The weather is heating up. Grills are heating up. The legislature is heating up. Hay cutting is heating up. Field days are heating up. Yep, all this heating up is a sure sign that summer is near! There’s all kinds of work to be done, and we’re busy doing it. Keep reading to learn what’s going on at the ACA this week, and as we’ll be meeting next week for our Spring Board of Directors meeting, we’ll talk again on the blog on Wednesday, May 22.
Bama’s Best Beef Contest Gets Competitive
It’s the final week of the 2019 Bama’s Best Beef contest, hosted on the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Facebook page. We’re on the hunt for a delicious, well-loved dish served up at an Alabama restaurant or food truck, and our finalists have come down to the Beef Brisket at Smokin’ on the Boulevard in Florence and the Bourbonzola Brisket Burger at Roadside ‘Que in Fort Payne. Let us tell you, folks, it’s a nail-biter of a contest. Right now, only 10 votes separate these finalists from their fight for the title. Polling ends Thursday morning, and we’ll have a statewide announcement out by the afternoon. If you haven’t already, get on over to the Facebook page and submit your vote by clicking the photo of the dish that looks the tastiest to you! We’re excited to find out the results of this checkoff-funded contest that increases awareness of local restaurants and gets Alabamians excited for BEEF on social media!
Talkin’ Meat Labeling in the House
HB518, a meat labeling bill for the association, will be debated on the House
floor this afternoon. If it passes, it will be sent upstairs to the Senate next week for committee action. The bill outlines that cell-cultured products cannot be labeled as meat in Alabama. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Danny Crawford and co-sponsored by Reps. Joe Lovvorn, Will Dismukes, Ralph Howard, Reid Ingram, Rodney Sullivan and Wes Kitchens. Stay tuned!
Proud to Host Congressman Mike Rogers
This week we hosted Congressman Mike Rogers for a brunch at the Cattlemen’s building. This event draws several associations in Montgomery to attend as he provides an snapshot of the current events in Washington, D.C. ACA President Chris Langley was able to attend and visit with the Congressman.
County Field Days
It’s a busy season…and one perfect for county field day events before the weather gets too steamy! This past weekend, staffer Kayla Greer enjoyed gathering with the Montgomery County Cattlemen’s Association for a farm tour of CK Cattle and Frank Turner & Sons farms. The group of 20+ enjoyed a day of learning about local farms’ beef cattle and forage programs! Meanwhile, ACA President Chris Langley visited the St. Clair County Cattlemen’s Association who also hosted an excellent field day with over 70 in attendance. Kayla Greer is also looking forward to spending this coming Saturday in Lee County for the chapter’s annual field day with an added bonus…a steak cook-off!!
Excellent job to all the counties who are putting on local events for its members and beyond. We’re proud of your work. If you’ve got one coming up, be sure to let us know about it by emailing Jessica Kennedy.
Spring Board of Directors Meeting
Board members, don’t forget next week’s Board meeting! We’ll meet at 10
a.m. on Thursday morning, May 16 to update you on association and checkoff news where Board members even get a sneak peak into the upcoming construction project of the The MOOseum. GET EXCITED! After lunch, we’ll head over to the State House to mingle with our legislators and learn more about the legislative process and get updated on current issues taking place. Don’t forget to RSVP to Jessica Kennedy…and don’t forget those cowboy hats, boots and iconic red coats!
YCLP Class IV Kicking Off
Next week is an exciting time in the association, not only because of the 
Board meeting, but because we’ll be kicking off the SIXTH class of the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP). This program, funded by the Alabama State Beef Checkoff, is designed to develop young cattlemen ages 20-40 into future leaders for Alabama’s beef cattle industry. We meet throughout the year, learn about our many different leadership styles, discuss industry hot topics, encourage leadership growth and explore the industry from pasture to plate through farm tours, educational workshops and consumer events. We’re excited next week to kick off the class with the Board meeting, where the 25 students will be introduced to the Board and will explore the legislative world, followed by farm tours at Frank Ellis Charolais, McLane-Garrett Cattle Company and a tour of the Cargill Feed Mill here in Montgomery. We’ll also host a social on the evening of May 16 at Kick Back Ranch & Events Center for alumni of the program! It’s gonna be a great time. Be on the lookout for photos.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
The membership count of the day is 7,836 members and counting! HELP US GET TO 10,000!! County secretaries, be sure to be submitting that information to the i4a membership software or here to our state office! Hopefully by now, you’ve input all the renewals that flooded your mailboxes from the renewal statements. Don’t forget, that Over the Top deadline of June 15 is drawing near quickly. CONGRATS are in store for Elmore and Montgomery counties who have already gone Over the Top. Great work!
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