ACA Convention & Trade Show
Convention is just 23 days away! Make plans to join us for the 82nd annual ACA Convention & Trade Show February 21-22, 2025 at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center (BJCC) in Birmingham, AL. In addition to vast networking opportunities, banquets featuring delicious beef meals and the Alabama beef industry’s largest trade show, the event will provide educational workshops, youth competitions and industry meetings.
This year’s event will host several educational sessions and workshops, along with a first-ever event at the convention— a live video cattle auction, brought to you by Elite Livestock Marketing Group & LiveAg! Following a Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification training in the Trade Show, sponsored by Zoetis, General Session 1 will host an engaging panel discussion around the topic of succession planning for the family farm. Led by moderator Ken Kelley from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, the panel will be comprised of an agricultural lawyer, financial advisor and a cattleman to speak candidly about what farm owners need to manage the succession planning process effectively. General Session 2 will host another panel discussion about ways producers can diversify their financial spreadsheet on the cattle operation. Topics covered will be related to direct-to-consumer sales, contract grazing, developing females and information about carbon credits.
Cattlemen’s College 1, sponsored by Alfa Health, will be all about farm safety and life-saving tips in an emergency, while Cattlemen’s College 2, sponsored by Agrarian, will featured information about calf health on “Day One, Week One and Month One.”
These are just a few examples of what those interested in attending can expect to learn at this year’s event— and it doesn’t begin to include all the fun! It’s not too late to register. Just click one of the many links below to learn more!
- Convention Website: https://cvent.me/kz5RYK
- Registration: https://cvent.me/82XM85
- Lodging: https://cvent.me/m8QLg1
- Trade Show Information:https://cvent.me/ENnM0y
- Schedule: https://cvent.me/g54N7w
- Youth Contest Registration: https://cvent.me/Z58zn0
Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program Class XII- Apply Now!
Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) Class XII applications are now available online. The YCLP is funded by the Alabama Beef Checkoff and serves to develop young leaders ages 22-40 in the state cattle industry. There will be six (6) YCLP sessions for a select group of young cattlemen looking to take on more leadership and responsibility within the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and its county affiliates. Participants will network with other young cattlemen, tour diverse cattle operations, and develop advocacy and leadership skills, all while learning more about the industry we represent. Applications and additional program details can be found at www.BamaBeef.org/YCLP. Apps close March 17.
The YCLP Advisory Council is also accepting applications for alumni of classes 5, 7, 9, and 11. The application can be found at www.BamaBeef.org/Council. Apps close February 7.
Membership Report
The ACA is aiming to go Over the Top again in 2025— help us get over 10,000 members! As we have entered a new membership year, we are proud to report that as of today we represent 5,432 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! We are also looking forward to awarding our 2024 Top Hand recruitment prizes during the upcoming ACA Convention & Trade Show. The top recruiter will be awarded ten 12″ Priefert panels, donated by our friends at Priefert Ranch Equipment. New members and their recruiter’s name will go into the drawing for a John Deere Gator— thanks to our friends at SunSouth, TriGreen Equipment and John Deere— and all 35 counties who went Over the Top by the end of 2024 are in a drawing for the Priefert Squeeze Chute, also donated by Priefert Ranch Equipment. Remember, a representative from the winning county must be present at the drawing in order to win. If there is no representation present at the meeting, another county will be drawn. Stay tuned for our winners!
County Meetings
We need to know about county meetings in more ways than one. First, we need to know when it will be! Please send the date, time, and location 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, so they can be added to our state correspondence list.
2025 Alabama Legislative Session
The 2025 Alabama Legislative Session will gavel in on Tuesday, February 4, kicking off the busiest 105 days in downtown Montgomery. While topics such as workforce development, overtime tax and healthcare will rule the hallways of the State House, the ACA’s legislative priorities will remain on task. ACA’s lobbyists Erin Beasley and Kayla Greer will primarily focus on budget priorities in both the General Fund (GF) and Education Trust Fund (ETF) relating to youth livestock programs, and the duo will be working to increase the line item for the Conservation Incentive Program (CIP) through the Alabama Agricultural and Conservation Development Commission. CIP is a voluntary rebate initiative designed to empower private landowners to implement conservation practices that protect and enhance Alabama’s soil, water, forests, and wildlife resources. By reducing the financial burden of conservation, CIP promotes responsible stewardship while ensuring long-term benefits for all Alabamians.
In November, Kayla Greer hosted an episode of the Cattle Connect podcast that highlighted CIP in depth with program coordinator Ashley Henderson. Tune in to learn more about how these programs can benefit your operation!
