Alabama Cattlemen's Association

Bama Beef Blog Weekly Update: January 27, 2021

The staff around our office looks like a bunch of ping pong balls in some kind of arcade game! Or at least that’s the analogy we’ve been using all week to describe ourselves. We’re bouncing from beef promotion, to rodeo, to convention, to media buys, to video production, to magazine articles…the fun never ends, and we’re a busy crew! Keep reading to stay updated with the work here at the ACA.

ACA Convention & Trade Show

Join us at the Sheraton Hotel as we’ll be Branding Up Birmingham during our 76th annual ACA Convention & Trade Show. Please note, the event will take place at the Sheraton Hotel but housing will be provided by The Westin, due to COVID-19 procedures. We’ve got excellent industry speakers including Elanco’s Dr. Sara Place and the United States Meat Exports Federation President Dan Halstrom. They’ll be bringing you all the news on beef sustainability and global beef marketing. Aside from the education, our event will feature a jam-up trade show, youth contests sponsored by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program and, of course, delicious beef meals.

Get your seat at the table and be sure to join us March 5-6 by registering online now, and don’t forget to book your stay at the Westin Hotel online or by calling (205) 307-3600 and using code ACA. If you would like to be a vendor in our trade show, contact ACA’s Ali Cantrell to reserve your space or register online by clicking here.

SLE Rodeo Tickets Now on Sale

We are 71 days out from the first performance of 2021! Buck on over to www.SLERodeo.com/Tickets now to secure your seats at the greatest show on dirt! This year’s show is sure to please as we’re featuring freestyle bullfighting, the best stock in the PRCA, all kinds of children’s events and hometown rodeo clown, Trent McFarland! We’ve got some awesome ticket deals available for you to take advantage of, so don’t wait. Get on over to www.SLERodeo.com or call 888-2RODEO2 to learn more about all that SLE Livestock Week offers and to purchase your tickets today!

ACA Director of Rodeo Programs Lauren Wilson is fervently on the hunt for new sponsors. If you, your business or your friend’s business would like to sponsor this year’s event, contact Lauren at the office at (334) 265-1867.

Slicing into Prime Rib

ACA Director of Education & Outreach Ali Cantrell along with two Auburn University meat science graduate students will be traveling to Moody High School on Saturday to be judges for their ProStart Invitational. They will be judging the fabrication of a whole Prime Rib as well as the culinary competition for the students. This is the first event hosted by Moody High School in order for their students to have an opportunity for scholarships and experience, since most culinary competitions have been cancelled due to COVID. The ACA is very excited to be a part of this event and show support to culinary programs such as this one that go above and beyond for their students!

County Meetings & Calf Shows

While she’s halfway there, staffer Ali Cantrell will be stopping in at the Colbert County Cattlemen’s Annual Meeting. ACA’s Erin Beasley visited Lowndes and Russell counties meetings recently, and the checkoff trio— Ali, Kayla and Morgan— will be helping with events at the Montgomery County Livestock Expo this coming Sunday. Last weekend the trio also attended the Crenshaw County Belt Buckle Classic in Luverne. While there, Morgan promoted our upcoming junior events in 2021 and raffled off tags, hats and beef gear. Hats off to Ashley Catrett and her behind-the-scenes team for a successful event! We take pride in Alabama’s youth and look forward to watching the next generation grow.

Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program: CLOSING SUNDAY!

We are now accepting Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program Class VIII applications. This program is funded by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program and offers young producers a chance to tour Alabama farms, meet industry leaders, and network with young producers from across the state. Throughout the program, young cattlemen will meet six times and walk away with connections, knowledge, and leadership skills that will aid in their day-to-day operations. Please visit our YCLP application form to read more and see if this program is something that interest you! Apply here for YCLP Class VIII by this Sunday, January 31.

AJCA News

New year, new ideas! We are excited to announce we will be sending out a quarterly e-newsletters to anyone who would like to stay updated on junior events and opportunities! Subscribe today to our Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association quarterly newsletter, and get the latest on updates from your AJCA Board of Directors! https://www.bamabeef.org/ajcanews

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.

Bama Beef Blog Weekly Update | January 20, 2021

It’s a big day in America as we observe Inauguration Day this January 20, 2021. While things may be transitioning in D.C., you can be assured that “all systems are go” in Montgomery at the Cattlemen’s Headquarters. We are full force headed into Convention and Rodeo season, and we’re excited to see all our people soon. Until we meet again, please continue to enjoy our weekly updates!

