Happy Beef Month! It’s an exciting and busy time as our office is buzzing with all sorts of calendar events to attend and execute. We won’t waste anytime here, as there is plenty to read about in this week’s update. Enjoy!
Bama’s Best Beef Winners Announced
Gather, a restaurant in Atmore, has been named the winner of the 2020 Bama’s Best Beef contest with its dish, the Train Wreck. Bama Buck’s Trophy Mount Ribeye in Sardis City took home the title of “People’s Choice.”
Twin filets of beef paired with Nueske’s bacon, fried green tomatoes, pimento grits, Conecuh crab sauce and a fried egg, the Train Wreck is one that one a contest judge said would be “hard to beat.” The dish is the brainchild of chef and owner, Chris McElhaney.
Gather’s owners will receive a plaque presentation and media conference from the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association staff this evening, bragging rights for one year and an influx of customers looking to try Alabama’s best beef dish. Staff and officers will visit Bama Bucks later this month to explore their venue and try our that ribeye!
Beef Up the Blood Supply
In celebration of October Beef Month, next week the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association is hosting blood drives across the state! In exchange for your donation, we’ll give you a beef meal and/or a voucher for a discounted meal from a local restaurant partner! Donors will also receive a courtesy COVID antibody test. Sign up today!
Monday (Dothan): http://ow.ly/HVCd50BM9JF
Tuesday (Decatur): http://ow.ly/SufZ50BM9MD
Wednesday (Decatur): http://ow.ly/wtUj50BM9QQ
Thursday (Montgomery): http://ow.ly/H56w50BM9SQ
Friday (Troy, Cattlemen’s Park): http://ow.ly/YzMj50BM9WD
Staffers Morgan Desselle and Ali Cantrell will head south on Friday to promote the blood drive happening in Troy next week. Staffers will stop at local restaurants, stores, South Alabama stockyard, and the University to spread word about Beef Month and the blood drive in that area.
Staffers Morgan Desselle and Ali Cantrell will head south on Friday to promote the blood drive happening in Troy next week. Staffers will stop at local restaurants, stores, South Alabama stockyard, and the University to spread word about Beef Month and the blood drive in that area.
Hitting the Fall Rodeo Circuit
Last weekend, staffers Lauren Wilson and Ali Cantrell attended the Odenville rodeo to promote October Beef Month and sell ACA and SLE merchandise to the crowd. Then, on October 16-18, Lauren Wilson will be hosting a booth at Falkville’s Day of the Cowboy event. The SLE is also proud to sponsor the hospitality chuckwagon meal.
Speaking of rodeo, save the dates for the 2021 SLE Rodeo- March 18-20, 2021 at Garrett Coliseum. Erin Beasley and Lauren Wilson will be meeting with the new SLE officers next Wednesday to begin setting plans for the big event!
AASP Deadline Soon!
Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded $26 Million of CARES Act Funds to assist Alabama Agriculture impacted by COVID-19. Funding will be used to establish the Alabama Agricultural Stabilization Program (AASP). No funds may be utilized for salaries, building projects, or capital improvements. Commissioner Rick Pate reminds everyone that the Cattle Producer Applications for the Alabama Agriculture Stabilization Program (AASP) are now available and close soon on October 9, 2020. Applicants should visit crf.alabama.gov or agi.alabama.gov to apply.
In order to be eligible for cattle relief funds:
- You must be an Alabama resident
- You must be able to provide documentation that you sold cattle during the date range of April 16, 2020 through May 15, 2020. Slaughter cattle and bulls do not qualify for payment.
- If claiming payment for Dairy Production, you must have been eligible for USDA’s CFAP program for Dairy Production and you must provide the total amount of the CFAP payment you received for Dairy Production.
- Need a copy of your W-9
- Require successful submission of this application and signed certification and assurances form
- Must submit bank account information for electronic payment
- Must provide of a voided check or a memo from your bank with account number and routing number.
Maximum “per head” payments for beef cattle:
Less than 600 lbs. x $69/head
600-900 lbs. x $106/head
Fed cattle (Fats) (over 900 lbs.) x $181/head
If you have any questions regarding eligibility, please call 334-240-7100 or email: aasp-questions@agi.alabama.gov
USDA Releases CFAP 2 Program
Late in September, the U.S. Department of Agriculture opened application for a second round of COVID assistance relief through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), or CFAP 2. Key details include:
Cattle Payments: The CFAP 2 payment rate for eligible beef cattle is $55 per head. Payments will be based on the maximum owned inventory of eligible livestock, excluding breeding stock, on a date selected by the producer, between Apr. 16, 2020, and Aug. 31, 2020.
Signups will run through December 11, 2020.
More CFAP 2 details are available on USDA’s website: https://www.farmers.gov/cfap/livestock.
Foundation Scholarships Now Open
Applications for the 2021-2022 Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarships are now open online at www.BamaBeef.org/Scholarships. The ACF is proud to award over $65,000 in scholarships annually to Alabama’s youth in livestock and those who are the children or grandchildren of longtime members. We offer a variety of scholarships with a range of requirements— there’s truly something to fit any student! We appreciate those who purchase the Cowboy vanity car tag that help fund these scholarships, as well as the generous families who have endowed scholarships through our foundation. Applications CLOSE on November 6 at midnight, so be sure your favorite student(s) submits today!
Talking ACA with AU Students
Speaking of college, on Thursday, Director of Field Services Morgan Desselle (check out that name change!!) will be talking to the Auburn University Animal Science class. This class is largely made up of freshman. The purpose of Morgan’s talk with the class will be to educate them on what ACA does and how she prepared for a job in the agriculture world. The instructor has asked Morgan to present to the class ways to prepare for jobs in the ag field. A large part of her talk is how to network, build resume, and prepare for a career. She also spends time discussing what she does as an ACA staffer and working closely with the Beef Check-Off programs. This will be Morgan’s fourth semester giving this talk.
Membership Update
As of today, our statewide membership number is at 9,497 members. We can almost taste that 10,000….so keep recruiting! Board members are encouraged to save the date for November 19 as we plan to host our Fall Board of Directors meetings. Notices will be mailing out soon. We look forward to seeing you all there.
Save the Date- Beef Checkoff Task Force Meeting
The Alabama Beef Checkoff Task Force meeting will be held Thursday, October 29 at the Cattlemen’s building in Montgomery. ANY cattlemen in Alabama interested in attending this meeting is welcome to do so by contacting the ACA office at (334) 265-1867. It is a way to get completely involved in the process and having a say in how beef checkoff dollars are spent in the state. The ideas that come out of the task force meeting will be put into a marketing plan and presented to the Beef Checkoff Council for approval and budgeting. Contact an ACA officer or the office today to get more information on the meeting.
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