From the Membership Desk
The membership count of the day is 8,250 members and counting! HELP US GET OVER 10,000! Don’t forget that the “Over the Top” deadline is coming in hot- in fact, it’s next week! To qualify four your red coat, your county has to go Over the Top by June 15. Got questions about our “Over the Top” program? Give Jessica a call at (334) 265-1867.
If you are a county president or secretary who did not receive your 2019-2020 leadership handbook at the May Board Meeting, please email Jessica to have your copy mailed today. It’s packed with officer and staff information and resources you need in your county such as an Regional Extension Agent map, a by-laws template, ACA merchandise and postcard service information and much more. Contact Jessica Kennedy today to get your copy sent the in mail!
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