ACA Convention & Trade Show

Alabama Steak Championship

This past Saturday, the Alabama Steak Championship took place at Oak Mountain State Park in Jefferson County. There were 71 steak cooks competing for the title of Alabama Steak Champion, and 46 cooks will be competed in the “Anything Soupy” contest. Jefferson County Cattlemen Jeb Tate and Vice President Berry Jenkins as well as Colbert County Cattlemen Will Gotcher were the judges for the “Anything Soupy” contest as part of our sponsorship of the event. The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association was the steak sponsor for this event and staffer Ali Cantrell was on site with a booth with giveaways as well as ACA gear to sell. Stacey Croft from Moultrie, GA was the official winner of the steak competition. Congrats!

Audit Underway

The annual audit for the ACA has started this week which reviews the Association, Alabama Beef Checkoff, National Beef Checkoff and Foundation accounts. The audit is being conducted by Carr, Riggs and Ingram and will take about two weeks of on-site work to complete. The audited financial statements and reviews will be provided at the ACA Convention and Trade Show during the annual membership meeting on March 6.

SLE Rodeo Tickets Now on Sale

Alabama Ag Coalition Resumes Meetings

On Friday of this week, the Alabama Ag Coalition— which maintains all the stakeholders in Alabama’s ag industry— will resume meeting at the ACA Building in preparation for the upcoming Legislative Session. The group will be discussing any upcoming legislation on the table pertaining to agriculture and aim to assume the Watchdog role come February 2 when the session kicks off.

Stopping by the Crenshaw County Belt Buckle Classic

Staffer Morgan Desselle will be attending Crenshaw Belt Buckle Classic this weekend to promote our 2021 AJCA events. We cannot wait to welcome youth from across the state to convention! We will be bringing back public speaking, career development and quiz bowl to ACA Convention. The contests are all sponsored by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program and are free for youth to compete, while offering scholarship prizes. We look forward to seeing youth compete in these contests on Saturday, March 6 in Birmingham. Please visit our convention webpage to register and view the rules on these youth contests.

Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program: Apps Now Open

2021 Membership Update

County leaders, please submit your county annual meeting information to Membership Coordinator Jessica Kennedy ASAP. Even if you haven’t nailed down a date, we’d love to know if you’re postponing your normal meeting, so we can make note of that for your members! Please also send in officer updates, with emphasis on cell phone and email addresses so we can keep them in the loop. Also, leaders, you should be receiving membership renewals in the mail, and as a reminder, please get those entered or sent in by the 15^th of each month for those members to receive the following month’s magazine. Those mailing sending in updates to the state office need to do so earlier to allow time for processing!

AJCA News

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.

Protein-Packed Immune Defense | Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.

Beef is here to help you get your New Year off to a great and healthy start!

By Elesha Ergle, RDN

Happy New Year! We made it to 2021…now what? Getting started every year most people want to resolve to eat healthier, lose weight, or exercise more. While these can all be positive things, making small changes to your lifestyle and diet can help more than trying to change everything.

Beef is here to help you get your New Year off to a great and healthy start!

Protein Packed

Beef’s protein is one of its most valued assets. One 3-ounce serving of beef provides 25 grams of protein with only 173 calories! The proteins in beef contain all 9 essential amino acids, helping our bodies build muscle and stay healthy and strong. Get some beef jerky on your next grocery order and keep it on hand in the car or gym bag for quick snacking. If you want to try your hand at your own jerky, Trisha Yearwood’s Oven Jerky is a great recipe to try.

Immune Health

While protein may take the driver’s seat of the beef car, zinc would be calling shotgun. Beef is an excellent source of zinc, which aids the immune system and metabolism. A 3-ounce portion of lean beef can provide up to 80% of your daily value of zinc! No supplements needed here, just a healthy dose of beef and a good recipe. Get your day going with some Beef Breakfast Burritos and load up on 38 grams of protein and 70% of your daily value of zinc.

