Month: April 2022

Welcome to the Bama Beef Blog, where you can check out the latest news from the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program and the Southeastern Livestock Expo. Keep reading for more info!

---

2022 Regional Cattlemen’s Cookouts

After such fun success in 2021, we are looking forward to hosting the Regional Cattlemen’s Cookouts again in 2022! Click here for a map to check out your region, so you can save the date for your local event while we firm up locations! This event is FREE for ACA members to attend— all you have to do is RSVP to Jessica Kennedy at jkennedy@bamabeef.org or call us at 334-265-1867.

• June 7, 2022: Southwest Alabama; Clarke Prep School, Grove Hill
• June 14, 2022: Southeast Alabama; Pike County Cattleman’s Park, Troy
• June 30, 2022: West Central Alabama; Gvillo Lodge, Moundville
• July 12, 2022: East Central Alabama; Wetumpka Civic Center, Wetumpka
• July 19, 2022: Northwest Alabama, location tbd
• August 2, 2022: Northeast Alabama, location tbd

Legislative Update

Both the Senate and House held hearings this week in Washington DC to welcome testimonies and ask questions related to the cattle markets and current legislation being considered. The Senate had a producer panel testifying and the House had a producer panel followed by the CEO’s of the Big 4 packing plants. Our office had conversations with Senator Tuberville and Congressman Moore, who sit on these respective committees, to ensure they were prepared for the hearings.

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

Board members— please remember to RSVP for the May Board Meeting on May 5, 2022. Call or email Jessica at the office at (334) 265-1867.

The second membership statement is out and should hitting mailboxes. This mail out will target all non-renewed members for 2022!

We are headed boldly in the direction of 10,000 members! Many counties are hosting 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. Also, PLEASE send county leader updates to the state office so we can update them for future mailings, emails, etc. Contact Jessica to let her know who your county officers are!

Producer Sales & Cattlemen’s Meetings

ACA Director of Field Services Morgan Desselle attended the Alabama Beef Cattle Improvement Association (BCIA) Board Meeting this Tuesday in Clanton. She also headed north to Cullman this past weekend for the Crimson Classic sale and will be at the Cut Above Sale back in Cullman this coming Saturday.

Ali Cantrell had the pleasure of attending the Hale County Cattlemen’s Meeting in Greensboro on Tuesday, while ACA staffers Erin Beasley and Sarah Hunter and President Jim Jordan attended the Collegiate Cattlemen Annual Banquet in Auburn. The calendar is full with upcoming educational and social events, and we can’t wait to see you there!

2ND ANNUAL YCLP ALUMNI REUNION

Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) will be hosting the second YCLP Alumni Reunion May 20-21 at Kick Back Ranch & Event Center. The weekend will be full of education, catching up with your classmates, and meeting new alumni! We look forward to seeing YCLP Alumni and their families this summer. To register and see the weekends schedule please visit the link below!

Registration: www.BamaBeef.org/Reunion

If you wish to sponsor this event we have a few sponsorship opportunities left visit the link below or contact Morgan morgan@bamabeef.org. 

Sponsor Link: https://www.bamabeef.org/f/137

YCLP CLASS IX ANNOUNCED

The Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Class IX will join us in Montgomery for session one in just two short weeks! We look forward to meeting the class. Members of the ninth YCLP class are:

Travis Allred, Morgan County

Daniel Burkhalter, Henry County

Logan Cofield, Randolph County

Tyler Dunn, Henry County

Jamie Dykes, Barbour County

Sheena Gay, Randolph County

Jacob Gay, Randolph County

Austin Grant, Macon County

Serah Hall, Houston County

Kelsey Hopper, Baldwin County

Jared Lawley, Shelby County

Ashley Long, Fayette County

Kevin Lusk, Jackson County 

Tanner Maddox, Franklin County

Shelby Marsh, Hale County

Laura Jean McCurdy, Lowndes County

Jeremy Pearson, Cherokee County

Jessica Rush, Lee County

Noah Sanders, Coffee County

Taylor Scott, Lauderdale County

Levi Smith, Henry County

Jason Smith, Dallas County

Christian Stanley, Pike County

Clay Tucker, Monroe County

Cooper Waller, Montgomery County

Matthew Watson, Mobile County

Daniel Wendland, Autauga County

Shelby Windham, Dale County

Macklin Watson, Monroe County

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.

Welcome to the Bama Beef Blog, where you can check out the latest news from the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program and the Southeastern Livestock Expo. Keep reading for more info!

BEEF 201 Opportunity for Producers

This spring, there is one more opportunity to attend a Beef 101 on April 27. If you are a cattle producer interested in doing a more advanced version of BEEF 101, our Beef 201 program will take place on May 6. Please contact Ali Cantrell at acantrell@bamabeef.org if you would like to attend either of these programs.

