Month: June 2020

Summertime is in full swing here in Montgomery, and while the year 2020 has offered anything but normalcy, we are doing our best to seek out new and exciting ways to promote beef and work on your behalf! With the AJCA Round-Up approaching quickly and summer grills firing up, it is a time of beef promotion and youth education around here. We’re also continuing on with normal tasks like protecting you on the Hill and putting out our monthly magazine, the Alabama Cattleman. Keep reading to check out what is happening around the ACA this week.

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YCLP CLASS VII KICKS OFF

Class VII of the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) kicks off its first session this Friday in Montgomery. This class of 29 young cattlemen will tour Montgomery Stockyards, McLane-Garrett, LLC, CK Cattle, and enjoy a relaxing stay at Kick Back Ranch Resort. To go along with the farm tours, the class will also receive virtual leadership training with Auburn University’s Dr. Don Mulvaney and have a Q&A beef industry issues discussion with ACA Executive VP Erin Beasley. Plenty of time for networking, socializing and making new friends in the beef industry is also on the agenda! We are looking forward to meeting this year’s class and building their knowledge and leadership skills throughout the year. Follow us on Facebook to keep up with this weekend’s events.

CHECKOFF SIGNS PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH AL.COM

Beginning late this summer and early this fall and preceding the 2020 College Football season, be watching as AL.com releases its 2020 “Meet the Tide” and “Meet the Tigers” videos, as they’ll be brought to you by BEEF. In a year with so many event cancellations and so few sports, your checkoff team had to explore new, more virtual options for promoting our brand! The ACA logo will fly proud throughout the videos— which are expected to receive over 750,000 impressions online— and the iconic Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner logo and Rodeo jingle will be heard at the end of each of the four pre-season videos featuring the biggest recruits of the Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers. We are very excited for this opportunity to feature beef in line with our state’s biggest names in football!

UNITED WE STEAK SUMMER GRILLING CAMPAIGN KICKOFF

Just in time for the Fourth of July holiday, the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program is proud to extend a nationally-launched campaign here in our home state. Featuring a steak cut in to the shape of Alabama, the “United We Steak” summer grilling campaign offers a play on a classic, “Steak Home Alabama.” This patriotic campaign captures everything you love about grilling with friends and family. In Birmingham, billboards will feature the above imagery. Facebook and Instagram advertising has already launched and will see a bigger bump in paid advertising later this week, and radio stations are featuring the patriotic sound of the sizzle as stations in Huntsville, Birmingham, Mobile and Montgomery are all running summer grilling commercials, brought to listeners by BEEF.

BAMA BEEF SALES DIRECTORY

In response to growing demand for local beef products, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association is in the process of creating a digital portal to directly connect consumers looking to purchase beef with those who produce it. We are now accepting submissions to be included in this directory. If you are an Alabama beef producer who sells freezer beef, please add your operation to the listing by completing our form available also at www.BamaBeef.org/BamaBeef. Or you can call our office to relay the information. Just ask to speak with Ali Cantrell or Kayla Greer.

14TH ANNUAL AJCA ROUND-UP

Registration is now open for the 14th annual Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association Round-Up. It closes in just FIVE short days!! Happening July 16-19 at the Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery, this annual junior event is full steam ahead. With adjustments constantly being made to accommodate CDC guidelines in the wake of COVID-19, we would like to draw attention to the fact that the following contests could potentially be cancelled due to the inability to properly and safely socially distance our competitors: Showmanship Clinic, Cattle Judging, Volleyball, Battle of the Beef. The follow events are cancelled: Awards Banquet. Divisions will be called in separately, and winners will be given their awards. No food will be served throughout the weekend. Voting will be come-and-go at allotted time slots based on division. A full schedule and the rules packet are available on the website and are being updated continually, along with registration. Check it out >> www.BamaBeef.org/RoundUp.

ACA MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

As it stands today, the ACA is proud to represent 8,510 members of our state association and counting as counties continue to recruit new and renewal members. County leaders- don’t forget the new “Over the Top” deadline has been extended to July 31. Help us get to 10,000 members strong while earning your president an iconic ACA red coat!

Thanks for reading this week’s post! Until we post again, we want to remind you that you can stay in touch with us by following us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

This year continues to be a unique one for the record books, but as life seems to somewhat be returning towhead may be a new normal, the cattle industry is picking back up in action. Sales are on the calendar, events are on the docket (in moderation), and we are able to find ourselves traveling a bit more than we have in the past few months. As we all continue to navigate these unchartered waters, we encourage you to stay updated with what’s going on here in our Montgomery office and beyond. Keep reading for this week’s Bama Beef Update.

