Month: February 2021

It’s mid-February, and someone turned down the AC, but that’s ok because we’re full steam ahead into convention and rodeo season, regardless of the weather! There’s not much time to spare on small talk, so keep reading to learn more about ALL the work your staff is up to in the Montgomery office this week!

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ACA Convention & Trade Show

Join us at the Sheraton Hotel as we’ll be Branding Up Birmingham during our 76th annual ACA Convention & Trade Show. Please note, the event will take place at the Sheraton Hotel but housing will be provided by The Westin, due to COVID-19 procedures. We’ve got excellent industry speakers including Elanco’s Dr. Sara Place and the United States Meat Export Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom. They’ll be bringing you all the news on beef sustainability and global beef marketing. Aside from the education, our event will feature a jam-up trade show, youth contests sponsored by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program and, of course, delicious beef meals. 

Get your seat at the table and be sure to join us March 5-6 by registering online now, and don’t forget to book your stay at the Westin Hotel online or by calling (205) 307-3600 and using code ACA. REGISTRATION CLOSES NEXT FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26 SO DON’T MISS YOUR SEAT AT THE TABLE!

Speaking of convention, this week, Alabama Ag Credit came to the office to help stuff registration bags with masks and hand sanitizer as part of their sponsorship! We are very excited that convention is almost here and we can meet and mingle safely with all of our cattlemen in Birmingham.

SLE Rodeo Tickets Now on Sale

We are 43 days out from the first performance of 2021! Buck on over to www.SLERodeo.com/Tickets now to secure your seats at the greatest show on dirt! This year’s show is sure to please as we’re featuring freestyle bullfighting, the best stock in the PRCA, all kinds of children’s events and hometown rodeo clown, Trent McFarland! We’ve got some awesome ticket deals available for you to take advantage of, so don’t wait. Get on over to www.SLERodeo.com or call 888-2RODEO2 to learn more about all that SLE Livestock Week offers and to purchase your tickets today!

ACA Director of Rodeo Programs Lauren Wilson is fervently on the hunt for new sponsors. If you, your business or your friend’s business would like to sponsor this year’s event, contact Lauren at the office at (334) 265-1867.

Feasibility Study Underway

The State Beef Checkoff is funding a comprehensive feasibility study for expanded beef processing in the state which will be conducted by the Ag Economics research team at Auburn University. Tomorrow researchers will meet with a cattlemen panel to drill down on specific topics they hope to see the study produce. The research and report should be produced by end of 2021 to be disseminated out to interested parties.

Alabama Legislature

There’s not much by way of a legislative update this week. The legislature took this week off to evaluate COVID-19 protocols in the State House. They will be back in town next week to get back to business, and we’ll be around monitoring activity.

ACF Scholarship Announcements

The Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation will be announcing scholarship winners in the next week. If you applied for a scholarship keep an eye out in your email for notification of an award!

Industry Relations in Pike County

Director of Field Services Morgan Desselle is headed to South Alabama Stockyard in Brundidge today for their weekly sale. Morgan travel’s to stockyards across the state to promote the Alabama State Checkoff program. While she is at yards she works to maintain relationships with yard owners and producers across the state!

AJCA Update

The Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Board of Directors meet virtually on Monday. This group of youth leaders discussed the upcoming ACA Convention and youth career-centered contests that will take place March 6 in Birmingham. The AJCA Board has been hard at work planning these events and are looking forward to having youth come to compete all across the state! If you missed the online pre-registration, no worries! We offer walk up registration Friday March 5 at the convention center. We look forward to seeing our youth. Visit https://www.bamabeef.org2020/aca-convention-trade-show for more information on ACA Convention and youth career centered contests!

Be sure to follow news and updates by following the AJCA on Instagram and/or Facebook! You can also subscribe to receive email update at www.bamabeef.org/ajcanews.

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 or Instagram.