Junior Cattlemen Spring Field Day Report

The Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association Board of Directors welcomed 50+ youth from all across Alabama to the 2022 Spring Field Day! The youth enjoyed a day full of education and fun. The day kicked off with four beef cattle classes to judge. The participants heard from Jonah Biensch and Jason P’Pool of Auburn University on the best ways to evaluate cattle, provided by Triple T Brangus. The youth then listened to a professional development clinic on public speaking provided by Ellie Watson with Sweet Grown Alabama. Regional Extension Agent Paul Vining hosted a hands-on forage demonstration. The day was wrapped up with Director of Education and Outreach Ali Cantrell speaking on beef nutrition. Special thanks to all the volunteers and Fayette County Cattlemen’s Association for hosting us!

Stay tuned for more junior events to come by registering for the AJCA quarterly e-newsletter here!

Save 2022 Junior Cattlemen Dates

May 16 – Round-Up Registration Opens

July 1 – Round-Up Registration Closes

July 14-17 AJCA Round-Up

September 17 AJCA Fall Field Day

SLE Rodeo Recap

Board members and committee chairs of the SLE Rodeo are gathering at the office today to get a final report from the 2022 SLE Rodeo & Exposition. They’ll also be bringing feedback and insights from their respective committees to garner ways to improve for 2023— we are always trying to grow and adapt, and it certainly takes a team to do it! The board will also be reviewing feature acts, clowns and other entertainment details so Rodeo Director Sarah Hunter can get to work on the 2023 show. Stay tuned and save the dates for March 17-19, 2023!

Out and About!

This week, ACA Director of Education & Outreach Ali Cantrell will be on the road to attend the Sumter County Cattlemen’s Meeting on Thursday and then will be driving to Phenix City on Friday to speak to Benjamin Russell High School about the beef industry. She will be speaking to the environmental science class about Beef 101 as well as how the beef industry continues to be sustainable for the environment. Ali will also be filming cooking segments with Jack Galassini and Virginia Whitfield next week for the Montgomery area. These segments will air on Memorial Day weekend, Father’s Day, and Fourth of July weekend on WSFA.

Director of Field Services Morgan Desselle has been out and about meeting with producers this month. She visited Triple T Brangus in Fayette at the beginning of the month. Yesterday, she took a farm tour of Leto Farms with Mr. Franks Johnston and manger Logan Whatley. She wrapped up her Tuesday morning by stopping in at Mid-State’s weekly sale. She will be headed north this weekend to the Crimson Classic sale in Cullman to see some of our north Alabama producers!

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

Board members— please remember to RSVP for the May Board Meeting on May 5, 2022. Call or email Jessica at the office at (334) 265-1867.

The second membership statement is in the works and should hit mailboxes by the end of next week. This mail out will target all non-renewed members for 2022!

The 2022 membership year has officially kicked off, and we are headed boldly in the direction of 10,000 members! Many counties are hosting 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. Also, PLEASE send county leader updates to the state office so we can update them for future mailings, emails, etc. Contact Jessica to let her know who your county officers are!

2nd Annual YCLP Alumni Reunion

Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) will be hosting the second YCLP Alumni Reunion May 20-21 at Kick Back Ranch & Event Center. The weekend will be full of education, catching up with your classmates, and meeting new alumni! We look forward to seeing YCLP Alumni and their families this summer. To register and see the weekends schedule please visit the link below!

Registration: www.BamaBeef.org/Reunion

If you wish to sponsor this event we have a few sponsorship opportunities left visit the link below or contact Morgan morgan@bamabeef.org. 

Sponsor Link: https://www.bamabeef.org/f/137

YCLP CLASS IX ANNOUNCED

The Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Class IX will join us in Montgomery for session one in just two short weeks! We look forward to meeting the class. Members of the ninth YCLP class are:

Travis Allred, Morgan County

Daniel Burkhalter, Henry County

Logan Cofield, Randolph County

Tyler Dunn, Henry County

Jamie Dykes, Barbour County

Sheena Gay, Randolph County

Jacob Gay, Randolph County

Austin Grant, Macon County

Serah Hall, Houston County

Kelsey Hopper, Baldwin County

Jared Lawley, Shelby County

Ashley Long, Fayette County

Kevin Lusk, Jackson County 

Tanner Maddox, Franklin County

Shelby Marsh, Hale County

Laura Jean McCurdy, Lowndes County

Jeremy Pearson, Cherokee County

Jessica Rush, Lee County

Noah Sanders, Coffee County

Taylor Scott, Lauderdale County

Levi Smith, Henry County

Jason Smith, Dallas County

Christian Stanley, Pike County

Clay Tucker, Monroe County

Cooper Waller, Montgomery County

Matthew Watson, Mobile County

Daniel Wendland, Autauga County

Shelby Windham, Dale County

Macklin Watson, Monroe County

Batter Up, with Beef!

