Things are heating up around the Cattlemen’s Building in Montgomery…and we don’t just mean the temperatures! With the end of July comes the AJCA Round-Up and an already-busy fall season filled with cattle sales, regional meetings, beef promotion and Cattlemen’s events. We look so forward to getting out on the road again as we visit with our favorite folks, Alabama’s cattle producers. Keep reading to learn more about where you’ll find us this week and next!
AJCA Round-Up next week
It’s not hard to tell that the AJCA Round-Up is just around the corner…in 
fact, it’s next week! ACA Director of Industry Relations & Youth Programs Michael Agar’s desk is drowning in a sea of white paper, the library is packed with prizes, phone lines are buzzing with parents calling to confirm registrations and staff is at work helping Michael put on this premier youth cattle event! Beginning next Thursday, the AJCA Directors and ACA staff are thrilled to welcome over 150 junior cattlemen, 60+ steers and 150+ heifers to the Garrett Coliseum as we ROCK THE ROUND-UP! Participants will battle it out in their respective age division throughout the weekend in 14 different contests and cattle shows. It’s sure to be a good time…and a really hot one!
If you’re in the neighborhood next Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday, stop by the Garrett Coliseum livestock barns to show your support of Alabama’s Junior Cattlemen and this state checkoff-funded event. We’re proud to see our next generation hard at work developing career skills and learning more about Alabama’s beef cattle industry.
Roby hosts Rep. conaway in south alabama
Last Thursday, July 5, following a patriotic holiday, ACA staff joined cattlemen and farmers from across Alabama’s House District 2 as Congresswoman Martha Roby hosted House Ag Committee Chairman Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX) to her home turf. The duo discussed the Farm Bill status and challenges we face getting final passage before September 30. Following the meeting, which was hosted by the Pike County Cattlemen’s Association and welcomed by Pike County President Jim Shavers, industry leaders, including ACA Vice President Larry Reeves and Exec Erin Beasley, joined Rep. Roby and Rep. Conaway in Dothan for a fundraiser luncheon at the Alabama Peanut Producers Association.
Get Out And Vote!
Speaking of politics, don’t forget to go vote in the runoff election next 
Tuesday, July 17. Turnout will be a huge factor as voters decide many key positions across the state. Of note, Alabama will know its next Ag Commissioner next Tuesday night as there is no Democratic opponent in that race.
Cantrell Visits AU Meat Lab and Beef Teaching Unit
On Tuesday, Ali Cantrell toured the Auburn University Lambert- Powell Meat Lab and the Auburn main campus. She got to meet with Barney Wilborn, meat lab manager, and George Richburg, manager of the beef unit, to plan for the fall BEEF 101 programs. As director of education and outreach, she will be working closely with the meat science staff at Auburn in order to put on BEEF 101 programs as part of the National Checkoff program. BEEF 101 is great opportunity for foodservice representatives, retailers, and culinary students to learn about beef from “pasture to plate.” Are you interested in getting involved with a BEEF 101 program this fall? Email Ali
Board Memo
Board of Directors: Save the date for Thursday, August 9 and join us in Montgomery for the Summer Board Meeting! It’s going to be a good one as we award all of our Over the Top presidents their iconic Cattlemen’s red coats, sponsored by AgriLabs, hand out “Top Hand Club” prizes, courtesy of Alabama Ag Credit and Alabama Farm Credit, and draw for the John Deere Gator, sponsored by SunSouth, John Deere and TriGreen Equipment!
You are not going to want to miss this meeting if you are a Board member. Be on the look out for a Board Memo coming in the mail your way and don’t forget to sell those Gator tickets. If you need some to sell, call Jessica at (334) 265-1867 today!
Beef Tips with Lawson State Community College
On Thursday, ACA Director of Education and Outreach Ali Cantrell will be traveling to Lawson State Community College in Birmingham to give a beef industry presentation to culinary students. She will describe how cattle are raised within the state of Alabama and how the harvesting process works to create a safe and wholesome beef product. At the end of the presentation she will then demonstrate how to cook a simple tenderloin recipe from the Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner website.
SUMMER GRILLING CAMPAIGN ON PANDORA RADIO
If you’re a Pandora Radio fan, you may just hear the sound of the 
sizzle on your next advertisement. As of Friday, June 15, the Alabama Beef Checkoff is sponsoring a two-month-long summer grilling promotional campaign that puts beef on consumers’ minds. The ad is targeted to reach millennial consumers in Alabama’s four main media markets including Madison, Jefferson, Montgomery and Baldwin counties and those who are out and about doing all the fun activities of summertime. The ad features the voice of the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. campaign and the iconic “Hoedown” tune nostalgically humming in the background. Display imagery will accompany the radio ad and features steak, the BIWFD logo and the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association logo. It is projected to reach over 68,000 around twice weekly throughout the lifetime of the campaign.
JUNIOR PASTURE TO RAIL PROGRAM- REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
Learn more about the Junior Pasture to Rail program today by visiting www.BamaBeef.org/JP2R. The 2018 Junior Pasture to Rail program will be managed through the AJCA in conjunction with the current Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) Pasture to Rail program. Youth will learn how to retain ownership on their cattle and how to market cattle on the grid. There will be four (4) educational programs beginning in fall 2018 to educate the participating youth about the cattle industry from pasture to plate.
Cattle will be gathered at central locations around Alabama and shipped to Hy-Plains Feedlot in Montezuma, KS. Ear notches will be pulled for BVD-PI testing and calves will be tagged, weighed and graded at that time (frame/muscle score, BCS). Data/results will be provided at the awards presentation for the 2018 Pasture to Rail program. Awards will be given to the top three (3) youth based on profitability in two categories: individual profitability of one (1) calf and the average profitability of a pen of three (3) calves.
Data provided will include carcass data as well as feedlot performance, medical expenses, feed costs, etc.
Program Requirements:
- Youth must be of age 21 or younger by January 1, 2018 to participate
- Youth must be an AJCA, FFA or 4-H member
- Steers are preferred, heifers can be entered but will be at a disadvantage for the program.
- Cattle must be 600-lbs. at minimum on the day of shipment, be weaned and pre-conditioned for 60 days (castrated, dehorned and healed, dewormed) and be vaccinated/boostered for Blackleg, PI3, BVD, BSRV and IBR (modified live).
- A $200 participation fee will be incurred for pens of three (3) or less. A $75/head fee will be added for additional entries.
- Youth must attend a minimum of three (3) of four (4) educational programs to be eligible for any awards.
Calves will be shipped at specified dates between August 2018 to March 2019. In order to ship, calves must meet the aforementioned pre-conditioning requirements. Ship dates and locations as well as educational programs will be communicated as determined.
Registration will close August 31 at midnight.
This program is sponsored by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program.