That’s a wrap on October Beef Month 2017 and WOW what a GREAT month it was for beef promotion across our state. County chapters did an outstanding job getting out in the community while your state office implemented big campaigns online to put beef on consumers’ minds. Keep reading to learn more about those online results!
This is the time of year when we shift focus here at the state office. We not only look back over the past year to evaluate which programs were successful or maybe need tweaking, but we also begin to think toward 2018, and the new membership year as it is now upon us! It’s a busy and exciting time in Montgomery, and we look forward to celebrating 2017 with you while making big plans for 2018.
2018 Membership Drive Kicks Off TODAY!
With the start of November comes the start of the 2018 membership drive, and we encourage every membership to re-up on their annual dues and to sign up a new member! Help us beat our 10,000 total membership from the 2017 membership year. Also- here’s some incentive…if you pay your dues by Dec. 31, you’ll be entered for an Early Bird Drawing for three cash prizes: $250, $150 or $100. Can you say return on investment?! Renew or Join Today
The new membership software is now complete, and ACA Membership Coordinator Jessica Kennedy has been working diligently to produce educational videos to help teach county leaders how to use the new program. County secretaries are encouraged to attend the November Board Meeting on Nov. 16 as Jessica will be assigning county login information and discussing where to access “how to” videos.
2018 Checkoff Marketing Plan…Under Construction
Speaking of return on investment…let’s talk checkoff. This week at the state office, our theme is Alabama Beef Checkoff as we are hosting the 2018 Checkoff Task Force Meeting tomorrow. During this meeting, cattlemen and industry influencers will gather to hear a recap of this year’s program successes, learn about national checkoff goals and perspectives from NCBA’s Season Solorio and offer input and desires for areas of the program such as producer communication and education, retail/foodservice, advertising and social media, youth and issues management. Stay tuned for big plans and ideas, straight from the minds of Alabama’s cattle producers!
October Beef Month Success
Online promotion was the theme of this year’s October Beef Month, and
we’re proud to bring you the results of this year’s campaigns. Not only was every post centered around beef promotion and education, but we brought some big numbers to the board with digital advertising and couponing. Throughout the month we posted weekly carousel ads on Facebook that presented delicious beef imagery with direct links to recipes on the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner website. Each week, the ads reflected the theme of recipe/cooking techniques we presented on our online properties- burgers/grilling, weeknight meals/skillet cooking, tailgating with beef and stews/chilis/slow cooking. Those ads had excellent reach of over 82,000 Alabamians, driving over 4,500 clicks to specific recipes on the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner website. Post engagement and conversations were also very positive about beef, and Facebook users particularly enjoyed the stew/chili ads…which is expected this time of year!
On another digital front, our ibotta coupon- which offered $2 OFF a roast of any brand or variety purchased at most Alabama grocers- encouraged the sale of over 5,700 roasts, provided educational beef messaging to over 16,900 app users and reached more than 539,200 Alabama residents. This coupon featured prominent checkoff logos and well-represented Alabama’s beef cattle producers. Great work, team!
Alabama Forage Conference & Other Extension Programs for Cattlemen
The Alabama Forage Conference will be held at Lakepoint State Park in Eufala on NOv. 28-29. Registration is now open for this conference on our website, and we encourage you to learn more and sign up! While you’re exploring through our online events calendar, be sure to check out all the many great Extension educational opportunities for cattlemen that are coming up. From QuickBooks for Farmers to Calving Season Emergencies to the Fall Beef-Forage Update and information on Silvopastures, there’s a class out there for everyone! This calendar is updated weekly with new events, courses, county meetings and cattle sales.
Be sure to follow it and stay up-to-date with all that’s happening in Alabama’s beef cattle industry.
SCHOLARSHIPS NOW AVAILABLE
Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation scholarship applications are now 
available online at BamaBeef.org/Scholarships. We encourage you to visit the site and explore the many scholarship opportunities for high school and college students in Alabama. Each year, the AFC awards over $50,000 in scholarships to deserving students whose parents or grandparents are members of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association.
Check out the many scholarship opportunities, and don’t forget- the deadline is Dec. 1 at midnight!
Auburn University Collegiate Cattlemen & Cattlewomen Sausage Boxes
Are you looking for the perfect Christmas gift for the meat eater in your life? The AU Collegiate Cattlemen and Cattlewomen have got JUST what you need in their jam-packed with goodness sausage boxes. For only $30 you can 2-lbs of summer sausage, 1-lb. of jalapeño summer sausage and 1-lb. of a perfectly-paired cheese. Who wouldn’t love a gift like that?!
Proceeds from the sale of this year’s sausage boxes will aid in sending our collegiate cattlemen and cattlewomen to the 2018 NCBA Convention in Phoenix, Arizona. This is an outstanding educational and networking opportunity for our young people who will soon enter the industry. If you’re interested in ordering a box, call (334) 674-0569, email clb0012@auburn.edu or mail in this printer-friendly order form.
Cattle Sale Season
We are in the midst of cattle sale season in Alabama, our your state officer team and staff have been burning up the roads visiting the sales and networking with cattlemen from across the state. We’ve enjoyed the sites, the impressive cattle, strong prices and, of course, the hospitality shown by sale hosts. We hope to see you at one soon! This Friday ACA’s Kayla Greer and Michael Agar will be at Frank Turner and Sons in Hayneville while this past weekend, staff enjoyed heading out to the CK Cattle Headquarters Sale, Michael enjoyed a trip to The Oaks sale in Grantville, GA while ACA Executive Vice President Erin Beasley headed north to the Debter Hereford sale in Horton, AL.
View Our Cattle Sales Calendar Online Now
Auburn ANSC Students Learn About ACA and Checkoff Program
ACA Director of Industry Relations and Youth Programs Michael Agar was a guest speaker for Animal Science Orientation at Auburn last Thursday. Michael spoke about the national and state checkoff, BQA and about the work of our association. As a recent graduate himself, he also discussed what he did as a college student to prepare for a professional career in the cattle industry. Many of the students expressed interest in the presentation and stayed after class to ask him questions about the association.
Here are a Few Handy Links You May Enjoy:
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