Ah, feels like fall! Before we know it, we’ll be gathering around the table for Thanksgiving, then gathering around the tree to hear the Christmas story and open gifts. Folks, 2019 is drawing near to an end already if you can believe it. But it can’t end without first accomplishing a busy sale season, finishing up October Beef Month, kicking off county annual meetings and before we set the 2020 Beef Checkoff Marketing Plan and budgets. So much to do and so little time, but as we mentioned on an Instagram comment yesterday, “it is truly our greatest pleasure.”
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. That’s just over a week away, so get those apps in!! 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.
Fall Beef 101 Programs
On Thursday, ACA Director of Education and Outreach Ali Cantrell looks forward to hosting a Beef 101 program with the Drake University Culinary Program and for students from Holtville High School in Elmore County. It’s a busy time of year for Beef 101 and a great time for us to teach influencers about the nutritional benefits and life cycle of our favorite protein, beef! If you would like to participate in one of these programs coming up, let Ali know!
Alabama Forage Conference
Save the date and hop online to www.BamaBeef.org/Forage to learn more and register for this year’s Alabama Forage Conference. Themed “Diversifying Alabama Forage Systems,” this conference will take place December 3-4 at Joe Wheeler State Park in Rogersville, AL. Conference topics will include “using annuals to extend the grazing season,”Alfalfa and Bermudagrass,” and “grazing cover crops.” For only $65, you’ll get the information from this conference and enjoy the pre-conference tour. Learn more at the website above!
SLE Rodeo- Moving & Shaking!
ACA Director of Rodeo Programs Lauren Wilson has hit the ground 
running since she gone on October 1. Not only has she gotten hitched, but she’s already began gathering rodeo committees to activate them in their specific roles. On Monday, Lauren and Ali met with Ed Whatley to discuss rodeo vendor opportunities. Ali is heading up vendors and is working on layout and prices for space inside or out of the Coliseum. Vendor information will be available soon!
This morning, SLE Executive Director Erin Beasley and Lauren met with the sponsorship committee to establish sponsorship levels and packages and creating a list of target sponsors to reach out too. This was an exciting meeting and very encouraging as sponsorships are so important to this show! Thanks to all who joined us and offered valuable input.
Lastly (for this week at least), Lauren and Erin will meet with Coliseum staff to finalize vendor layout, discuss hospitality tent area and set up ticket sales. Be on the look out for tickets to become available for purchase in December..just in time for Christmas!
Also- the new www.SLERodeo.com will go live on November 1. Get ready to explore the site and learn all about this year’s rodeo and its fun opportunities!
Talkin’ Beef with BCIA
ACA Director of Field Services Morgan Pounds will be in attendance at the Alabama Beef Cattle Improvement Association (BCIA) Board of Directors Meeting on Thursday. She plans to give updates from the association, brag on Beef Month activities, remind members about our scholarships and talking about stockyard visits while taking in all the new information from the BCIA. As always, we are excited to be part of this group.
Save the Dates- 2020 ACA Convention & Trade Show
Cattle Drive to the Capital as we saddle up for a Valentines Day Weekend event filled with beef cattle news, updates and awards. We’ll be in Montgomery on February 14-15 for the 77th annual convention featuring educational sessions, guest speakers, youth public speaking, quiz bowl and career development and the largest cattle industry trade show in the state of Alabama. Don’t miss out! Save the dates and get ready for those great deals with Early Bird Registration opening on November 15.
Membership Update
Membership # of the Day: 9,394
Board members, be sure to RSVP to Jessica Kennedy about our upcoming 
Board Meeting to be held on November 14, 2019 at the Cattlemen’s Building in Montgomery. Also, if you would like to attend next week’s Alabama Beef Checkoff Task Force meeting to help plan the use of next year’s checkoff dollars, let us know!! Any and all are invited- we need your input! Don’t hesitate to call and let us know you’d like to attend at (334) 265-1867.
Alabama Junior & Senior High School Beef Cook-Off
Does your county host a beef cook-off in coordination with local Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) programs? If you answered yes, then keep reaching!! If you answered no but would like to, contact Ali Cantrell at our office and she can help get you started!
Back to those who answered yes. Rules and registration for the 2020 state cook-off are now live at www.BamaBeef.org/Cookoff. The event this year will be hosted on April 4, 2020 at Carver High School in Montgomery. If you have any questions, contact Ali.
Coffee County Youth Day
ACA Director of Field Services Morgan Pounds is meeting with 30 youth from Coffee County Young Leadership Program. These young people come from 5 different schools in the county and compete in leadership contests, applications and interviews to get in the program. Today, these youth are touring ACA President-Elect Larry Reeves’ operation today and learning about jobs and opportunities in both the beef and poultry industries. Morgan was glad to be part of this tour and offer insight into the impact beef production has on the state of Alabama.
Consumer Marketing
This week, along with social media efforts promoting beef, we published a blog with the help of our contract Registered Dietician Elesha Ergle about savory, fall comfort dishes! This blog post came just in time for the cold front that pushed through our state and hopefully gave readers some good ideas for cozy, fall foods! To further push that marketing effort, a consumer newsletter twill publish on Thursday to provide over 10,000 recipients a further look into beef recipes and information. We’re encouraging consumers to Savor the Flavors of Fall…with Beef!
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.