Who else is beginning to forget what the sunshine looks like? It’s a wet one in Alabama as we are sopping with inches and inches of fall rain. While it may be delaying baling season and making a big, muddy mess, all it takes is a trip down memory lane to this time last year when this is the very thing we all sought.
As June is rapidly coming to an end, and July is peeking its head around the corner, we’re gearing up for a busy late summer and fall season. On the agenda, we’ve got the changing of the guards here at the state office as Dr. Powell’s retirement takes effect next week, our 11th annual AJCA Round-Up, Ag Media Summit for a few of our staffers, August Board Meeting and plenty of beef promotion and producer events in between. Keep reading to learn all about what’s happening around the ACA this week.
Membership- Deadline Approaching!
As the membership deadline quickly approaches, don’t miss out on the opportunity to win some great recruiting prizes! There are already a few winners and some who are very close. Click Here to See If You Are! Please notify those in your county who are close so that they may have the opportunity to obtain one of these great prizes.
As for today, the membership number is 9,779. Help us break 10,000 by the end of the membership year! The deadline for recruiting and having membership/monies into the state office is June 30th. Remember, the recruiter and the person recruited both get entered in the John Deere Gator drawing! Speaking of John Deere Gator, WE HAVE RAFFLE TICKETS!! Contact us if you’d like a book to sell or purchase for your chance to win the Gator! The deadline to have money and raffle tickets turned is before or at the summer board meeting. There will be a prize for the person who sells the most raffle tickets. They come in books of 10 and Jessica can mail them out today! Email Jessica
Stopping By the Pike County Invitational
Director of Industry Relations and Youth Programs Michael Agar has taken 
on his role with a busy agenda! Last Friday, he attended the Pike County Invitational at Cattleman Park in Troy and had the opportunity to meet with many Pike County Cattlemen, including none other than Mr. Ed Whatley. He was also introduced to several Juniors, their families and producers. It was a great show with 93 head of cattle shown, roughly 30 of which were steers and 60 heifers.
Pictured L-R are AJCA Directors Harmon Butler and Josh Graham; ACA President Richard Meadows; ACA Director of Industry Relations & Youth Programs Michael Agar; AJCA Director Anniston Bolding and Pike County Cattleman Ed Whatley.
South Poll Field Day
Saturday, Michael traveled to Sumners Farm in Boaz, AL for the 9th annual South Poll Field Day. The field day featured speakers such as Teddy Gentry, who developed the South Poll breed and Richard Petcher who spoke primarily on the benefits of grazing sunn hemp. Sumners Farm has a model rotational grazing system and their high-quality grass fed cattle certainly reflect that. Juniors within the breed were challenged to speak in front of the crowd of nearly 200 people to tell their own farm story. The field day was followed by lunch and a sale featuring 32 lots of South Poll cattle. We enjoyed the opportunity to visit with South Poll breeders and our north Alabama cattlemen.
BQA & Agriscience Teachers- Your Checkoff Dollars at Work
On Monday, we had the pleasure of hosting over 30 agriscience teachers
from across the state at Auburn’s Beef Unit as they earned their BQA certification, five continuing education hours and a beef lesson plan to take back to their classrooms, courtesy of the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program. As a new school year approaches, these teachers are now more equipped to teach our next generation about cattle production practices and the beef industry from “pasture to plate.” This is your checkoff dollars at work!
A special thanks goes out to Alabama BQA Coordinator Dr. Soren Rodning and his team of Extension specialists for leading the training.
State Farmer’s Market Tomato Sandwich Lunch
Today, ACA staffers enjoyed a visit with Commissioner John McMillan and friends at his annual tomato sandwich luncheon which celebrates Alabama-grown produce. The lunch included BLT sandwiches, fresh ears of corn, Gold Flake Chips and Bud’s Best Cookies. Oh yeah, can’t forget the Milo’s Sweet Tea!
Southeastern Regional Hereford Show
Last Friday and Saturday, ACA staffers Kayla Greer, Michael Agar and Logan Strock served on the Southeastern Regional Hereford Show Operations Committee and enjoyed helping ACA Regional Vice President Dr. Don Mulvaney execute the regional show. Michael helped out in the ring while Kayla and Logan provided photographic services for the show and kept a master list of the division and overall winners. Excellent Hereford cattle and even better junior cattlemen exhibitors where in attendance! We even got to see a few of our own AJCA members and congratulate them on wins.
- Grand Champion Hereford Steer: Mary Hannah Gullatt, Lee County
- Reserve Mini Hereford Calf Champion: Rose Hodnett, Tallapoosa County
- Reserve Mini Hereford Senior Champion: Gracie Wakefield, Clay County
- Champion Mini Hereford Bull: Jewel Thompson, Lee County
- Champion Mini Hereford Cow/Calf Pair: Jewel Thompson, Lee County
- Reserve Supreme & Supreme Mini Hereford Female: Victoria Thompson, Lee County
- Bred & Owned Junior Heifer Division Champion: Mary Hannah Gullatt, Lee County
- Owned Junior Yearling Division Champion: Grace Gullatt, Lee County
- Owned Junior Yearling Reserve Division Champion: Bryce Hendricks, Coffee County
- Reserve Champion Senior Showman: Grace Gullatt, Lee County
- Third Overall Junior Showman: Victoria Thompson, Lee County
- Third Overall Intermediate Showman: Bryce Hendricks, Coffee County
- Third Overall Senior Showman: Kelsey Faulkner, Limestone County
AJCA ROUND-UP REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
AJCA Round-Up online 
registration is now available through July 5 at 11:55 p.m. If your child is interested in beef cattle, has a knack for cooking, an eye for graphic design, a competitive streak in volleyball or a love of speaking in public, you should consider signing them up for the 11th annual AJCA Round-Up. This year’s event comes with a “South of the Border” FIESTA theme and is sure to be a muy beuno time!
AJCA membership is required for entry into the Round-Up. Here’s all you need to know about this year’s event. SPECIAL ONE-DAY BONUS: If you register your child by midnight tonight, they’re entered into a drawing for a Fiesta-themed gift basket including a $15 beef gift certificate!
- AJCA Membership Sign-Up
- Rules (note rule changes effective in 2017)
- Schedule
- Director Application
- Registration (Closes July 5 at 11:55 p.m.)
August Board Meeting- Save the Date
Board of Directors: Don’t forget our Board Meeting to be held August 10 at the ACA Building in downtown Montgomery. We look forward to seeing each of you and updating you on all we’ve done this summer as well as telling you what to look forward to in the fall!
Here are a Few Handy Links You May Enjoy:
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