Happy Inauguration Week!
The theme in downtown Montgomery has been shades of red, white and blue and the hint of new leadership in the air. We are thrilled to welcome (or welcome back!) to office new leaders of our state and especially extend our congrats to Gov. Kay Ivey, Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth, Treasurer John McMillan and Commissioner of Ag Rick Pate, among a host of newly-elected senators and representatives. It’s an exciting time for our home state, as it is for the cattle industry! We’ve got a lot upcoming, so keep reading to learn what’s happening with your state Cattlemen’s Association.
76TH ANNUAL ACA CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW
We’re beefin’ up the ‘Ham…Birmingham, that is! Join us at the 2019 ACA Convention & Trade Show at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) February 15-16, 2019. There are endless activities, learning opportunities and networking experiences awaiting your registration including dynamic and educational Cattlemen’s Colleges, a trade show with the industry’s elite equipment, tool and nutritional names, a menu of delicious beef meals and fun for the whole family at Friday evening’s Boots & BBQ event and Saturday’s Awards Banquet!
We look forward to the 76th annual ACA Convention and Trade Show, and you should too! REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN at www.BamaBeef.org/Convention or call Jessica today at (334) 265-1867. EARLY BIRD PRICING EXPIRES TOMORROW AT MIDNIGHT…DON’T WAIT! Mail-in forms are also available in your recent issue of the Alabama Cattleman or on the site listed above.
*Note to vendors: Ali Cantrell is now your trade show contact! Email Ali
YCLP Meet for final session before graduation
YCLP Class V students will have their legislative learning session in the 
Capital City this Saturday. They will be meeting with ACA Exec and Registered Lobbyist Erin Beasley and YCLP alumni to discuss issues facing the ag industry as well as how they can take their experience from YCLP to help their own county Cattlemen’s chapter. This session will wrap up Class V’s year before graduation at our Awards Banquet at the ACA Convention in Birmingham.
COUNTY ANNUAL MEETINGS GOING STRONG
We’ve enjoyed seeing the highlights from all the county meetings and
loveto see the hard work of counties executed in their annual meeting. We look forward to many more still to come, which can be found on the Bama Beef Events Calendar. As a reminder, leading up to your county’s annual meeting, please contact Jessica Kennedy in our office to infor her of the date, time and location and to request a speaker! Remember, the earlier you get those dates to us, the earlier we can get them on our website and in the magazine!! Following the meeting, send Jessica any officer updates in order to update our system with corrected contact information for 2019. RVPs, we encourage you to reach out to your counties to let them know you plan to attend their meetings! That way, they can account for your meal.
ACA officers and staff are traveling across Alabama to attend meetings and are looking forward to visiting with YOU! This week, staffer Ali Cantrell will be attending the Mobile and Russell County Cattlemen’s Annual Meetings while Erin Beasley and Kayla Greer attend the Montgomery County Annual Meeting.
As you’re collecting membership information to put into the system at your meetings, remember how important phone numbers and email addresses are! It is essential to county leaders and to us here at the state to be able to contact our members when needed. It helps everyone in the long run. Also, as a reminder, the three-year member dues have changed to $120 with $82 coming back to the state office.
Discussing the Importance of BEEF in a Healthy Lifestyle
This Wednesday, ACA Director of Education & Outreach Ali Cantrell will be traveling to Moody High School in Moody, AL to talk about beef in the diet with students in school’s culinary program. She will cook up a simple beef recipe from BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com and teach them about how we raise a wholesome beef product from pasture to plate.
Private Treaty Sales
Don’t forget! Private treaty sales still fall under the checkoff provision and require that cattlemen submit their checkoff remittance. Forgot all about that? Don’t worry…you’ve still got time to submit your 2018 private treaty sales, and we even made it easy for you to submit online at BamaBeef.org/PrivateTreaty. In just a few simple clicks and keystrokes, you can get square with your checkoff remittance and enjoy the benefits of your beef checkoff!
SLE RODEO- COMING TO TOWN!
The 62nd annual SLE Rodeo will come bucking back to town March 14-16 
for the best show on dirt east of the Mississippi! Early Bird ticket sales are now available, so give Kara Coplin a call at 888-2RODEO2. To learn more about this year’s SLE Rodeo & Livestock Week, visit www.SLERodeo.com.
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