BASEBALL SEASON IS HERE! If you plan, to go to a baseball game this summer in Alabama, keep an eye out for BEEF. This season, the Alabama Beef Checkoff is sponsoring the Birmingham Barons and the Huntsville Trash Pandas. Every home game you will see a beef promotion ad on the jumbotron that will say funded by Alabama Beef Farmers and Ranchers. If you attend the Birmingham Barons game, keep your eyes glued to the jumbotron during the fourth inning to see our promotion that will be followed by the “Cowboy Cam.” And if you attend a Trash Pandas game, plan to go a little early to see our “Welcome Back to Summer” Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner video on the jumbotron for pre-game entertainment. 

Staffer, Ali Cantrell, will be at the Huntsville Trash Pandas game on April 29 with local cattlemen— Randy Moody, Don Lyles, and Katie Sowell— to provide BEEF giveaways to attendees that night. Then on August 5, she will host another giveaway night at the Birmingham Barons game.

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.

Welcome to the Bama Beef Blog, where you can check out the latest news from the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program and the Southeastern Livestock Expo. Keep reading for more info!

---

Foundation Board and RVPs Meet in Montgomery

Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation Board Members, including state officers and regional vice presidents (RVP), gathered at the Cattlemen’s Building on Wednesday to meeting regarding the Foundation, to discuss area RVP maps, to explain the role of an RVP and to brainstorm ways to recruit members, enhance county communication efforts and how to serve their region best. We appreciate the volunteer leaders of our association for spending the day with us!

YCLP Class IX Announced

Members of the ninth class of the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) are as follows:

Travis Allred, Morgan County

Daniel Burkhalter, Henry County

Logan Cofield, Randolph County

Tyler Dunn, Henry County

Jamie Dykes, Barbour County

Sheena Gay, Randolph County

Jacob Gay, Randolph County

Austin Grant, Macon County

Serah Hall, Houston County

Kelsey Hopper, Baldwin County

Jared Lawley, Shelby County

Ashley Long, Fayette County

Kevin Lusk, Jackson County

Tanner Maddox, Franklin County

Shelby Marsh, Hale County

Laura Jean McCurdy, Lowndes County

Jeremy Pearson, Cherokee County

Jessica Rush, Lee County

Noah Sanders, Coffee County

Taylor Scott, Lauderdale County

Levi Smith, Henry County

Jason Smith, Dallas County

Christian Stanley, Pike County

Clay Tucker, Monroe County

Cooper Waller, Montgomery County

Matthew Watson, Mobile County

Daniel Wendland, Autauga County

Shelby Windham, Dale County

Macklin Watson, Monroe County

AJCA Spring Field Day

Staffers Morgan Desselle and Ali Cantrell are headed north to prepare for the Spring Junior Cattlemen’s Field Day. Tomorrow youth from all over Alabama will meet in Fayette County for a day full of education. Youth will have a chance to evaluate three classes of Brangus cattle provided by Triple T Brangus. Auburn University’s Jonah Biensch and Jason P’Pool will walk the youth through a beef cattle judging clinic.

That afternoon will be packed full of educational sessions. Sweet Grown Alabama’s Ellie Watson will provide a professional development course on public speaking. Regional Extension Agent Paul Vining will host a hands-on forage demonstration. The day will be wrapped up with Director of Education and Outreach Ali Cantrell speaking on pasture to plate. We look forward to seeing all the participants! 

2022 Cook-Off Results

Congratulations to the winners of the 2022 Alabama Junior and Senior High School Beef Cook-Off that was hosted this past weekend at Jefferson State Culinary and Hospitality Institute in Birmingham. Additional thanks go to our many judges, Amanda Engle— who provided an excellent ribeye ultra sounding demo— Registered Dietitian Elesha Ergle who spoke on beef nutrition, and the chefs of Jefferson State, who so generously hosted our event and gave a great lesson on preparing beef tenderloin. Big thanks also to Tim Tate of Tate Farms for providing a heifer to scan during ultrasounding! The winners of this year’s event are:

Overall Best in Beef

Abbey Grace Tuck, Jefferson County

Rosemary Thyme Beef Filet

Junior South

1) James Betres, Shelby County

2) Daniel Navarro, Baldwin County

3) Dejuan Richardson, Russell County

Junior North

1) Sutton Howard, Jefferson County

2) Rebekah Nordin, Walker County

3) Nevaeh Foster, Calhoun County

Senior South

1) Patrick Fuller, Shelby County

2) David Parrish, Baldwin County

3) Madison Jones, Russell County

Senior North

1) Abbey Grace Tuck, Jefferson County

2) Cherokee Finney, Limestone County

3) Dallas Davis, Marshall County

Beef 101

Beef 101’s are back in the swing of things! On April 6 we hosted 40 students from Shades Valley High School along with 10 producers and employees from Cargill. Then on April 12, we hosted 20 culinary students from Trenholm State Community College at the Auburn Beef Unit. Dr. Misty Edmondson and Jason Edmondson gave talks on the beef production system. The manager of the meat lab, Barney Wilborn, and regional extension agent, Dr. Alex Tigue, also spoke to them in the meat lab and fabricated a whole side of beef.

