Month: February 2024

81st Annual ACA Convention & Trade Show Recap

If you joined us in Huntsville last weekend, you were one of 810 attendees who experienced the Bama Beef Meet in person, and we want to say thank you for coming! The event hosted an excellent trade show, exceptional guest speakers, important business, delicious food, a grand ole time, and a moment to pause and honor our past while celebrating the future! Keep reading for the complete rundown. 

Friday’s events kicked off with a Board of Directors Meeting, followed by a luncheon keynoted by Secretary of State Wes Allen. After lunch, the trade show opened its doors as attendees flooded the exhibit space. Then later in the afternoon, we welcomed quite the crowd to General Session 1 as we heard from Dr. Josh Clevenger with the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology. We then shifted gears into the evening entertainment as a Happy Hour prepared guests for an evening of fun at the Buckles & Bids Banquet featuring the 2024 Alabama BEEF PAC Auction where our generous buyers, donors, auctioneer Cracker Johnson and hardworking ringmen raised more than $31,400 to benefit pro-agriculture candidates in Alabama’s legislature. It was quite the night! 

The fun didn’t stop there as Saturday kicked off bright and early with a Sunrise Breakfast, followed by the Annual Membership Meeting. At that meeting, we honored outgoing Regional Vice Presidents (RVPs) Don Lyles, Wyatt Sasser, Joe Sellers and Bill Walding for their three years of outstanding service; and we welcomed four new RVPs into the role. They are David Walker, Marshall County; Charlie Whetzel, Bullock County; Jamar Ivey, Houston County; and Ray Hilburn, Crenshaw County. In addition to RVPs, Joe Bradley of Randolph County was named an Honorary Lifetime Director, while a new slate of officers was brought forth by the nominating committee and elected without a dissenting vote from the membership. They are Dr. Terry Slaten of Cullman County, president; Keith Glover of Hale County, president-elect; Wyatt Sasser, vice president; and Richard Meadows of Houston County, treasurer. 

Following the Annual Membership Meeting, members settled into their seats to enjoy a federal update from NCBA Chief Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart, followed by a trip to the trade show. At noon, the annual Cattlemen’s Luncheon welcomed Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth to the podium as he updated the crowd about initiatives out of his office. Then the afternoon boasted more time in the trade show, two excellent Zoetis Cattlemen’s Colleges and some networking time among cattlemen. To wrap up the weekend, the 2024 Cattlemen’s Heritage Banquet honored our past while celebrating the future. In addition to graduating the tenth class of Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) students and hosting a Changing of the Guard officer ceremony, the Alabama Livestock Hall of Fame also inducted two new members into its ranks. They are Dave Maples, executive vice president of the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association who hails from Maples Stock Farm in Elkmont, AL, and Tim Whitley of Whitley Red Angus in Horton, AL. The Alabama CattleWomen’s Association also honored Shelby Easterling as their 2024 ACWA Hall of Honor Inductee. Congratulations to all! 

With a very tired- yet fulfilled- staff, we headed back to Montgomery on Sunday after enjoying an excellent weekend with members from each of Alabama’s 67 counties! Thanks to all who joined us and be sure to save the dates for 2025— February 21-22,m— in Birmingham, AL. We can’t wait to see you there!

For an overview of what was said at the mic by Secretary Allen, Lt. Gov. Ainsworth, and Mary-Thomas Hart, be sure to tune into the Cattle Connect podcast this Friday, March 1 as they’ll recap their discussions in-studio with host Kayla Greer. 

2024 SLE Rodeo, Coming to Town!

The SLE Rodeo and Livestock Week officially kicks off next week! For a full rundown of all events happening on the Garrett Coliseum grounds, please visit www.SLERodeo.com/events. Make plans to join us for the ProRodeo March 15-17! Be sure to purchase your tickets in advance so you can skip the long lines and move right on inside to visit with vendors and grab a bite to eat before the rodeo performance begins. Ticketing information is outlined on www.SLERodeo.com/tickets. We can’t wait to see you there!

Cattle Connect Podcast, Tune in Today! 