Vitamin D is very important for our immune health as well as mental health. Low vitamin D levels have been linked to weakened immune response as well as depression. While lean beef does not contain high amounts of Vitamin D, beef liver is a good source. Not only is beef liver a good source of Vitamin D, it is an excellent source of vitamin B-12, Vitamin A, and Iron, making it a nutrient-dense super food. Although it is usually not the beef on everyone’s shopping lists, liver can be cooked in many different and delicious ways. Try the classic Liver and Onions or Beef Boudin Boulettes recipes from Beef It’s What’s For Dinner.

Whatever your New Year looks like, resolve to eat more beef! Beef is a versatile, healthy choice that can fit any budget or lifestyle. For more recipes, nutrition information, or information on beef from pasture to plate, visit Beef It’s What’s For Dinner.

Goodbye, 2020, we probably won’t miss you! Happy, healthy 2021, everyone!

This article was funded by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program. Brought to you by Alabama beef farmers and ranchers. Photo courtesy of BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com.

Bama Beef Blog Weekly Update: January 13, 2021

These are crazy times we live in, folks, but with all the uncertainty we face, one thing remains certain. Your ACA staff is at work for you representing your right to farm! We’re proud to represent Alabama’s cattle producers and your top-quality product. Just like you, we continue to work. Keep reading to learn more about news and updates from the ACA this week!

ACA Co-Hosts “Tele” Town Hall with NCBA

In the evening hours of January 12, cattlemen from across Alabama hopped on the phone with ACA Executive Vice President Erin Beasley, NCBA CEO Colin Woodall and NCBA VP of Government Affairs Ethan Lane for a state and national cattle industry update. Thanks to all 75+ members that participated in this informative and engaging “tele” Town Hall event. For those interested in joining NCBA, visit www.ncba.org to sign up. If there are any follow-up questions about topics covered, cattlemen can call Erin Beasley at the office to discuss or shoot her an email at ebeasley@bamabeef.org.

ACA Convention & Trade Show

Join us in Jefferson County as we’ll be Branding Up Birmingham during our 76th annual ACA Convention & Trade Show. We’ve got excellent industry speakers including Elanco’s Dr. Sara Place and the United States Meat Exports Federation President Dan Halstrom. They’ll be bringing you all the news on beef sustainability and global beef marketing. Aside from the education, our event will feature a jam-up trade show, youth contests sponsored by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program and, of course, delicious beef meals.

Youth Contests at Convention

Our Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Board of Directors look forward to welcoming youth from across the state to convention to compete in career-centered contests! We will be bringing back public speaking, career development and quiz bowl to ACA Convention. The contests are all sponsored by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program and are free for youth to compete, while offering scholarship prizes. We look forward to seeing youth compete in these contests on Saturday, March 6 in Birmingham. Please visit our convention webpage to register and view the rules on these youth contests.

SLE Rodeo Tickets Now on Sale

Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program: Apps Now Open

Conservation Commission Meeting

ACA Executive Vice President Erin Beasley will be involved with a board meeting for the Alabama Ag and Conservation Development Commission Wednesday afternoon. This commission oversees many programs within NRCS and Soil and Water Conversation. Some programs that may be familiar to cattlemen are feral hog control and riparian buffer programs. ACA serves on many boards to represent the cattle industry for our producers!

Bringing the Beef to Birmingham

This Saturday, the Alabama Steak Championship will take place at Oak Mountain State Park! There will be 73 steak cooks competing for the title of Alabama Steak Champion and 30 cooks will be competing in the “Anything Soupy” contest. Jefferson County Cattlemen Jeb Tate and Vice President Berry Jenkins, as well as Colbert County Cattlemen Will Gotcher, will be judges for the “Anything Soupy” contest as part of our sponsorship of the event. The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association is the steak sponsor for this event and staffer Ali Cantrell will be on site with a booth with giveaways as well as ACA gear to sell.

For those interested in attending, it is a cash-only fee to enter Oak Mountain State Park for those not staying at the campground, and it is $5 per adult (age 12 +), $2 per child (age 4-11), $2 per Senior (age 62+) and free for ages 3 and under.

2021 Membership Update

We are starting on strong in January as to date, the ACA is home to 4,548 current members. County leaders, please submit your county annual meeting information to Membership Coordinator Jessica Kennedy by THIS Friday in order to make the cut for next month’s magazine. Even if you haven’t nailed down a date, we’d love to know if you’re postponing your normal meeting, so we can make note of that for your members! Also, leaders, you should be receiving membership renewals in the mail, and as a reminder, please get those entered or sent in by the 15^th of each month for those members to receive the following month’s magazine. Those mailing sending in updates to the state office need to do so earlier to allow time for processing!

