Hello, September. Hello, Tropical Storm Gordon. Hello, football season.
Hello, busy fall season!!
With the arrival of September brings the close out of another successful summer and the welcoming of a whole host of cattlemen’s events, beef promotion opportunities and cattle sales…and that’s not all! We’re excited to hit the road this fall to visit with you, our favorite cattlemen. Keep reading to learn about what’s coming up and to get an update from the state office this week.
Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarships- Now Open for Application
The Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation provides over $70,000 annually to 
qualified high school and collegiate students, courtesy of funds raised through the purchase of the Cowboy vanity car tag and generous endowments. Scholarship applications for the 2019-2020 school year are NOW AVAILABLE online at BamaBeef.org/Scholarship. To go along with last year’s addition of the Martha Davis Service Award, this year we are proud to introduce the John Williams Memorial Scholarship memorializing the life of a dedicated auctioneer to Alabama’s livestock industry.
Applications will close at midnight on November 1. Visit www.BamaBeef.org/Scholarship to review application requirements and to apply today!
Tropical Storm Gordon
In the wake of Tropical Storm Gordon, our thoughts and prayers are with our southwest Alabama cattle producers who have suffered loss or difficulty due to flooding and wind damage, as well as power outages. We pray damages are minimal and that all is restored quickly and safely following the storm! Please contact us at the state office if we can be of service in any way. Otherwise, know our prayers go with you in your work.
THE COUNTY LEADER RUN-DOWN
As we approach a busy time of year for counties, Membership Coordinator Jessica Kennedy wants to be sure you’re prepared and that all communication lines are open to make this the most successful year for county annual meetings and events yet!
County Meeting Scheduling
Please EMAIL JESSICA your county meeting information (time, date, location, etc.) and anyone you request to speak/attend whether it be a staff member or state officer. If you would like for this information to appear in the magazine, it must be sent to Jessica by the 15th of the previous month!
Mailouts – Postcards/Letters
If you need a mailout done please let Jessica know 1-2 weeks prior to the actual date the mailout needs to go in the mail, not two weeks from the date of the meeting.
Supplies
If you need supplies such as napkins and placemats prior to your meeting, please email Jessica the number of members you anticipate, and she will ship them to you. Local counties may pick them up here at the ACA building.
Reports
REPORTS ARE COMPLETED! If you are your county’s president or secretary and would like access to your county’s report, contact Jessica Kennedy to get your login and password information. We’re thrilled to have this project complete just in time for meeting season!
Leadership Changes
County secretaries, it is your responsibility to make sure you send Jessica Kennedy the changes to your county leadership after your county meetings. Jessica has to change these on mailing lists, in the magazine, online, etc. and needs all contact information – name, address, phone number and the very important email addresses! Email is how we send a majority of our information. If this information is not updated here at the ACA, then those officers are not getting the information they need and we have no line of communication.
October Beef Month Supplies
ACA Director of Education and Outreach Ali Cantrell introduced the reading book for our Cowboys in the Classroom program called “My Family’s Beef Farm.” Cowboys in the Classroom is an opportunity for producers to visit their local classrooms and educate youth about the beef they consume and where it comes from. One book will be donated to the library of the school for future access to the students. There has also been an addition to the Cowboys in the Classroom program where county leaders can also provide a Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner Coloring and Activity Book. These are two separate books that you can provide to the classroom for the students to enjoy. If you want to participate in the Cowboys in the Classroom Program in your county, please let Ali know how many schools you plan to attend so she can send you these books in time for October.
ACA Tents
If your county participated in the cost-share program to purchase a Cattlemen’s tent to use at events in your home county, be on the lookout for a very large shipment this week! Your tent is on its way, and we’re thrilled with how they turned out!! Elevated interest in this program has led us to start another list for a future order, so if you missed out on this order, don’t sweat it. Email ACA Director of Education & Outreach Ali Cantrell today to get on our list for the next go-round.
CATTLE JUDGING FIELD DAY
This Saturday, the Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association will host a Cattle Judging Field Day at Summerford Charolais in Falkville, AL. Extension Specialist and Auburn Livestock Judging Team Coach Jason P’Poole will be teaching our youth the basics of livestock judging beginning at 9:00 a.m., and after a brief how-to, the participants will judge three classes of livestock (bulls and heifers) and answer questions about them. Youth will then be treated to lunch by the Morgan County Cattlemen’s Association and then participate in a farm tour led by the crew at Summerford Charolais.
Thank you to our generous hosts, Robert and Alan Summerford, and to the cooking crew with the Morgan County Cattlemen’s Association!
BAMA’S BEST BURGER Final 4 announced
The Bama’s Best Burger contest has officially named its four finalists as a 
result of four weeks of successful Facebook poll challenges. The finalists are:
- Bentley’s Cheeseburger- Hartselle, AL
- R & R Burgers T-Rex Burger- Springville, AL
- Heard’s BBQ & Should Food Signature Burger- Maplesville, AL
- Our Place Diner’s Big Bopper Burger- Ozark, AL
With this announcement comes the Final 4 Taste Test Challenge where we have given a panel of industry judges marching orders to anonymously visit each joint to try out the finalist burgers. They’ll submit their picks back to us just in time for us to announce the winner to kick off October Beef Month in Alabama! To learn more about the contest, click HERE to check out our promotion on Southeast AgNet with Randall Weiseman.
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