Summer is officially in session, and your Beef Checkoff is going to work to provide activities for junior cattlemen, adult cattlemen and doing what it does best— promoting beef! While you’re working cattle and baling hay, your ACA staff is in the office at work for you and the industry we all know and love. Keep reading to catch up on what’s been going on since the Board meeting!
Fired Up for Cattlemen’s Cookouts
If you’re a member of the ACA, you’re invited to join us for a summertime cookout! ACA officers and staff will be traveling the state hosting membership meetings and meals so we can all catch up. If you have not renewed your membership, you’re still invited as we will be accepting membership dues on site. Come on out and enjoy an evening of good food and Cattlemen fellowship! The meeting dates and times are as follows:
SOUTHWEST ALABAMA: June 10 at 5:30 p.m. at Perdido River Farms (Atmore)
SOUTHEAST ALABAMA: June 29 at 5:30 p.m. at Pike County Cattleman’s Park (Troy)
EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA: July 22 at 5:00 p.m. at Wellborn Musclecar Museum (Alex City, AL)
WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA: August 2 at 6:00 p.m. at Big Mike’s Steakhouse (Moundville)
NORTH ALABAMA: August 3 at 6:00 p.m. at Tennessee Valley REC (Belle Mina)
There is no cost to attend this event. All we ask is that you RSVP with your name and the location of the meeting you would like to attend. Simply call or email us at: (334) 265-1867 or morgan@bamabeef.org
ACF Scholarship Banquet
This Friday, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation will have the privilege of awarding more than $80,000 in scholarships at our annual banquet. Students, parents and donor representatives will be attendance to enjoy a beef meal and presentation. This is a highlight of the year for us as we invest in the future of our industry thanks to generous donor families and funds generated by the sale of the Cowboy vanity car tag. Stay tuned on Facebook as we highlight these winners!
Summer Grilling Kickoff
Summer grilling season has officially arrived, and to welcome this joyous time of year, we launched a series of promotions that we are thrilled about! First, six billboards are now live in Alabama from Huntsville to the coastline featuring a beautiful image and the Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner slogan. We also kicked off a summer-long streaming radio and podcast commercial campaign featuring the sound of the sizzle, and we’ll be hitting television soon as staffer Ali Cantrell prepares to film for cooking segments.
Last but certainly not least was the launch of our This Is Alabama feature video that tells the story of beef cattle production in Alabama. This video featured the family at CK Cattle, Moravec Cattle Company, XTRA Ranch and Cleveland Land and Cattle. Thanks to all who made this amazing video possible. If you haven’t seen it yet, click here!
Bainbridge Block Party: Roots, Boots & Chicken Coops
We’re partnering with Alabama Poultry & Egg and the Alabama Forestry Association to host a fellowship event to highlight the three ag commodities located on Bainbridge Street in downtown Montgomery!
Anyone is invited to come out if you would like and join us for all the fun. We will be cooking beef burgers and chicken wings for anyone that comes, and we will have Sweet Grown Alabama farmer’s market style booths selling home grown products. We plan to invite local FFA chapters, 4H, and students in the area for games, food, and a reading of “Lucy Meets a Logger” by Stephanie Fuller of the Alabama Forestry Association in The MOOseum. Please let ACA staffer Ali Cantrell know if you plan to attend or would like to help out during the day!
AJCA Update
The Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s State Adviser Morgan Desselle hosted two “Building Your County Junior Cattlemen’s” Virtual Meetings last week. Guest speakers joined us to tell the participants how they started their county junior chapter and where it is today. They provided the participants with their tips and tricks on how to activate juniors in your county and keep them involved. We would like to thank Kathleen Evans of Lowndes County and Brian Smith of Lauderdale County as well as Kim Jordan of Clay County and Smokey Spears of Lee County.
Round-Up Registration is LIVE! We are looking forward to our 15th annual Round-Up July 15-18. Join us in Montgomery for a weekend full of family fun. The AJCA Round-Up is more than a calf show. This event is full of educational contest and family fun! We welcome anyone who would like to support our youth by being a spectator. This event would not be possible without our many sponsors each year. If you are interested in sponsoring at any level please reach out to Morgan Desselle at morgan@bamabeef.org The Round-Up also host the AJCA District Director elections. If you know of a young motivated AJCA member from the ages 15-21, encourage them to apply to the AJCA Board of Directors! The application is now live on the site! The AJCA Board serves the ACA and AWCA by volunteering their time to help out at beef promotional and educational events through out the year. This is a great way for youth to learn more about the industry and connect with industry leaders! Applications and registration close July 2.
Shoutout to Cullman County
The Cullman County Cattlemen’s Association deserves a huge shoutout after serving up more than 4,700 steak sandwiches over the course of Memorial Day Weekend. The drive-through and walk-up sale even recognized new members and law enforcement officers as they were given a free meal with proper i.d. Great job to the entire crew in Cullman County for firing up summer grilling season with a bang!
YCLP Update
The Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) hosted the program’s FIRST YCLP Alumni Reunion this May 21-22. Alumni from all seven classes were invited to a weekend full of education, networking, and family fun! The weekend kicked off with a Friday night cookout including some delicious burgers donated by Vista Farms.
Saturday the alumni got down to business! The morning started off with a warm welcome from YCLP Council Chair Bradfield Evans. Then the alumni jumped into a morning full of education beginning with Dr. Mike Brown from Elanco speaking on ruminate nutrition. Following Dr. Brown, State Veterinarian Dr. Frazier and Associate State Veterinarian Dr. Edmonson spoke on Animal Disease Traceability (ADT). The alumni had the pleasure of hearing from National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) CEO Colin Woodall who virtually addressed industry issues and hot topics. Colin also provided time for alumni to have a Q&A with him. Saturday night meal sponsor, Alabama Ag Credit, spoke to the alumni group about young producer loan opportunities. The alumni wrapped up the educational sessions with Ken Kelly from Alabama Cooperative Extension System speaking on how to create a farm business plan. The afternoon was filled with family fun including a skeet shoot sponsored by Purina and families taking advantage of Kick Back Ranch amenities!
We would like to thank all our sponsors and speakers for taking time to invest in our Young Cattlemen Alumni. The YCLP Council looks forward to planning and hosting the second alumni event in 2022.
Wrapping Up Sale Season
Staffer Morgan Desselle has hit several sales in the past week as our producers are wrapping up the Spring Sale Season. She headed to South Alabama Stockyard’s weekly sale in Brundidge last and attended the Spring Fling in Uniontown on Friday. If you are looking to learn more about sales around the state visit our sale calendar here.
Bama Beef Events Calendar
The online Bama Beef Events Calendar is getting a list of new events daily. As Extension begins to normalize, educational programs are popping up across the state. County cattlemen’s chapters are beginning to think about meeting. Sales are lining up. Steak sandwich sales are firing up, and Junior Cattlemen events eyeball those free summer months! Not only that, but summertime means grilling season. We all know that beef is king of the grill, so summer beef promotions are also firing up! Make it a daily task to check out our calendar and keep an eye on events coming near you!
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