Legislative Update

The legislative session in Alabama is set to begin on February 2. Legislators will be looking at a very different session as they navigate how to tend to business safely. ACA’s Erin Beasley visited with Sen. Greg Reed, President Pro Tem, this week about topics that will be covered during the session and safety procedures to conduct the business. The ACA building has been offered to both the House and Senate to be used for committee and caucus meetings this session due to space limitations at the State House.

AJCA News

Membership & Checkoff Ads Firing Up on Facebook

With the new year comes a new plan to implement advertising on Facebook for both ACA membership and checkoff-related content. Currently, a “Your Dollar Does” producer communication piece is running as well as a month-long membership campaign. A Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner protein advertisement just wrapped up, and another beef-and-health-based ad is set to launch next week. This effort comes as an attempt to keep rolling advertisements through our social media accounts so our page remains relevant, we increase followership, increase clicks to our website and reach Alabamians who don’t currently follow us. These ads will run continuously year round and so far are receiving great feedback!

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.

Bama Beef Blog Weekly Update: January 6, 2021

Happy New Year! Hindsight is 20:20…thank goodness! As we head into a new year, things may look very different, but one thing that remains the same is our busy calendar. The first quarter of the year is jam packed for our association as we tackle convention, the SLE Rodeo and attend as many county meetings as possible. We’re also working to lay the groundwork for the year to come, so grab a seat and keep reading for a look as what’s happening at the ACA this week.

ACA Convention & Trade Show

SLE Rodeo Tickets Now on Sale

2021 Membership Drive

It’s a new membership year, and we are now recruiting for 2021! ACA Membership Coordinator Jessica Kennedy is working to mail out county supply boxes this week, so county leaders, be on the look out for those! Reporting for 2021 is now updated, and we are working to get all those that renewed or joined online during the holidays updated in the system. We encourage county secretaries to begin submitting members who renewed from the first mail out now. Let’s make 2021 the best yet! If you have any membership questions, contact Jessica Kennedy at our office by calling 334-265-1867.

YCLP Class VII to Hold Last Session

The Young Cattlemen’s Program Class VII will be headed off to their final session this weekend. The class will be going out with a BANG! From farm tours at Town Creek, Mike Dee’s and Eric Smith’s to touring Mississippi State Meat Lab and speaking with NCBA Executive Colin Woodall, this session is no doubt one for the books. This year’s class has had the opportunity to build on their knowledge of the beef industry, networking skills, and enhance their natural leadership abilities.

If you are interested in joining next year’s YCLP class applications are open until January 31^st at https://www.bamabeef.org/f/101. We look forward to graduating YCLP Class VII at Convention in Birmingham!

ACA and NCBA “Tele” Town Hall Call-In Meeting

Next Tuesday, January 12 at 5:30 p.m. CST, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association will be joining forces with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association to host a call-in “town hall” for members of the ACA. ACA Executive Vice President Erin Beasley will supply a state cattle industry and policy update, while NCBA CEO Colin Woodall will do the same on the national level. NCBA’s Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane will also be on the call to cover news on the national policy forefront. If you’re a member of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, you are invited to call-in and have your questions answered! You must pre-register for this event in order to receive further calling instructions. Register Now

Junior Cattlemen Update & Save the Dates

The Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Board of Directors have been hard at work planning and brainstorming for 2021 events. We are excited to announce this year we have not one but two field days on the calendar. We also will be bringing career centered contest back to ACA Convention this year. Please register now online for public speaking, career development, and quiz bowl at https://www.bamabeef.org/Contests. We are also excited to host two ZOOM trainings on building Junior Cattlemen’s county chapters. Lastly, we of course, will continue on the tradition of Round-Up in July!

Please see below events and mark them on your calendar. Stay tunned for more details on the below events!

Deadline to register for Convention: February 15^th
AJCA Convention Contest: March 6^th Birmingham, AL
Spring Field Day: April 17^th Quail Valley Farms – Oneonta, AL
Building County Junior Cattlemen’s Programs Zoom: May 25^th or May 27^th at 7:00 pm ONLINE
Round-Up: July 15-18^th Montgomery, AL
Fall Field Day: September 18^th Covington County Arena Andalusia, AL

Alabama Steak Championship

The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association is proud to be the steak sponsor for the Alabama Steak Championship happening at Oak Mountain State Park on January 16! We’re very excited to be a part of this event and happy that Jefferson County Cattlemen Jim Miller and Tim Tate will be joining us as judges for the “Anything Soupy” contest! ACA will have a booth at the location with fun Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner recipes and giveaways.