February is in full blast, and we’re full steam ahead into convention and rodeo season. There’s not much time to spare on small talk, so keep reading to learn more about ALL the work your staff is up to in the Montgomery office this week!

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NCBA Tailgating Tournament- Voting Ends Today!

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is hosting a tailgating tournament to highlight delicious beef recipes for the SuperBowl, NASCAR and the upcoming baseball seasons. Alabama Junior Cattlemen Mason and Mackenzie Smith of Marshall County filmed a video and THEY NEED YOUR VOTE. If announced the winners, the Smith Family as well as our association will be awarded a Traeger Pellet Grill for use at beef promotions across the state. Click THIS LINK and hit “Vote” to cast your ballot. Let’s support these excellent junior cattlemen in their beef promotion efforts!

ACA Convention & Trade Show

Join us at the Sheraton Hotel as we’ll be Branding Up Birmingham during our 76th annual ACA Convention & Trade Show. Please note, the event will take place at the Sheraton Hotel but housing will be provided by The Westin, due to COVID-19 procedures. We’ve got excellent industry speakers including Elanco’s Dr. Sara Place and the United States Meat Exports Federation President Dan Halstrom. They’ll be bringing you all the news on beef sustainability and global beef marketing. Aside from the education, our event will feature a jam-up trade show, youth contests sponsored by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program and, of course, delicious beef meals. 

Get your seat at the table and be sure to join us March 5-6 by registering online now, and don’t forget to book your stay at the Westin Hotel online or by calling (205) 307-3600 and using code ACA. If you would like to be a vendor in our trade show, contact ACA’s Ali Cantrell to reserve your space or register online by clicking here. 

SLE Rodeo Tickets Now on Sale

We are 43 days out from the first performance of 2021! Buck on over to www.SLERodeo.com/Tickets now to secure your seats at the greatest show on dirt! This year’s show is sure to please as we’re featuring freestyle bullfighting, the best stock in the PRCA, all kinds of children’s events and hometown rodeo clown, Trent McFarland! We’ve got some awesome ticket deals available for you to take advantage of, so don’t wait. Get on over to www.SLERodeo.com or call 888-2RODEO2 to learn more about all that SLE Livestock Week offers and to purchase your tickets today!

ACA Director of Rodeo Programs Lauren Wilson is fervently on the hunt for new sponsors. If you, your business or your friend’s business would like to sponsor this year’s event, contact Lauren at the office at (334) 265-1867.

Membership Update

As of today, the ACA is home to 5,743 members and counting as county meetings are happening (in some form) across the state! Secretaries, be sure to get those new and renewed members updated in the system by February 15 in order for them to get the March magazine and PLEASE send your county leadership changes to Jessica Kennedy at jkennedy@bamabeef.org.

Farmers Now Eligible for PPP Loan

As part of the of the continuing COVID relief programs, individual farmers have recently been granted eligibility to participate in the Payroll Protection Program(PPP). The PPP is a loan that all or part can be forgiven. To determine the amount you are eligible to borrow, on your 2019 federal tax return find your Schedule F and take the amount on line 9 and divide by 12, then multiply by 2.5.

For example, if line 9 is $50,000.00.

$50,000.00/12 = $4166.67

$4166.67

    X 2.5

$10,416.68

This loan is designed to be forgiven, but that it is not a guarantee. Please contact your local lender for more information.

Please share this information with your county members. U.S. Treasury Website with more information

Ag Board Gathers for a Meeting

The Agriculture and Industries Board, which oversees the Department of Ag and Industries, met yesterday. Of note for the cattle industry, a change to the state’s Trichomoniasis rule was approved by the board which gives the State Veterinarian a pathway for action should a bull test positive for Trich. The change will now be published for 60 days before becoming final rule.