Upcoming Junior Cattlemen Events: Youth Convention Scholarship Contests & SLE Judging Contest
Registration is now open for Youth Scholarship Contests at the 82nd Annual ACA Convention & Trade Show on Friday, February 21 at the BJCC in Birmingham, AL. Contest entry is FREE, and scholarship prizes will be awarded for winners in Public Speaking, Career Development and Quiz Bowl competitions. Interested youth ages 9-21 can learn more and register online by February 13. The 2025 Youth Scholarship Contests are sponsored by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program.
Registration is also open for the 10th Annual Youth and Collegiate Livestock Judging Contest at the Southeastern Livestock Expo. This contest is open to youth contestants ages 9-18 as well as two-year and four-year colleges. Information and registration can be found at SLE Livestock Judging Contest. The contest is March 5, 2025, and the deadline to register is February 25.
Junior Cattlemen Board & YCLP Class XI Gather for Sessions
The Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association Board of Directors held its winter meeting in Guntersville December 19-20. The group heard from Rebecca Barnett, Deputy Commissioner for the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, on beef industry and advocacy issues as well as the work of the Department of Ag. After meetings to plan for spring educational activities, they toured Dixie Grinders Inc. in Guntersville, a manufacturer of industrial meat grinding equipment.The Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association Board of Directors held its winter meeting in Guntersville December 19-20. The group heard from Rebecca Barnett, deputy commissioner for the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, on beef industry and advocacy issues as well as the work of the Department of Ag. After meetings to plan for spring educational activities, they toured Dixie Grinders Inc. in Guntersville, a manufacturer of industrial meat grinding equipment.
The Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program held its final session in Southwest Alabama January 17-18. The class began the weekend with a tour of the Port of Mobile, followed by a leadership workshop on Generations in the Workplace. The group ended the day at the Mobile County Cattlemen’s Annual Meeting. The session concluded with a tour of Tucker Farms in Uriah and lunch provided by the Monroe County Cattlemen’s Association.
2025 ALABAMA JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL BEEF COOKOFF, OPEN FOR REGISTRATION
The Alabama Junior and Senior High School Beef Cookoff will be held on Friday, April 11 at the Riverchase Career Connection Center. This contest is open to the winning students (one junior division and one senior division) from each designated county beef cookoff hosted by Family and Consumer Science, Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, Alabama CattleWomen’s Association or Alabama Cooperative Extension System county contest coordinators. For more information about eligibility or to register your students, visit BamaBeef.org/Cookoff Registration closes Monday, March 3.
SPRING 2025 BEEF 101 PROGRAM, FULLY BOOKED!
The 2025 Spring Semester Beef 101 program is now fully booked! This program is held at Auburn University and offers pasture to plate beef education for high school and collegiate culinary, hospitality, nutrition or agriculture students in a five-hour format. The agenda includes a beef production overview, a day in the life of beef cattle producers, a look at the industry from large animal veterinarians and a carcass fabrication demonstration in the Auburn Meat Lab. If you missed the chance this semester, don’t stress! There is a virtual version of this program for in-classroom use. Contact ACA Director of Consumer Outreach Josie Jones at josie@bamabeef.org for more information or to be put on the email list to be notified when dates go live for the Fall semester.
2025 SLE Rodeo, Coming to Town!
The 2025 SLE Rodeo is only 44 days away! Check out the Official SLE Rodeo Video to fully understand the purpose of the Southeastern Livestock Exposition, and be sure to mark your calendars to join the fun in Montgomery at the Garrett Coliseum for the SLE Rodeo March 14-16, 2025! Tickets are ON SALE NOW at www.SLERodeo.com/Tickets. Check out the event schedule on www.SLERodeo.com/events for complete details of the SLE Rodeo and Livestock Week. We can’t wait to see you there!
BUILDING BEEF RETAIL RELATIONSHIPS
ACA Director of Consumer Outreach Josie Jones kicked off the new year with some retailer education at a Central Alabama food show on January 22. During this event, Jones networked with independent grocery store owners, meat managers and beef suppliers from across Alabama. Through Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner and the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program, smaller grocery stores have access to beef cuts training for new employees, recipe and sustainability information for marketing and the resources to develop a more in-depth understanding of the beef industry.
Cattle Connect Podcast
Tune into the Cattle Connect podcast weekly on Friday mornings at 7AM. Listen is as staff discusses beef industry news, hits on a variety of educational topics and explores the many facets of the ACA! This podcast is available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, iHeart Radio, YouTube, Amazon Music and at www.BamaBeef.org/Podcast. Season 2 of the show aired January 3 and already features four episodes full of timely information for cattlemen and members of our association!
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 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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