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!
Now Hiring— Director of Field Services
We are sad to announce that Morgan Desselle will be leaving our staff, effective June 2, but wish her well in her new role as the Central Alabama Livestock Production Specialist (LPS) with Purina and the Alabama Farmers Cooperative. Morgan has been vital to our team the last few years and has done an outstanding job representing the association. She grew the Jr. Cattlemen’s program, developed great relationships in the countryside and took YCLP to new levels. We will really miss her enthusiasm, work ethic and organization. Her departure comes with the exception of the AJCA Round-Up as she has so graciously agreed to help see the summer show through!
This news means that we are seeking to fill the position of Director of Field Services. An application period is now open, and a job description can be found HERE. This position involves working with the state’s beef cattle industry, representing the ACA at producer meetings, cattle sales, county cattlemen chapter meetings and agribusinesses events. The position will be the lead staffer for coordinating the Association’s junior cattlemen programs and young producer programs.
Quarterly Beef Checkoff Council Meeting
The Beef Checkoff Council will meet tomorrow for a quarterly meeting. The group will focus on reviewing the financials and program areas so far for the 2022 fiscal year. Todd Johnson from NCBA will join us virtually to serve as a speaker for the group on how Alabama works and benefits from the Federation staff at the NCBA Denver office.
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 click here to RSVP to attend your local meeting 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, Moulton Rec Center, Moulton
- August 2, 2022: Northeast Alabama, Guntersville Rec Center, Guntersville
YCLP Reunion Weekend
The Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program Alumni Reunion is this weekend! The alumni of the program will enjoy a weekend catching up with classmates and meeting new alumni. The event will also include multiple educational opportunities. Saturday morning we will welcome Jeff Stolle from Nebraska Cattlemen to discuss cattle markets. The alumni will also get the opportunity to speak with NCBA Collin Woodall on industry hot topics. The alumni will be given updates from ACA, Checkoff, and SLE leaders and staff. The educational portion of the weekend will conclude with media training from ACA Director of Communications Kayla Greer. We look forward to seeing our young producers!
AJCA Round-Up Registration Now Live!
The 16th Annual Round-Up registration is now live! Join us July 14-17 at the Garrett Coliseum for a weekend packed full of educational events and cattle shows. We look forward to welcoming the youth of Alabama to compete and exhibit. For the full rules packet and to register, please check out our event website » https://cvent.me/KRGM5z
Working with Partners
Yesterday, May 17, staffer Ali Cantrell traveled to Crossville High School to speak to the ag and family and consumer science students about the beef industry and Beef 101. She spoke to 240 students throughout the day and answered their questions about the beef industry in Alabama.
Today, Erin Beasley is attending the quarterly State Soil and Water Conservation Board Meeting as well as an industry working group meeting at the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. The ACA works with various agencies in the state to ensure that regulations and programming developed are helpful and not overburdensome to cattlemen.
Down to Earth Featured on RFD-TV
On Tuesday, ACA Director of Communications and Down to Earth Co-Chair Kayla Greer had the opportunity to promote the Down to Earth campaign during a live interview on RFD-TV’s Market Day Report. She was joined by her counterpart, Down to Earth Co-Chair Caleb Hicks from the Alabama Poultry and Egg Association. The duo spoke with RFD-TV’s Suzanne Alexander about the campaign, where the idea came from, and why they see a need to share the sustainability story with Alabama consumers.
This unique opportunity came to be thanks to connections at the network. Victoria Dee, daughter of Pickens County Cattleman Mike Dee, is a producer on RFD-TV’s Market Day Report and caught wind of the campaign in her home state. She then reached out to the Down to Earth team to coordinate the segment— BIG thank you to Victoria for this opportunity! We’re proud to be part of carrying the banner for a sustainability campaign that hopefully other states will soon mimic.
Watch the segment, featuring Kayla and Caleb and produced by Victoria, here.
Beef for Father’s Day
Leaders of the Alabama CattleWomen’s Association and ACA’s Erin Beasley traveled to the Capitol building on Tuesday to declare “Beef for Father’s Day.” This event is a longstanding tradition with the ACWA and the Office of the Governor. Thank you, Governor Kay Ivey, for encouraging everyone to buy beef for the fathers in your life on June 19!
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
The second membership statement has hit mailboxes, targeting all non-renewed members for 2022! Hopefully you’ve started receiving some renewals.
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!
SLE at ARC
Last week, SLE President-Elect Frank Ellis and staffers Erin Beasley and Sarah Hunter visited Las Vegas for the Association of Rodeo Committees (ARC) Global Conference where they got the chance to network with other rodeo committees as well as receive updates from PRCA ProRodeo, CowboyChannel, and more. The SLE is continually working hard to provide you with the best rodeo experience possible, and we are certainly looking forward to the excitement that’s to come in March 2023!
Bainbridge Block Party
The staff of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, Alabama Poultry and Egg Association, and Alabama Forestry Association would like to invite you to our Bainbridge Block Party on Friday, June 24, 2022 at The MOOseum in downtown Montgomery. This event is meant to showcase the different ag commodities, associations, and entities within the state and how they can provide educational opportunities into your classrooms. All teachers that RSVP and attend will receive professional development hours and a certificate. Please RSVP to acantrell@bamabeef.org with your name and school by June 22, 2022!
We will be hosting a Sweet Grown Alabama Farmers market along with educational booths spread throughout. We encourage teachers, students, and the general public to come visit, tour The MOOseum, and head up to the 3rd floor of the building for specialty videos and booths to explore. This event will be open to the general public from 11:00am – 2:00pm and food will be served from 11:30am – 1:30pm. We will be serving burgers, chicken wings, chips, and ice cream from Blue Ribbon Dairy!
Set Your DVR! Beef on MASTERCHEF JUNIOR
DENVER, CO (May 17, 2022) – The stakes are high as talented young chefs bring out their aprons and return to the kitchen on the hit culinary competition series MASTERCHEF JUNIOR airing Thursdays (8:00 ET) on FOX. This week, the seven remaining junior chefs test their culinary knowledge of different cuts as contestants will choose their steak in an Operation-style game. The winner of the steak challenge will get his or her recipe published on BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com and win a trip to a cattle farm. The episode of MASTERCHEF JUNIOR, featuring Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. airs THIS Thursday, May 19 (8:00 ET) on FOX.
Primaries- Next Tuesday!
Don’t forget that the Primary Election is next Tuesday, May 24! Make sure to get out and vote. The last day to apply for an absentee ballot is tomorrow and can be done here.
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