AJCA Round-Up Registration Closing Soon!
Registration for the 2024 AJCA Round-Up closes on Wednesday, July 3. Registration for the cattle show and educational contests is open to all AJCA members that live or attend school in the State of Alabama. Registration and further information can be found here. Youth who are not AJCA members can join or renew membership here. New to this year’s event, the AJCA will host author, rancher, and businesswoman Amanda Radke as a guest speaker at the AJCA membership meeting on Friday July 19 at 4PM in the Ed Teague Arena at the Garrett Coliseum. You don’t want to miss it! Register Now
Please note: If registering cattle, in order to avoid technical hiccups and webpage timeouts, please have all cattle registration information on hand at the onset of registration. This information includes, but is not limited to, registration number, a digital version of registration papers, EID tag #, tattoos, dam and sire information, birthdate, etc.
2024 REGIONAL CATTLEMEN’S COOKOUTS
The 2024 Regional Cattlemen’s Cookouts kicked off in June, and the ACA and its officers would like to thank everyone who joined us in Scottsboro, Oxford and Greensboro so far! In addition to dinner and a state office update, this year’s events feature the Livestock Marketing Association’s Producer Profitability Initiative, a grassroots movement started and led by cattle producers who have a vision to create a sustainable future for the American livestock industry.
Remaining meeting dates and locations include:
Wetumpka Civic Center, Wetumpka, Alabama – June 27
A.W. Todd Center, Russellville, Alabama – July 16
The Warehouse, Ozark, Alabama – July 23
Grace Fellowship Church, Atmore, Alabama *IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE GULF COAST CATTLEMEN’S CONFERENCE* – August 9
Learn more about the meetings: tinyurl.com/2024CattlemenCookouts
Meals are FREE to current ACA members. Guest plates are $25/adult, $15/child. RSVP now at tinyurl.com/Regional-Cookout-RSVP or by calling (334) 265-1867.
FFA Convention Brings Blue Jackets to Town
The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program were proud to sponsor the 2023-2024 Alabama FFA Association Livestock Evaluation CDE and Beef Production Proficiency Awards. Winners were awarded in June at the 96th annual Alabama FFA Convention in Montgomery. Congratulations to the top teams and individuals:
1st Place: AP Brewer FFA
2nd Place: Susan Moore FFA
3rd Place: Holly Pond FFA
4th Place: Billingsley FFA
1st Place Entrepreneurship: Connor Wright, Millry FFA
2nd Place Entrepreneurship: Alyx Johnson, Woodland FFA
3rd Place Entrepreneurship: Hudson Manning, Billingsley FFA
4th Place Entrepreneurship: Elizabeth MacAloney, Dale County FFA
1st Place Placement: Logan Bush, Ariton FFA
2nd Place Placement: Hudson Manning, Billingsley FFA
3rd Place Placement: Caleb Cook, Billingsley FFA
4th Place Placement: Hayden Stell, George W Long FFA
Adams Represents Alabama at YCC
Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) Council Chairman and Class VII member Daniel Adams from Bullock County attended the 2024 Young Cattlemen’s Conference (YCC) with 66 other beef industry advocates and leaders during the month of June. YCC gives these individuals the opportunity to explore beef production across the nation and build lasting industry relationships to strengthen both current and future industry voices.
“My favorite stops on this trip were the Tyson packing plant that processes 5,000 head of cattle a day and the Five Rivers Kuner Feedlot. These were so interesting to see up close and learn about,” said Adams. “The trip itself was defined by the people though. We entered it as a group of strangers and by the end of the ten days you would think we had known each other our entire life. It was a trip of a lifetime.”
In addition to the packing plant and feedyard, Adams had the opportunity to tour NCBA Headquarters, Greeley Hat Works, and Certified Angus Beef Headquarters. He also spent time in Washington D.C. receiving further education on current policy and advocating amongst House and Senate officials.
Governor Declares Beef for Father’s Day
The ladies of the Alabama CattleWomen’s Association trekked to the State Capitol in June for an official ceremony where Gov. Kay Ivey declared “Beef for Father’s Day.” A timeless tradition, Alabama’s cattlewomen have been promoting beef for Father’s Day with the governor’s proclamation now for 69 years. There are some traditions that can’t be beat!
Membership Update
We are proud to report that we currently represent 9,742 members, but we want to see ourselves go over 10,000! 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
The Over the Top County Chapter deadline to earn your president a coveted ACA red coat is THIS SUNDAY, June 30. Membership must be in the office or entered in the database by June 30. Congratulations to the counties who have already gone Over the Top in 2024 – Bibb, Clarke, Covington, Franklin, Geneva, Hale, Henry, Lauderdale, Lowndes, Madison, Marengo, Mobile, St Clair, Sumter, Washington, and Winston counties!