In the Field- North Alabama

Staffers Morgan Desselle and Kayla Greer traveled north on Tuesday! The duo stopped by Arab Livestock Market to visit owners, buyers, and sellers. They then headed to Hollywood, Alabama for Clay Kennamer’s presidency photo shoot and video. The staffers enjoyed touring Clay’s unique operation and capturing him in his element!

SLE Rodeo Promotions Kick Off

Not only will radio commercials hit sound waves and billboards paint landscapes soon, but television and digital promotions have already kicked off! Today, staffers Ali Cantrell and Lauren Wilson will be filming interviews to promote the SLE Rodeo with Jack Galassini on “The Time of Your Life” WSFA segment. Ali will be promoting the Bama-Q SLE Rodeo Steak Championship with a Ribeye steak sandwich cooking demo while Lauren talks all things rodeo! Also in the works this week was the premiere of our first Central Alabama Business Break on WSFA news station and some early social media ads hitting the World Wide Web. Promotions will really amp up soon as we join forces with our many advertising partners to make the 2021 rodeo the best yet!

YCLP Update

The Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program Council had a successful meeting last week. During this meeting, the council had a hard task of selecting the next YCLP Class. We would like to thank each applicant for applying for the program. We look forward to traveling the state with the next 25 young leaders. Stay tuned for the announcement of YCLP Class VIII members in your March magazine and make sure to stop by YCLP booth at convention to learn more about the program. The YCLP Council will host a meeting on Saturday, March 6 at 3:00 during convention in Birmingham. Alumni, mark your calendars to attend this meeting. The Council will update alumni on upcoming events for 2021 and socialize with their class members. We look forward to hosting and planning an alumni meeting this year!

AJCA Update

The Junior Board has been hard at work planning events for 2021! Two events are just around the corner. We will open our Spring Production Field Day registration March 1. This year, Quail Valley Farms in Blount County will be hosting this event for all youth interested in the cattle industry. The field day will provide youth with the educational opportunities in judging, forages, and marketing!  Mark your calendars to attend a day full of education on April 17. The deadline to register for spring field day will be March 31. 

Speaking of deadlines, the convention contest deadline is approaching FAST! The AJCA Board of Directors are excited to host career-centered contest at Convention sponsored by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program. Deadline to register for quiz bowl, career development, and public speaking in February 15! Register today at: https://www.bamabeef.org/Convention

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 or Instagram.

While the weather stays chilly, things around town are heating up! The legislature is in session. The convention is T-minus one month away, and the rodeo is just 43 days away! That’s not all that’s happening— although it feels like enough! We’re still promoting beef, educating, putting together new YCLP classes, providing scholarships, interacting on social media and SO MUCH MORE. Keep reading for your weekly ACA update.

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NCBA Tailgating Tournament- Vote Now!

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is hosting a tailgating tournament to highlight delicious beef recipes for the SuperBowl, NASCAR and the upcoming baseball seasons. Alabama Junior Cattlemen Mason and Mackenzie Smith of Marshall County filmed a video and THEY NEED YOUR VOTE. If announced the winners, the Smith Family as well as our association will be awarded a Traeger Pellet Grill for use at beef promotions across the state. Click THIS LINK and hit “Vote” to cast your ballot. Let’s support these excellent junior cattlemen in their beef promotion efforts! Thanks, Mason and Mackenzie, for highlighting your talents and to their parents, Kirk and Tonya Smith, who encourage their children to be excellent beef industry advocates!

ACA Convention & Trade Show

Join us at the Sheraton Hotel as we’ll be Branding Up Birmingham during our 76th annual ACA Convention & Trade Show. Please note, the event will take place at the Sheraton Hotel but housing will be provided by The Westin, due to COVID-19 procedures. We’ve got excellent industry speakers including Elanco’s Dr. Sara Place and the United States Meat Exports Federation President Dan Halstrom. They’ll be bringing you all the news on beef sustainability and global beef marketing. Aside from the education, our event will feature a jam-up trade show, youth contests sponsored by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program and, of course, delicious beef meals. 