This spring, there is one more opportunity to attend a Beef 101 on April 27. And if you are a producer interested in doing a more advanced version, our Beef 201 program will take place on May 6. Please contact Ali Cantrell at acantrell@bamabeef.org if you would like to attend either of these programs.

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

The 2022 membership year has officially kicked off, and we are headed boldly in the direction of 10,000 members! Many counties are hosting 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. Also, PLEASE send county leader updates to the state office so we can update them for future mailings, emails, etc. Contact Jessica to let her know who your county officers are!

Samford University Nutrition Advisory Board

Last week, Ali Cantrell, traveled to Samford University to attend the Nutrition Advisory Board meeting, of which she is a member. They discussed curriculum and how to best enhance the department. She also, stayed to speak with students in the Food Service Management course for nutrition students about Marketing Development Practices within the beef checkoff program.

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.

Welcome to the Bama Beef Blog, where you can check out the latest news from the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program and the Southeastern Livestock Expo. Keep reading for more info!

---

DOWN TO EARTH: AGRICULTURE SUSTAINS ALABAMA

Alabama farm and forestry organizations debuted a yearlong public education campaign — Down to Earth: Agriculture Sustains Alabama — during a campaign launch event in Pike Road on March 31, 2022. 

At an afternoon press conference, Gov. Kay Ivey proclaimed March 31 Down To Earth Day. Ivey, whose rural roots run deep, lauded the collaborative campaign, which will showcase sustainable, high-tech and efficient techniques farmers and forest landowners have followed for decades.

Ivey’s remarks followed a fun-filled field trip for Pike Road School System fourth-graders at the Pike Road Agriculture, Recreation and Performing Arts Center (ARPAC). Through hands-on activities at a dozen stations, over 200 students learned about Down to Earth’s Big 6 topics — carbon emissions; animal and plant efficiency; data and technology; conserving natural resources; smart land use; and sustaining for the future.

Down to Earth Co-chair Kayla Greer said her group’s goal is to reach at least 1 million consumers with Down to Earth messages. “At the end of the day, we want people to know sustainability isn’t about the size of the farm or the commodity produced,” said Greer, who serves as campaign co-chair along with Caleb Hicks. “It’s about using the land in smart ways and protecting our natural resources so we can produce food, timber and fiber for people now and long into the future.”

Following the field trip and press conference, hundreds of locals flocked to the Pike Road ARPAC. A bevy of booths educated the public about sustainability, farm life, Alabama forestland and efficient, high-tech farm practices.

Meanwhile, five teams of media personalities participated in a competition featuring common agricultural tasks. The contest included a rural relay, where participants roped a calf, donned a poultry biosecurity suit and measured feed; raking a fire break to slow a forest fire; and Rural Jeopardy! featuring questions about Down to Earth’s Big 6 topics.

Down to Earth partners include the Alabama Agribusiness Council, Alabama Association of RC&D Councils, Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries, Alabama Farmers Federation, Alabama Forestry Commission, Alabama Poultry & Egg Association and Sweet Grown Alabama. 

Over the year, the Down to Earth message will be shared online at DownToEarthAL.com as well as through social media ads, events and bimonthly press releases. FFA groups, 4-H clubs and civic organizations will help share Down to Earth’s sustainability message. Down to Earth was also Alabama Farm-City’s 2021 theme.

Interact with @DowntoEarthAL on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Spring Junior Cattlemen’s Field Day

Legislative Update

The legislature is expected to conclude the session this week. Today marks day 28 of the session leaving only two more possible days. Lawmakers are working out details of several bills including concurrence on the Education Trust Fund. Three bills related to agriculture are on the House special order calendar today. They include the “Sweet Grown Alabama” bill (SB274) which exempts sales tax on value added products, a raise for the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries (SB319) and SB 317 related to agricultural authorities. A recap of the session will be provided in next weeks blog.

Speaking of policy, Tuesday night, the ACA attended the Montgomery City Council meeting as proposed changes to the city’s animal ordinance was on the agenda. The item was carried over until the next meeting in two weeks which will give time for comments and changes to be submitted to the proposal. For any questions about this matter, contact Erin at the office.

IT’S COOK-OFF TIME!

YCLP Update

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.