National Grazing Management Survey
The U.S. beef industry protects natural resources and biodiversity all while feeding the world. But as you know, the world does not realize all the great work producers are doing on the landscape, with activists and others creating a negative impression with our consumers. To assist in correcting that impression, we need your help. You are invited to complete a short, anonymous survey designed to gain new information on the current use of grazing management plans in the United States beef industry.
Click here to access the National Grazing Management Survey:
Participation in the survey is both entirely voluntary and highly encouraged. All responses will be kept in strict confidence, with the data analysis being released in summary form only and no identifying information included. Information collected during this survey will not be used or distributed for future research studies. The survey should take approximately 10 minutes to complete and includes questions related to your cattle operation and grazing management practices. The study is being conducted by Kansas State University faculty and graduate student researchers.
Thank you for your valuable assistance with this important project. With your help, the industry will be better positioned to communicate their efforts of producing beef in a sustainable, efficient manner. If you have any questions or comments, you may contact Merri Day at Kansas State University at meday@ksu.edu. If you have ethical concerns about this research, please contact Dr. Lisa Rubin at rubin@ksu.edu.
Ag Interns Stop by ACA
During the third week of June, summer interns from the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, Alabama Ag Credit, and the Alabama Farmers Federation visited the Cattlemen’s building as a part of an Ag Interns Tour Day organized by Alabama Ag Credit. We enjoyed visiting with these young leaders about the work ACA does through the association, foundation and the Beef Checkoff. We wish them the best in their career endeavors!
Earlier in June, summer interns and members of the Alabama Farmers Cooperative Future Leaders Program also stopped by the ACA for a similar tour and disucssion!
SLE NEWS
During the month of June, SLE Executive Director Sarah Hunter attended the Alabama State FFA Convention to represent the Southeastern Livestock Exposition as a sponsor of the Meats Evaluation CDE. Congratulations to Thorsby, Pell City, Priceville, and Cedar Bluff FFA chapters for placing in this competition!
On Saturday, June 15, SLE Vice President Galen Grace, Board Members Stinson Ellis and William Martin, Miss SLE Rodeo Isabella Atwood, and Executive Director Sarah Hunter attended the Atlanta Braves baseball game to promote the PRCA and SLE Rodeo by producing a small western festival for a fan engagement experience. Also in attendance to this event were two PRCA champion bareback riders: Tim O’Connell and Kade Sonnier. Though the day was spent in the extreme Georgia heat, baseball fans enjoyed riding bouncy horses and learning to rope in the Truist Park Plaza!
To wrap up the month of June, Sarah Hunter also attended the Alabama Agribusiness Council Annual Meeting in Orange Beach. This was a great opportunity to hear from industry leaders and network with other representatives in the agriculture community. Sarah took this opportunity to announce the SLE’s latest project in hopes of expanding the opportunities within the new SLE platform: www.SLERodeo.com/studyag. The goal of this webpage is to become a landing place to aid students who wish to study agriculture in finding courses of study, scholarships, internships, and additional training that may not require a two or four year degree. If your company provides these types of opportunities (in the state of Alabama), please email Sarah Hunter (shunter@bamabeef.org) with details so she may add it to this webpage. Please also share this link within your network to help spread the word about this new platform!
National Rural Grocery Summit
Establishing positive relationships with beef retailers is just one of the many ways the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program works to strengthen the future of the beef industry. This week, ACA Director of Consumer Outreach Josie Jones represented Alabama’s cattlemen as an attendee of the 2024 National Rural Grocery Summit in Montgomery. She was thrilled to report overwhelming support of agriculture by attendees of the nationwide event as she was there to promote the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner brand and make herself available as a resource for all things beef to rural retailers.
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.
CATTLE CONNECT PODCAST, TUNE IN TODAY!
In January of this year, the Cattle Connect podcast hit streaming platforms to launch the 2024 season, and it airs weekly on Friday mornings at 7AM. Listen is as staff discusses beef industry news and explores the many facets of the ACA! This podcast is available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and at www.BamaBeef.org/Podcast. So far, this season has featured information on the history of the ACA, The MOOseum, 2024 Legislative Priorities and recap, a convention recap, the SLE Rodeo’s unique mission, spring culinary activities, youth event highlights, introductions to some of our association leaders, influencer spotlights, junior cattlemen information and more! Tune in on your favorite streaming platform today to catch up on the first 20 episodes and subscribe to get notifications when a new episode airs!
BAMA BEEF EVENTS CALENDAR
The Bama Beef Events Calendar (www.BamaBeef.org/Events) is filling up with county cattlemen’s, youth and Extension activities as we look toward the summer months. Check it daily to make sure you don’t miss an event near you!
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