We are halfway through January and have already got all sorts of events, programs and business in the works. There’s nothing like staying busy! Keep reading to learn more about what’s happening in our office this week and stay in touch with your Cattlemen’s Association.
ACA CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW
ACA Convention & Trade Show registration is now live! Join us in Mobile, AL at the Mobile Convention Center on March 4-5 for the largest cattle industry trade show and educational event in Alabama. Keynote speakers include John Driscoll of the Mobile Port Authority and Kevin Good of CattleFax. As always, we’ll host a trade show full of equipment, feed, animal health, retail and breed representatives. The event will also feature Cattlemen’s Colleges, Youth Contests, our annual BEEF PAC Auction, and incredible meals. Learn more about our Schedule of Events, Book Your Hotel Room, or Register Now.
If you are interested in having a booth at our trade show in Mobile, please contact Ali Cantrell. The early bird pricing will end on February 1, 2022! You can also register online, or you can visit our Convention Website.
SLE RODEO, COMING TO TOWN!
The countdown is on for the 65th annual SLE Rodeo as we are only 58 days away from the greatest show on dirt! The Southeastern Livestock Exposition (SLE) is proud to be nationally-televised on The Cowboy Channel thanks to being named a 2022 NFR Play-Off Series Rodeo by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).
Our show will have the top professional rodeo cowboys and cowgirls competing against the best livestock in the business during four performances from March 18-20, 2022. We will also have live performances from World Champion Western Entertainer and Trick Roper Rider Kiesner, a PowWow performance by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, B-K Ranch Fighting Bulls, and more! Buy your tickets now by visiting Tickets & Deals (slerodeo.com) so you don’t miss out on any of the action!
We’re proud to announce new changes coming in 2022 as we shift from a Thursday-Saturday event to a Friday-Sunday show. The show order is as follows: Friday, March 18 (7PM); Saturday, March 19 (1PM); Saturday, March 19 (7PM); and Sunday, March 20 (2PM). Also new in 2022 is the addition of WPRA Breakaway Roping, live at each event! Learn more about all the family fun on our Events Calendar and stay tuned to social media for event announcements, ticket giveaways and all the news the SLE Rodeo has to bring!
Our rodeo committee is also looking for volunteers for the weekend of the rodeo. If you are available to offer your time, please complete the form on this website: Volunteer at the Rodeo (slerodeo.com). We are looking forward to three action-packed days of good, clean family fun, and we hope to see you there. Let’s rodeo!
DOWN TO EARTH: AGRICULTURE SUSTAINS ALABAMA
Sustainability is a buzzword that has captured the attention of producers and consumers alike, and agricultural communicators from across the state are taking on the buzz. In March 2021, communications staff from commodity representatives and trade organizations across the agricultural sector began meeting to discuss how to tackle this topic. The result of almost a year of conversations— Down to Earth: Agriculture Sustains Alabama.
This yearlong public education campaign is a collaborative communications effort designed to be a voice for agricultural stakeholders in Alabama to promote the sustainable, conservation-minded practices farmers and ranchers are already doing. The goal is to reach 1 million Alabama consumers to influence their beliefs by promoting the work of farmers and ranchers across the state— to tell YOUR story. We know your goal is to create as much output with as little input, all while protecting the environment for future generations, and it is now time we, as communicators, do a better job of telling that story. To do that, the group has broken down the sustainability topic into six main points: Carbon Emissions, Animal & Plant Efficiency, Data & Technology, Conserving Natural Resources, Smart Land Use and Sustaining for the Future. We will be extending this campaign via digital advertising, broadcast news, print media, and a video campaign. The 2021 Farm-City theme also reflected this concept, which served as an excellent soft launch and way to introduce this tricky topic in an interactive way to school children across the state.
Working group members include the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, the Alabama Farmers Federation, Alabama Poultry & Egg Association, Alabama Agribusiness Council, Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, Sweet Grown Alabama, the Alabama Commission, Simply Southern and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. ACA’s Kayla Greer is a co-chair to this statewide, collaborative effort alongside Caleb Hicks of AP&EA.