Get your seat at the table and be sure to join us March 5-6 by registering online now, and don’t forget to book your stay at the Westin Hotel online or by calling (205) 307-3600 and using code ACA. If you would like to be a vendor in our trade show, contact ACA’s Ali Cantrell to reserve your space or register online by clicking here. 

SLE Rodeo Tickets Now on Sale

We are 43 days out from the first performance of 2021! Buck on over to www.SLERodeo.com/Tickets now to secure your seats at the greatest show on dirt! This year’s show is sure to please as we’re featuring freestyle bullfighting, the best stock in the PRCA, all kinds of children’s events and hometown rodeo clown, Trent McFarland! We’ve got some awesome ticket deals available for you to take advantage of, so don’t wait. Get on over to www.SLERodeo.com or call 888-2RODEO2 to learn more about all that SLE Livestock Week offers and to purchase your tickets today!

ACA Director of Rodeo Programs Lauren Wilson is fervently on the hunt for new sponsors. If you, your business or your friend’s business would like to sponsor this year’s event, contact Lauren at the office at (334) 265-1867.

NCBA Virtual Winter Meeting

NCBA Virtual Policy Meetings are taking place this week. ACA leadership is participating in these meetings to carry votes for Alabama. These will wrap up Thursday evening with the virtual Board of Directors meeting where Larry Reeves and Clay Kennamer will be voting for Alabama.

Alabama Legislative Session Begins

The Legislative Session kicked off yesterday and the ACA hosted the Ag Coalition along with Senate and House Ag Committee Chairs. The group discussed topics for the upcoming session along with how protocols will work with limited access for lobbyists in the state house. Today will be a full day of committee meetings with several important bills being considered. These include the Business Immunity bill (SB30) in Senate Judiciary committee and the income tax exclusion for any Coronavirus money received (SB98) bill in Senate FT&E committee. The Ag committees will not meet this week. ACA will be monitoring bills this session that could be negative to our industry.

In federal news, on Tuesday, Tom Vilsack was confirmed by the Senate Ag Committee to assume the role as Secretary of Agriculture. The confirmation will now go before the Senate body. Vilsack previously served in this position for eight years under the Obama administration.

Alabama Junior & Senior High School Cook-Off Happening in 2021

The Alabama Jr. & Sr. High School Beef Cook-Off will be on April 24 at a new location! Jefferson State Community College has been gracious enough to host the Beef Cook-Off and we thank the culinary education staff for the support. If your county has hosted a local beef cook-off, be sure to get your winners registered on our website at https://www.bamabeef.org/cookoff by March 26! If your county is unable to have a cookoff due to COVID restrictions, counties are permitted to submit 2020 county cookoff winners for the 2021 contest. This event will be held at Health Sciences and Culinary Institute building at Jefferson State and registration is FREE! Please contact me if you have any questions.

YCLP: Selecting Class VIII

Our Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Council will meet tomorrow to discuss several topics. The council will be reviewing Class VIII applications, discussing alumni opportunities for 2021, and involvement during convention. YCLP Class VIII applications are closed. Our current YCLP Class VII will be graduating Saturday night of Convention. We look forward to watching these young cattlemen over the next years as they become leaders of our industry. 

Membership Update

As of today, the ACA is home to 5,421 members and counting as county meetings are happening (in some form) across the state! Secretaries, be sure to get those new and renewed members updated in the system by February 15 in order for them to get the March magazine and PLEASE send your county leadership changes to Jessica Kennedy at jkennedy@bamabeef.org.

AJCA News

February brings excitement to our juniors as they get closer to convention! The AJCA Board of Directors will be meeting this month to discuss convention and all the behind the scenes work. The AJCA Board of Directors are excited to host career-centered contest at Convention sponsored by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program. Deadline to register for quiz bowl, career development, and public speaking in February 15! Register today at: https://www.bamabeef.org/Convention

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 or Instagram.