What’s Going On Wednesday: January 4, 2017

Happy New Year! We hope everyone had a wonderful, relaxing Christmas holiday and spent plenty of time with friends and family on the farm. Not sure about you, but this weather has our heads spinning…hot, cold, rain, drought, and now they’re talking snow this weekend! Dealing with the weather is just one of the many unique facets of being an Alabama cattleman.

You may notice some aesthetic changes with today’s post, and we are excited to welcome you to the new-and-improved home of the Bama Beef Blog! This blog platform is directly connected to our website, BamaBeef.org so it helps us streamline our updates and news and get the most out of what our new website has to offer. We hope you like it!

As your taking a break from re-winterizing the farm, putting out hay and preparing for a wild weather weekend ahead, keeping reading to get your first Bama Beef Blog update of 2017. It’s going to be a great year…

 

CAPITAL CITY STAMPEDE- 74TH ANNUAL ACA CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW

Convention is just around the corner. In fact, according to our website countdown, it’s only 42 days away!! Make sure to get registered and to book your hotel room at the Renaissance Hotel and Montgomery Convention Center before the Cattlemen’s Block rates end on January 27. You can book your hotel now through this link or by calling 334-481-5000 and ask for the Cattlemen’s Block using the mini code “CAT.”

There are so many great reasons to register today and head on down to Montgomery February 15-16 to the ACA Convention & Trade Show. Just in case you need convincing, here’s an outline…

 

(1) Outstanding Speakers
We have three headliner speakers this year. The first is 10-year veteran of CattleFax, Chad Spearman, who will be talking about “what lies ahead for the cattle market.” The Colorado State University graduate will discuss weather predictions and cattle price outlooks during one of the Convention’s sessions. Next on the lineup is NCBA’s Senior VP of Global Marketing and Research Alisa Harrison. Alisa comes with vast experience in the worlds of beef retail marketing and public relations, and she will be discussing marketing beef in a challenging environment. Last but certainly not least, NCBA Past President Steve Foglesong who is now serving as a member of President-Elect Donald Trump’s agricultural advisory team. He will be discussing what to expect from Washington D.C. under the Trump Administration.

 

(2) An Almost Sold-Out Trade Show
If you’ve got business that needs to be taken care of for the betterment of your farm, it can probably be handled at our trade show. We’ve got over 65 national, state and local vendors bringing everything from heavy farm machinery, off-road vehicles, cattle working facilities, insurance, breed associations, nutrition and nutritional supplements…it’ll all be at our trade show for you to see and learn about.

If you’d like to have a booth in our trade show, time is running out! We have only 10 booths left to sell. Contact Erin Beasley by calling (334) 265-1867 to grab your spot today.

 

(3) An Array of Cattlemen’s Colleges
We’ve got four Zoetis Cattlemen’s Colleges coming your way at this year’s convention. Check them out:

• “Coping With Drought: Forage Management Strategies and Nutritional Needs for Winter Grazing” led by Dr. Kim Mullenix, AU Beef Cattle Specialist
• “Producing the Right King of Cattle and Marketing Strategies for Top Dollar” panel led by Jerry Etheredge, LMA president; Gene Lowry, JBS Feedlot; Jim Sealy, Alabama Livestock Market; Darryl Stokes, Montgomery Stockyard.
• “Effective Estate Planning and Reducing Tax Burdens” by ACES Specialists Ken Kelley and Robert Page
• “Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Training and Update” by Dr. Soren Rodning, Auburn Extension Veterinarian

 

(4) Beef…of course…
That’s pretty simple. The meals with be worth the trip alone!

 

(5) Family Fun and Networking
There will be no shortage of networking at the convention’s many meetings and throughout the trade show. We also are offering family fun at the Wednesday night “Rotational Grazing” event where families can enjoy social time with good food and music provided by the Good Ol’ Boys, aka Ed Whatley’s crew! To wrap up Convention, the Sweet Young’uns will open up the dance floor with over 50 years of musical entertainment experience!

We will also be taking care of some business at convention! We recently completed Nominating Committee work on the slate for 2017 officers to be presented at the General Membership Meeting on Thursday February 16^th. Be looking forward to who will lead this association in the future!

We will also be handing out over $50,000 in scholarships at the Thursday night Awards Banquet! The scholarship committee is making final decisions on awards this week on over 100 applications. Scholarship letters will be mailed out next week.

 

NCBA Convention

ACA officers, Board members and staff are getting ready to “Mosey on Down to Music City” at the 2017 NCBA Convention and Beef Industry Trade Show February 1-3! Staff will be there to attend meetings, workshops, promote associate memberships and to man our booth at the trade show!

We’ve got several Board members and state officers who are going to serve and important role, however. ACA President Bill Lipscomb and Immediate Past President Jim Akin will represent ACA on the Federation (Checkoff) Board while ACA President-Elect Richard Meadows and Past President Jimmy Holliman represent Alabama on the Policy (membership) Board. Past President Donna Jo Curtis will complete her three-year term on the NCBA Executive Committee representing the southeastern states in Region II on the Federation side. Holliman, who serves as chair NCBA’s Animal Health and Well-being Committee, is in Washington D.C. today with a meeting of all of NCBA’s Policy Committee chairs preparing for the producer committee meetings later this month in Nashville.

 

Not a Fan of GIPSA? Neither Are We…

Speaking of Washington D.C., your state Cattlemen’s Association is working with NCBA on a possible lawsuit against USDA’s recent action forcing a unpopular change in Grain Inspection Pickers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) regulations that would impact value-based marketing. Stay tuned for more details as plans unravel.

 

County Annual Meetings

Counties across the state are hosting annual meetings, and ACA officers and staff are working to attend each and every one! We can’t be there if you don’t let us know, so send your upcoming county meeting information to Jessica Kennedy at the state office. If you need ACA trinkets such as tags, membership applications, placemats, napkins, etc for your meeting PLEASE let Jessica know ASAP!

A few notes from the Membership Office:

1. “Over the Top” Deadline – All membership needs to be in the state office or postmarked by February 28^th to qualify for “Over the Top” awards.
2. The 2^nd Renewal Notice will go out by the end of the month so get payment in for pending membership!
3. Several counties have entered membership but have not yet sent payment.  This is a reminder that membership is processed when payment is received at the state office, so get that check sent in! 
4. Following your county meeting, send us your new officers so we can update them in our system! Simply email them to Jessica.

 

AJCA Round-Up Dates and Theme Announced!

We’re excited to host our Juniors back in Montgomery at Garrett Coliseum on July 20-23, 2017 for a FIESTA! That’s right, bring your bright colors because we are going to be taking on the Round-Up with a south-of-the-border theme!

 

2017 Associate Members

We’d like to shoutout our 2017 Associate Members and thank them for their partnership with the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association. Be sure to check out their services!

 

Platinum Level Associate Member

 

Gold Level Associate Member

    

 

Silver Level Associate Member

 

Bronze Level Associate Member

  

 

 

Thanks for checking out this week’s blog post! We hope you enjoy the NEW Bama Beef Blog. We’ll see you back here next week. Be safe and stay warm!