Beef Cooking Segments in the Works

Speaking of beef, Director of Education & Outreach Ali Cantrell is also getting a jump start on contracts with news stations for cooking segments for 2021. Be on the lookout for cooking segments brought to you on your local tv news station throughout the course of 2021!

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, Twitter or Instagram.

More Than Just “Turkey Day”

By Elesha Ergle, RDN

It is hard to believe that November is already upon us, bringing with it cooler temperatures, and of course, the holidays. For many, the holidays might look a little different this year due to the pandemic, but we can still keep some traditions alive as well and add some beef to our holiday menus. Keep your family fed this holiday season with the versatility and optimal nutrition of beef!

Beef’d up Breakfasts

Busy holiday mornings are no time to be worrying about trying to cook a big breakfast for your family. Try some easy recipes that will feed a crowd without spending too much time in the kitchen, like this One-Pan Cheesy Beef Breakfast Scramble. For those hunters that are going out early, make up some Beef Breakfast Burritos the night before that can be quickly microwaved for on-the-go eating. Add some protein to your grab-and-go breakfasts with beef jerky. Pair some jerky with a cereal bar or pastry for a more complete and filling meal.

Beefy Casseroles

If you have some family members staying with you, get some casseroles together for easy cooking and entertaining. Put together a Cheeseburger Pie and sit back and watch your guests gobble it up. Or try putting together some casseroles ahead of company coming so that all you have to do is heat and serve. Shepherd’s Pie is a delicious and filling meal that can be made ahead of time and reheated when company comes. Add in a salad and you have a complete meal with very little work!

“Turkey Day” Featuring Beef

Add beef to your Turkey Day with some beefed up sides. Beef It’s What’s For Dinner has an entire collection of beefy sides sure to add flavor to your Thanksgiving spread! Change up your traditional green bean casserole with this Hamburger Green Bean Casserole, try out cornbread muffins with the bold flavor of beef sausage, or make up a slow-cooker of your favorite meatballs for before meal grazing.

No matter the time of year or holiday, beef has you covered for all your favorite recipes! For more recipes, nutritional information, and information on beef from pasture to plate, visit Beef It’s What’s For Dinner.

Have a wonderful and blessed November and holiday season! We have so much to be thankful for.

This article was funded by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program. Brought to you by Alabama beef farmers and ranchers.

Bama Beef Blog Weekly Update: November 18, 2020

It has been a few weeks since we last updated you all here on the blog, but with Board meetings and checkoff planning…and of course social media, hopefully most of you have gotten an update or two along the way! While 2020 quickly comes to a close, the phrase “Hindsight 20:20” comes to mind. It has been one heckuva year- one that has challenged us and one that’s made us grow as stewards of your association and your checkoff dollars. While in the future the phrase “2020” may just send a chill down all our backs, we can also reflect on the positive growth we as an association and beef council have found during this year of trial, change and lots of “Plan B’s and C’s.” Keep reading to learn what’s going on this week at the ACA.

Alabama Beef Checkoff Task Force Set to Meet

Speaking of Plan B, this week’s Alabama Beef Checkoff Task Force Meeting is just that. Originally scheduled for Thursday, October 30, we were forced to postpone the meeting when Hurricane Zeta decided to come to town the evening before. Now, on Thursday, our staff and officers will welcome cattlemen and industry influencers from across the state in for a checkoff program highlight presentation and brainstorming sessions about how to put those dollars to work in 2021. We always look forward to this meeting as it is the first step to creating our “playbook” for the next year and allows us to go boldly into 2021 with a plan in place! It’s not too late to decide to come to tomorrow’s meeting- just call our office and bring your ideas.

YCLP Meets for Session 4

The Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program Class (YCLP) VII kicked off their fourth session November 12and 13 in Montgomery. The class had the opportunity to sit in on the Alabama Cattlemen’s fall board meeting and witness county leadership receive their red coats for going Over the Top. A special congratulations to Caleb Beason and Chad Kennedy, YCLP alumni, for going Over the Top as county presidents! The class was able to see firsthand how being involved in YCLP creates leaders of our industry and association!