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ACA SUBMITS CARES PROPOSALS, AWAITING RESPONSE

One portion of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economics Security (CARES) Act was earmarked funds for each state, and Alabama received $1.8 billion. The association was instrumental in submitting three requests on behalf of the cattle industry for review by Governor Kay Ivey’s office. 

1. Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter submitted a request for a comprehensive feasibility study to increase meat processing capabilities in the state.
2. Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate submitted a request for $1.5 million to be used for small meat processing plant enhancements to increase beef cattle harvest capabilities in the state.
3. The association submitted a request for additional funds to be used for direct payments to cattlemen who sold feeder calves between April 16-May 15 that were not compensated for losses in the USDA Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) due to selling cattle after April 15. 

The association is hopeful to that some of these requests will come to fruition in an effort to provide additional relief to cattlemen and meet the need of increased beef cattle slaughter in the state. 

STAFF ATTENDS YOUTH EVENTS

Staffer Morgan Pounds has been out and about at junior events this month. Youth of Alabama have been excited to be able to compete in livestock shows and participate in field days again. From Pike Memorial Day Blowout, Alabama Angus field day, to the Belt Buckle Classic this past weekend we are thrilled to see our youth back at livestock shows. We are looking forward to seeing you all in July at the 14th annual Round-Up! Registration closes June 29 register online here! www.BamaBeef.org/RoundUp

YCLP CLASS VII TO HOLD FIRST MEETING IN MONTGOMERY

This YCLP Class VII will be headed to Montgomery for their first session of the year. This class will meet at ACA Building for tour and leadership training on Friday June 26^th. They will get the chance to tour Montgomery Stockyards, McLane Garrett Cattle Company, and CK Cattle. This years class ranges in ages 38-22 and from 19 counties all throughout the state. If you are a YCLP Alumni and would like to meet this years class please fill out the form at this link to stay updated on YCLP Alumni events and current class. Click Here

FILMING A VIRTUAL BEEF 101

With the unknowns remaining about what the school year may look like come fall, staff has elected to be vigilant in maintaining one of our shining star programs of the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program, BEEF 101. Just in case events are still discouraged and outside-the-classroom travel isn’t possible, staffers Ali Cantrell and Kayla Greer will be working this summer to create a virtual BEEF 101 learning experience. Tomorrow, the duo will join the butchers, meat scientists and cattlemen at Auburn’s Meat Lab to film a live animal evaluation and a carcass fabrication. This footage will be accompanied with explanations from professionals, and this content will be provided to any and all who would like to still experience the pasture to plate story we tell during this successful program. Stay tuned as we produce this educational content!

BAMA BEEF SALES DIRECTORY

In response to growing demand for local beef products, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association is in the process of creating a digital portal to directly connect consumers looking to purchase beef with those who produce it. We are now accepting submissions to be included in this directory. If you are an Alabama beef producer who sells freezer beef, please add your operation to the listing by completing our form available also at www.BamaBeef.org/BamaBeef. Or you can call our office to relay the information. Just ask to speak with Ali Cantrell or Kayla Greer.

ACA MEETS WITH SWEET GROWN ALABAMA

Staffers Erin Beasley and Ali Cantrell will head over to the Alabama Department of Ag & Industries today to meet with Ellie Watson, Alex Tigue, Dr. Misty Edmondson, Brady Ragland and Dr. Nealy Barrett to brainstorm the possibilities of incorporating Sweet Grown Alabama- branded beef into local grocery stores across Alabama. This effort will require much forethought, and this team is looking to work toward benefiting both Alabama cattle producers and the consumers who place high value in local products.

14TH ANNUAL AJCA ROUND-UP

Registration is now open for the 14th annual Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association Round-Up. Happening July 16-19 at the Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery, this annual junior event is full steam ahead. With adjustments constantly being made to accommodate CDC guidelines in the wake of COVID-19, we would like to draw attention to the fact that the following contests could potentially be cancelled due to the inability to properly and safely socially distance our competitors: Showmanship Clinic, Cattle Judging, Volleyball, Battle of the Beef. The follow events are cancelled: Awards Banquet. Divisions will be called in separately, and winners will be given their awards. No food will be served throughout the weekend. Voting will be come-and-go at allotted time slots based on division. A full schedule and the rules packet are available on the website and are being updated continually, along with registration. Check it out >> www.BamaBeef.org/RoundUp.

Thanks for reading this week’s post! Until we post again, we want to remind you that you can stay in touch with us by following us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.