Can it really be true? Next time we meet here on the blog it’s going to be October…already?! Wow, we must be having a lot of fun around here because time sure is flying. While we continue on in our efforts on the farm and here in Montgomery, take just a second to catch up on all that’s happening at the ACA this week. Fall months bring busy calendars, so saddle up for sales, October Beef Month promotions and so much more!
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
Membership Count of the Day: 9,345
County presidents and secretaries are encouraged to email Membership Coordinator Jessica Kennedy with information about their county annual meetings, should you already have the date set! We’d love to go ahead and get that info up on our calendar, get a staffer or officer assigned and get it on the list for the November magazine! Thanks to the MANY counties who responded to last week’s call for dates and check out who’s meeting when by visiting the Bama Beef Events Calendar at www.BamaBeef.org/Events.
Sysco Fall Buying Expo
Today, Beef will be front and center at Sysco’s Fall Buying Expo at The Finley Center in Hoover. ACA Director of Education & Outreach Ali Cantrell and chefs from Sysco will be hosting a booth at the protein section of the food show and will be teaching customers how to cut ribeye steaks that they can take home and enjoy. They will also be able to take some good beefy recipes with them from beefitswhatsfordinner.com.
Staffers Hit Sales
Staffer Morgan Pounds will be hitting some more sale barns this weekend. She will be headed south for some great special sales. Morgan will go to Dothan on Friday to stop by and check out the 7th Annual Melvin Adams Farms Bred Heifer Sale at Dothan Livestock Company. On Saturday, Morgan will be in Brundidge for Southeast Brangus Breeders Association Showcase Sale. This sale will consist of 85 Brangus and Ultrablack female lots. If you are in the area stop by and catch a good sale!
Promoting Beef Month
ACA Director of Education & Outreach Ali Cantrell hit the radio waves on 98.9 Bama Country in Montgomery. She joined in on Bubba and Kristy’s talk show Tuesday morning to talk about Beef Month and to encourage people to come to BeefFest at SweetCreek Farm Market. Tune in October 7 on your drive into work because she will be dropping in again for another interview. Ali Cantrell also recorded a Business Break with WSFA in Montgomery to promote Beef Month and BeefFest. That segment should air the first week of October!
SLE Annual Meeting
Members of the Southeastern Livestock Exposition will gather on Thursday evening at the Cattlemen’s Building for their annual membership meeting and dinner. New directors will be elected and installed, announcements about the 2020 show will be made, the crew will get a sneak peak into the new SLERodeo.com website and our newest staffer, Lauren Terry (soon-to-be-Wilson), will make her debut to the group. We are excited to host this meeting and make some big announcements to the crew. Stay tuned on rodeo entertainment news and more, coming soon!
ALABAMA CATTLEMEN’S FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS
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pplications for 2019-2020 Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation scholarships are now open and are set to close on November 1, 2019. This year’s lineup of scholarships include those funded by the sale of the Cowboy vanity car tag, such as the “Tagged for Greatness” scholarship, as well as many endowed scholarships from generous families. An addition to the many award opportunities this year is a Trade School Scholarship for students attending a trade school program in the state of Alabama. Be sure to check out our many scholarships and get those applications submitted by November 1.
Award recipients will be honored at the 2020 Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarship Banquet to be held April 11, 2020 at the Wetumpka Civic Center in Wetumpka, AL. More information and applications can be found online at www.BamaBeef.org/Scholarships.
BEEFFEST AT SWEETCREEK
October 12-13 is sure to be a great time as we team up with the folks at SweetCreek Farm Market and Alabama Department of Ag and Industries to host the first-ever BeefFest in conjunction with the venue’s annual pumpkin festival! Make a road trip to Pike Road, AL for fun games, craft vendors, a beef chili cook-off and a coloring contest for kiddos. ACA staff and volunteers will be present to tell the pasture to plate story while serving up some delicious beef chili samples. Don’t miss out on all the fun!
JUNIOR PASTURE TO RAIL REGISTRATION OPEN
If you’re interested in teaching your youth about marketing cattle on the grid and retained ownership, we’ve got just the program for you! Youth are invited to register their animals into he Junior Pasture to Rail Program— a partnership between the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program and Alabama Beef Systems Extension— where they’ll ship calves in November, participate in a few pasture to plate educational opportunities, their receive the carcass data on their animals after harvest. To learn more about program requirements and to register, visit www.BamaBeef.org/JP2R.
TRADE SHOW REGISTRATION NOW LIVE
Registration is open for the trade show at the 77th annual ACA Convention
& Trade Show happening in Montgomery on February 14-15. That’s right, bring your sweetheart to town and enjoy promoting your product or service to Alabama’s largest gathering of cattlemen! Please contact staffer Ali Cantrell if you would like to be a vendor at the 2020 show or visit www.BamaBeef.org/Convention to register online with a credit card.