In January, the Cattle Connect podcast hit airwaves to launch the 2024 season, so tune in weekly on Friday mornings at 7AM as staff discusses beef industry news and explores the many facets of the ACA! This podcast is available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, YouTube and at www.BamaBeef.org/Podcast. So far this season has featured information on the history of the ACA, The MOOseum, ACA’s 2024 Legislative Priorities, and this week, we will highlight our convention speakers as they re-hash their convention discussions in studio with host Kayla Greer. 

Membership Report

The ACA is aiming to go Over the Top again in 2024— help us get over 10,000 members! As we have entered a new membership year, we are proud to report that as of February 28, we represent 7,508 members and growing more with each county annual meeting that takes place. We are grateful for the grassroots efforts of our county organizations and look forward to another year of membership advocacy alongside you! 

Membership Deadlines to Remember

Remember, the Over the Top County Chapter deadline to earn your president a coveted ACA red coat is June 30. And believe us when we say that will be here before we know it! 

Membership Prizes Awarded

At Convention, we were thrilled to award our 2023 Top Hand recruitment prizes. The top recruiter was Dr. Terry Slaten of Cullman County, and was awarded ten 12’ Priefert panels, donated by our friends at Fuller Supply Company and Priefert Ranch Equipment. The winner of the John Deere Gator was Johnathan Underwood of Colbert County— congrats on your new ride! Also, all 35 counties who went Over the Top by the end of 2023 were in a drawing for the Priefert Squeeze Chute, also donated by Fuller Supply and Priefert Ranch Equipment. The winner of that chute was Conecuh County, who by a major stroke of good luck and hard work was also the winner of the Priefert Head Gate for the highest percentage increase of members in 2023. What a haul!!

County Meetings

We need to know about your county meetings in more ways than one. First, we need to know when it will be! Please send the date, time, and location information to ACA Director of Membership Jessica Kennedy so we can list your upcoming meeting in the magazine and on our online events calendar. Second, following the meeting, we need to know about leadership changes. Submit the names and contact information of your county president and secretary also to Jessica Kennedy so they can be added to our correspondence list! 

2024 Alabama Legislative Session

The 2024 Alabama Legislative Session gaveled in on Tuesday, February 6, kicking off the busiest 105 days in downtown Montgomery. While big topics such as school choice, gambling and workforce development have ruled the hallways of the State House, the ACA’s legislative priorities will remain on task. ACA’s team of lobbyists will be focused on budget priorities in both the General Fund and Education Trust Fund (ETF) relating to animal disease traceability and youth livestock programs as well as working to pass a sales tax exemption on livestock fencing materials. Keep reading to get a look into bills of interest so far this session, but first let’s look at a few of the packages that are taking up a lot of attention in the State House.

Gaming

A comprehensive gaming package landed in the House right out of the gate. This included a Constitutional Amendment (HB151) and the enabling legislation (HB152), which—as introduced— would make way for a statewide lottery, the licensing of casinos and the legalization of sports betting on smartphones. The constitutional amendment required a three-fifths vote out of each chamber— which has been achieved in the House— to pass. The package came up in Senate committee this week and was carried over for a vote at a later time. The ACA does not have policy to support a position on gaming, so monitoring the movement and conversation around this legislation is our only objective.  

School Choice

No stranger to the State House— especially after the 2023 Legislative Session— the topic of school choice is back for another round as a priority of the Governor’s office and has been coined the CHOOSE Act. Like gaming, the ACA has no policy on the matter of school choice and is not engaging.

Now let’s move into topics that directly impact the livestock sector.

Livestock Fencing Tax Exemption

Moving into the agriculture-specific bills, the first in the hopper for the ACA is SB73, which is being carried by Sen. Jack Williams in the Senate with a companion bill being carried in the House by Rep. Danny Crawford. This bill would exempt fencing materials— wooden posts, T-posts, barbed wire, net wire, etc.— purchased for the purpose of holding livestock from sales and use taxes. If passed, this piece of legislation would add those materials to the list of pre-existing ag exemptions in the state such as feed, seed and fertilizer. As of Wednesday, Feb. 28, the bill received a favorable committee report and is awaiting the opportunity to come up on the Senate floor. 

