It’s the first day of fall, and word on the street is that it is certainly about to start feeling like it outside! We are due a beautiful and DRY weekend ahead, which we all could use to dry up those mushy pastures underfoot…or hoof. Nevertheless, the fall season means a busy time at the ACA, so saddle up for this week’s news and updates for what’s happening and what’s ahead.
Fall Youth Production Field Day
More than 25 youth joined us this past Saturday in Andalusia for the Youth “Back to the Basics” Fall Field Day. The day kicked off with a Beef Quality Assurance(BQA) training led by Auburn University doctoral student Maggie Justice. In all, with adults and children, 36 cattle producers became BQA certified! Attendees and volunteers then enjoyed a delicious hamburger prepared by Covington County Cattlemen’s Association. While enjoying lunch, youth were able to watch a short cutting horse demonstration.
The afternoon was packed full of educational sessions! Russell Carrell and Michael Agar, AU Animal Sciences doctoral and graduate students, led a hands-on fence fixing demonstration. Youth enjoyed a laugh with Russell’s jokes and learned the basics of building and repairing fences. Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program students Mitchell Alexander and Jason Ealum educated youth on tractor maintenance and safety. Then, last but not least, south Alabama cattle producers Ginger Gaines and Wyatt Sasser guided youth through the tagging process as they got hands on with record keeping.
The education at this field day was designed for youth to walk away with practical skills to take back to their farms. Hats off to all the volunteers who made this Alabama Beef Checkoff-funded event successful!
Industry Meetings
ACA Executive Vice President Erin Beasley has participated in both State NRCS Technical meeting and the Alabama Agricultural and Conservation Development Commission this week. She also has an upcoming meeting with ADEM. The ACA stays involved in all of these entities to provide insight about cattle industry needs and to also provide comments when topics arise related to the industry.
Membership Update
The statewide membership number ‘o the day is 9,145 members…but we’re not done yet! Final remittance notices have hit mailboxes. If you haven’t renewed, then now’s the time! We are SO CLOSE to our 10,000 member goal, so help us get there with your membership. Don’t forget- we offer fun prizes for our recruiters, also! If you have any membership questions, feel free to contact Jessica Kennedy in our office.
October Beef Month- Full Steam Ahead!
October Beef Month preparations are in full swing! We have some great events coming up, so please keep up with the Bama Beef Online Events Calendar to get the latest on Beef Month activities. Also, please contact staffer Ali Cantrell if you need any materials for your county chapter to pass out at any local events you may be attending. County Leaders, please do not forget to send us pictures from your event to be featured in our magazine as well as social media. Below is the timeline of state-lead activities for October Beef Month 2021.
- September 24: Nominations open for Bama’s Best Beef
- October 2-9: Burger Week in Mobtown (Premier Sponsor)
- October 9: Maxwell Fall Fest
- Junior Cattlemen will be hosting a booth at the festival to talk about beef cattle and pass out treats!
- October 12 – 15: Beef Week
- October 12: “Beef Up the Blood Supply” by giving blood at Conestoga Steak House in Dothan, AL and receive a $20 gift card to the steak house!
- October 13: Receive a $2 discount off a Brisket meal at BBQ Stop in Clay, AL
- October 14: Visit Gather in Atmore, AL and eat a delicious beef meal and receive a free dessert.
- October 15: Come get some Beef Swag when you buy a hamburger at Hamburger King in Montgomery, AL
- October 15: Alabama National Fair “Where’s the Beef?” Cook-off
- This will take place at 7 p.m. Please visit the Alabama National Fair website to enter.
- October 16: County Cattlemen’s Association Steak Sandwich Cook-off
- October 25: Winner for Bama’s Best Beef competition will be announced
- October 28: Beef Checkoff Task Force Meeting
- October 29: Beef 101 at Auburn Beef Unit
Mark your calendars and plan to join us for the events that are close to you!
Beef on the SuperSpeedway
Just in time for October Beef Month, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and the Georgia Beef Board are partnering up to sponsor the Motor Racing Network for Talladega SuperSpeedway races in October! We will be kicking off Beef Month by broadcasting our Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner message on radio affiliates across Alabama and Georgia for the October 2-3 race weekend. If you happen to be at the race that weekend, keep your eyes on the video board for a :30 second clip that will make you want to start your engine to race to the nearest concession stand!
SLE Update
The SLE is excited to be on the search for sponsors for the 2022 rodeo. Thank you to those who have already signed up! If this is something your company may be interested in, please visit the SLE website. This displays every sponsorship package available to you. Don’t hesitate to contact the Director of Rodeo Programs Sarah Hunter if you have any questions!
In other news, SLE Members will gather next Thursday, September 30, for the group’s Annual Membership Banquet. It will be great to see returning members, but we also have several new faces that we are excited to welcome!
The 2022 SLE Rodeo is sure to be a hit of show as many new changes and additions are on the horizon. First, the biggest news, is a shift of dates and times for each of the four PRCA Rodeo Performances. The 2022 show line-up is as follows:
· FRIDAY, March 18, 2022 at 7 PM
· SATURDAY, March 19, 2022 at 1 PM (Matinee)
· SATURDAY, March 19, 2022 at 7 PM
· SUNDAY, March 20, 2022 at 2 PM (Matinee)
The 2022 SLE Rodeo is also proud to feature an added timed event in WPRA Breakaway Roping, and will showcase the trick roping skills of World Champion Western Performer Rider Kiesner, who will also clown the event.
As always, if your county cattlemen’s group is hosting a rodeo, please reach out and let Sarah know what she can do to help!
Sale Season
Fall is right around the corner. With the arrival of fall comes cooler weather and best of all, SALE SEASON! Be sure to keep an eye out on our online calendar to get the latest on upcoming sales in Alabama! www.bamabeef.org/cattlesales
Checkoff Funded Research Projects
Each year, the Alabama State Beef Checkoff Program budgets monies that are allocated to fund cattle production-based research. This summer, our office issued a call for proposals where researchers had the opportunity to present research and itemized budget proposals in hopes of being selected for funding. Following the submission period, the research committee selected the following programs for funding, representing a variety of topics pertaining to beef cattle production.
- Overseeding Bahiagrass pastures to extend the grazing season and improve sustainability in forage systems (Researchers: Josh Elmore, Dr. Kimberly Mullenix, Dr. Liliane Silva, and Dr. Leanne Dillard)
- Forage production and quality of stockpiled Bahiagrass pastures managed under contrasting strategies in Alabama (Researchers: Dr. Kimberly Mullenix, Dr. Liliane Silva, Dr. Leanne Dillard, Josh Elmore, Dr. Kelly Palmer, Ken Kelly, and Michael Agar)
- Evaluation of Weed Control Programs for Summer Annual Forage Crops (Researchers: Dr. David Russell and Gerry Thompson)
- Comprehensive Digestive Profiles of Bermudagrass Varieties (Researchers: W. Brandon Smith, Werner G. Bergen, S. Leanne Dillard, and M. Kimberly Mullenix)
- Assessment of Weaning and Backgrounding Management Practices Utilized by Alabama Cattle Producers (Researchers: Maggie Justice, Alex Tigue, Max Runge, and Ken Kelly)
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