This is the time of year where your Checkoff dollars really get put to work. We’re gearing up for summertime beef promotions and all the educational events and social media contests come with it. Just this past week alone, you’re Checkoff dollars have put on a beef cook-off, BQA certification courses and a Beef 101 program. You can learn about these programs and all the other events happening by continuing to read this week’s blog update.
Membership Update
We are excited to brag this week on all of our “Over the Top” counties! Greene, Clay, Chambers, Houston. St. Claire, Baldwin, Elmore, Henry Cherokee and Dekalb counties have all earned their presidents a red coat for their great work in recruiting members! We look forward to presenting those and acknowledging our county chapters hard work. Thanks to all of our hardworking counties, our membership is looking to be around 9,200 to date!
Don’t forget to save the date for the Spring Board Meeting in Montgomery- May 9. Also, your state leaders are always on the job. They’ll be meeting via conference call today to get a final push for membership and to catch up on all important matters centered around the state association.
Alabama Junior/Senior High School Beef Cook-Off
Saturday was a big day for the Alabama Beef Checkoff as the ACA and ACWA teamed up to host around 30 young and talented Family and Consumer Science students for the 58th annual Alabama Junior/Senior High School Beef Cook-Off at Carver High School in Montgomery. After making their submissions, students enjoyed Q&A sessions about Beef Myths and Careers in the Industry while the judges faced the daunting task of selecting winners for each division. These students truly brought the best of beef in an impressively prepared and plated fashion.
Carol Ann Salter of Baldwin County was awarded the title, “Best of Beef” Overall Winner with her dish, The LA Cheesesteak, which was noted by a chef and contest judge as “restaurant quality.”
Congrats to all our winners from this past weekend’s statewide beef cook-off.
SENIOR NORTH DIVISION
1st Place- Matt Sanders, Blount County
2nd Place- Megan Lovell, Limestone County
3rd Place- Morgan Shyanne, Lauderdale County
SENIOR SOUTH DIVISION
1st Place- Carol Ann Salter, Baldwin County
2nd Place- Aiden Smith, Montgomery County
3rd Place- Cassidy Renfroe, Russell County
JUNIOR NORTH DIVISION
1st Place- Grant Ezekiel, Jefferson County
2nd Place- Victoria Hamilton, Limestone County
3rd Place- Alexandria Driver, Walker County
JUNIOR SOUTH DIVISION
1st Place- Acadia Thomas, Dallas County
2nd Place- Avery Fuller, Shelby County
3rd Place- Braswell McMeans, Baldwin County
Click Here to view the winners’ pictures and to get a copy of their outstanding recipes!
Keeping A Sharp Eye on Politics
As politics heat up across the street from the ACA building with conversations about Gov. Bentley’s resignation, announcements of who has decided to enter the governerial race and reaching the halfway point of the legislative session, your state association is steadily monitoring bills and ongoing conversations to protect your best interests. On Tuesday, the Ag Coalition met in the ACA Building to discuss this week’s political news and welcomed special guest, Rep. Martha Roby, as she visited to hear about the concerns of cattle producers in her district.
Also on the political front, Dr. Billy Powell joined in on a luncheon of association executives with Congressman Gary Palmer on Tuesday where Palmer sought to learn about the concerns and interests of associations in the state.
BQA Certification
More and more producers across the state are becoming BQA certified thanks to your checkoff dollars and the hard work of Dr. Soren Rodning with Auburn University and his team of Extension specialists. We’ve already seen great return at both the Sand Mountain and Black Belt Research and Extension Centers and are looking forward to two programs this week at Gulf Coast and Wiregrass Research and Extension Centers on Thursday and Friday.
It’s not too late to register today for your chance to become BQA certified. Visit bamabeef.org/bqa to learn more about a program near you!
The MOOseum’s Special Guests
This week we are excited to host a special group of youngsters to The MOOseum as the First Family brings a group from their home county. ACA President Richard Meadows will be joining his youngest, Luke, and his fourth grade class from Houston Academy as they tour The MOOseum today. This is a busy time of year in our children’s educational center as fourth graders from across the state are traveling to Montgomery to put their entire year’s worth of Alabama History education to the test by touring Capitol Hill.
We truly have an asset in The MOOseum, and children always enjoy their time learning and playing in an interactive way. They are able to ask questions and experience the life of a cattleman in a fun atmosphere! Thanks, Houston Academy, for stopping by!
Beef 101
April is a big month for Beef 101. This week, on Monday ACA’s Erin Beasley hosted a group of culinary students from the Trenholm State Culinary Arts Program to experience beef from pasture to plate. We appreciate the partnership we have with the Beef Unit and Meat Lab staff Auburn University in organizing these outstanding programs and our state leaders who come out to help give a cattleman’s perspective on things. This week, ACA Vice President Chris Langley and his wife, Elizabeth, did an excellent job in answering questions from the culinary students. Thanks, Chris and Elizabeth!
Throughout April, the checkoff-funded program will host over 200 individuals from culinary students to Extension personnel who all share an interest of learning more about beef. Cattlemen are encouraged to attend if they are interested. The remaining dates are April 21 and 26. Contact Erin if you would like more information or if you would like to attend.
Congrats to Chris and Elizabeth Langley, 2017 Farm of Distinction
Speaking of the Langley Family, we’d like to offer our congrats to them on being named the 2017 Alabama Farmers Federation Farm of Distinction. This honor came with $12,000 in cash and prizes and the responsibility to represent our state in the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year contest at the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Georgia. Learn More
Jackson County Group at the ACA
Dr. Billy Powell is excited to host a group of outstanding young leaders from northeast Alabama today. Jackson County Leadership will be visiting the building for a tour and to learn more about our association and the impact of the beef cattle industry in Alabama. The group with tour The MOOseum and have a Q&A with Dr. Powell before heading out to visit other associations in the downtown area.
SAVE THE DATES! 11TH ANNUAL AJCA ROUND-UP
Take a break from your summertime siesta to join us in Montgomery for a fiesta! That’s right. The 11th annual AJCA Round-Up will be taking on a “South of the Border” theme at Garrett Coliseum’s livestock barns July 20-23. Stay tuned for registration information. We look forward to seeing you there!
Here’s a Few Handy Links You May Enjoy:
Thanks for reading this week’s post! We’ll be back next week- same time, same place. Until then, we want to remind you that you can stay in touch with us by following us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Have a great week!