Cell-Cultured Food Products Ban

Also pertinent to the agricultural industry is SB23 carried by Sen. Jack Williams. If passed, this bill would outright ban the manufacturing, sale or distribution of cell cultured food products. On Feb. 15, this bill has passed overwhelmingly out of the Senate and was brought up for discussion in today’s House Health Committee.

Property Tax Caps on Reappraisal

Linked directly to landownership, Rep. Phillip Pettus is carrying HB73 and Senator David Sessions with the Senate version, SB 110. These bills, put a 3% cap on ad valorum tax hikes in a given year on Class III (agricultural) properties during the county reappraisal process. As of today, Rep. Pettus’ version has been discussed in committee and was carried over for a vote to be held next week.

While this does not cover all the ACA governmental affairs team is watching— such as budget line items in both the General Fund and Educational Trust Fund pertaining to agriscience education, animal disease traceability, and conservation programs— the aforementioned pieces of legislation are spiking highest on the radar at the session kickoff. If you have questions or concerns, please call our office and ask to speak with Executive Vice President Erin Beasley or Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs Kayla Greer. 

2024 ALABAMA JUNIOR & SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL BEEF COOK-OFF

The 2024 Alabama Junior & Senior High School Beef Cook-off will take place on Friday, April 12, at the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Academy at Riverchase Career Connection Center (RC3) in Birmingham, AL. In order to qualify for the state competition, contestants must have won a county competition. Please contact ACA Director of Consumer Outreach Josie Jones if you are interested in hosting a county beef cook-off. Registration for the statewide cook-off closes March 4. More information, including rules and registration, can be found by clicking here.

Upcoming Junior Cattlemen Events

The Alabama Junior Beef Expo will be held March 14-16 in conjunction with the SLE Rodeo. Junior cattlemen from across the state will come to Montgomery to exhibit their projects. More information on the show can be found online at JrLivestockExpo.com. 

Registration is also open for the 9th Annual Southeastern Livestock Exposition Youth & Collegiate Livestock Judging Contest on Wednesday, March 6 in Montgomery, AL. Interested teams can learn more and register online here: https://www.slerodeo.com/events/2024/judging-contest. 

Register for Beef 101

There are still spots available in the Beef 101 program this semester! Beef 101 is an educational program hosted at Auburn University and sponsored by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program. During the one-day, free class, attendees will hear from producers, veterinarians, and meat lab employees during pasture to plate, animal care, and carcass fabrication demonstrations. It is open to high school culinary and agriculture programs, collegiate culinary programs, homeschool groups or anyone else looking to learn more about the beef industry and the steps required to take cattle from the pasture to the plate. Click here to learn more or register. 

ALDA Conference

The Alabama Beef Checkoff Program is working with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association through their Nutrition Seminar Program to sponsor Melissa Joy Dobbins as a guest speaker for the annual Alabama Dietetic Association’s Annual Meeting in Montgomery, March 20-22, 2024. She is an active advocate for the agriculture industry and guilt-free food consumption in many nutrition spaces, particularly through her well-known podcast, Sound Bites. Her participation in Montgomery will allow nutritionists and dieticians from across Alabama to learn about the role of lean beef in a healthy diet. 

Black Vulture Depredation Sub-Permit

Livestock producers experiencing depredation from black vultures may now apply for a no cost Black Vulture Depredation Sub-Permit through the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries. All approved applicants will be allowed to take up to three black vultures as long as the statewide take number has not exceeded 500. If 500 vultures are harvested in the state, applicants will receive an email notifying them that no more vultures may be taken during the permit period. For more information, visit agi.alabama.gov.

Bama Beef Events Calendar

The Bama Beef Events Calendar (www.BamaBeef.org/Events) is beginning to fill up with county cattlemen’s, youth and Extension activities as we look toward the spring months. Check it daily to make sure you don’t miss an event near you!