The campaign officially launches on March 31, 2022 with an event called “Down to Earth Day” in Pike Road, AL. It will include an educational field trip portion, public education event, and a media conference with elected officials as our special guests. This is YOUR campaign, so if you want to be part of it as a spokesperson, event volunteer, or just learn more about how to help spread the message, contact Kayla Greer at (334) 265-1867 or email her. Otherwise, please help us spread the Down to Earth message on social media beginning March 31, 2022 on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
The 2022 membership year has officially kicked off, and we are headed boldly in the direction of 10,000 members! As we approach late winter/early spring, many counties will host annual meetings. Please, contact Jessica Kennedy at our office to let her know about county meeting dates and leadership changes OR complete this online form to notify us of your meeting, assign a mailout, and request a guest speaker. As always, leaders, we encourage you to enter new members and renewals by the 15th of each month to guarantee they stay on the magazine distribution list and to deposit checks in a timely manner.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Gov. Ivey called a special session on Tuesday, putting on hold lawmakers’ regular law-making session to focus on the massive federal influx of funds. Lawmakers will begin work today focused on spending $772 million in American Rescue Plan Act Funds. A spending bill hasn’t been made public, but the talk is that priority spending for broadband internet, assisting hospitals and nursing homes and building out water and sewer infrastructure in communities where service lacks.
YCLP
Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program(YCLP) Class VIII will graduate at the ACA Convention Awards Banquet. We are looking forward to seeing these 23 young leaders grow in our organization and as industry advocates. With one class graduating, that calls for another class incoming. Applications for YCLP Class IX are now open! This program is for young cattlemen who are looking to build on their leadership skills, network with producers from across the state, and gain deeper industry knowledge. If you want to learn more about this program or apply please visit www.bamabeef.org/yclpclass9. These applications will close March 15, 2022 and will be passed on to the YCLP Council for the selection process to take place.
Speaking of YCLP Council, those applications are also now open. If you are a YCLP Alumni and would like to serve on the YCLP Council, please visit www.bamabeef.org/council to learn more about the roles the Council serves and to apply. Those elected will serve a two-year term beginning March 2022. Open seats are available in Classes 2 (2015-2016), 3 (2016-2017), 5 (2018-2019), 6 (2019-2020) and 8 (2021-2022). Applications for YCLP Council close February 15, 2022.
DYW at ACA
The Distinguished Young Women of Alabama will visit the Cattlemen’s building on Thursday for a steak lunch and tour of The MOOseum. We are looking forward to having these young people who are competing in the state contest after winning their county competitions. If you have a daughter or granddaughter participating in the competition, be sure to tell them to come say hi when they’re here and let us know who they are!
UPCOMING EVENT: ALABAMA JR. & SR. HIGH SCHOoL BEEF COOK-OFF
The Annual Alabama Jr. & Sr. High School Beef Cook-Off will be on April 9 at Jefferson State Community College. 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 21! This event will be held at Health Sciences and Culinary Institute building at Jefferson State, and registration is FREE! Please contact Ali Cantrell on our staff if you have any questions.
JUNIOR CATTLEMEN UPDATE
The Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association (AJCA) will be hosting youth career-centered contests at the ACA Convention and Trade Show! Join the AJCA Board of Directors, Saturday March 5th in Mobile for public speaking, career development, and quiz bowl competitions. All contests will be sponsored by Beef Checkoff and are FREE for all youth to enter. Each contest holds great scholarships opportunities! Here’s some more dates to mark on your calendar:
Saturday, March 5: Youth Contests at the ACA Convention (Register Now)
Thursday, April 14: Spring Youth Production Field Day (Vista Farms- Fayette)
July 14-17, 2022: AJCA Round-Up ( Montgomery, AL)
Saturday, September 17: Fall Youth Production Field Day (Location TBD)
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.