The class also gained knowledge of how the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association is a grassroots system. At the conclusion of the board meeting the class met with ACA leadership to discuss becoming a leader in county cattlemen’s chapters. We appreciate ACA President Larry Reeves and ACA Vice President Jim Jordan investing their time into this class. Following, Erin Beasley and checkoff staff explained to the class the flow of state and national checkoff dollars.

On Friday, the class participated in leadership training provided by Dr. Don Mulvaney of Auburn University. YCLP members finished out session four with a pasture to plate experience. The class was able to watch a full carcass fabrication by participating in the BEEF 201 program. It truly brought the program full circle. We will be accepting YCLP Class VIII applications online starting December 1 at www.BamaBeef.org/YCLP.

Checkoff Sponsors Nutrition Seminar Program

ACA Director of Education & Outreach Ali Cantrell will be working with NCBA this Friday on the Nutrition Seminar Program (NSP) to provide support for Marie Spano’s presentation at the Alabama Dietetics Association (ALDA) 2021 meeting! Marie Spano, MS, RD, CSCS, CSSD is a sports registered dietitian for the Atlanta Braves. She plans to talk about Sports Nutrition Challenges and Solutions.

Below is a brief description of her presentation: Dietitians play an integral role keeping athletes well-fueled and in the game. While following research-based principles, the application of sports nutrition is often far from textbook and requires mixing science and behavior change into a variety of on-the-field solutions that produce results.Marie is supportive of beef and is definitely a truth-seeker when it comes to nutrition science so she will be a great fit for this audience and NCBA and ACA will be a proud sponsor of this talk.

Stopping in at Diamond Jim’s

Also happening on Friday, the checkoff staff will head to west Alabama where they’ll meet up with RVP Donald Means at Diamond Jim’s and Mrs. Donna’s Family Steakhouse in Livingston. The local eatery was a finalist in this year’s Bama’s Best Beef contest with its dish, the Famous Ribeye, and we will be attending to present a plaque acknowledging their participation and placement. We look forward to meeting the staff and trying out that ribeye, all while supporting a local Alabama restaurant!

Membership Update

As a reminder, the 2020 membership year will close on December 4, 2020. County secretaries are asked to HOLD all 2021 membership renewals until everything is closed. Membership Coordinator Jessica Kennedy will send the green light when inputs can be made for the 2021 year! The first renewal statement for members expiring January-June 2021 will be sent on Monday, December 7. Get ready to check your mailbox!

Coming Up: Junior Board Meeting Set

The Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Board of Directors is set to meet first weekend in December for winter meeting. The board will discuss upcoming events such as ACA Convention March 4-6 and what youth activities will be available for Alabama’s youth. We look forward to hosting youth events in 2021! To stay up-to-date follow the blog and the Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s on Facebook and Instagram!

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, Twitter or Instagram.

Bama Beef Blog Weekly Update: September 16, 2020

The theme of the day is Hurricane Sally. As this hurricane made landfall exactly 16 years to the day of the benchmark Hurricane Ivan, our coastal region and southern portions of the state are experiencing devastating effects and monumental rainfall. Our thoughts are will all those who face her path— but please know that the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association is here for you. Our disaster relief fund, as part of our foundation, is ready and waiting. We invite and encourage producers to call our office or email one of our many staffers following farm assessments. (334) 265-1867 Stay safe out there.

Alabama Agriculture Stabilization Program

Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded $26 Million of CARES Act Funds to assist Alabama Agriculture impacted by COVID-19. Funding will be used to establish the Alabama Agricultural Stabilization Program (AASP). No funds may be utilized for salaries, building projects, or capital improvements. Commissioner Rick Pate reminds everyone that the Cattle Producer Applications for the Alabama Agriculture Stabilization Program (AASP) will be available online beginning Tuesday Sept. 8, 2020, at 9 a.m. Applicants should visit crf.alabama.gov or agi.alabama.gov to apply.

In order to be eligible for cattle relief funds:

You must be an Alabama resident
You must be able to provide documentation that you sold cattle during the date range of April 16, 2020 through May 15, 2020. Slaughter cattle and bulls do not qualify for payment.
If claiming payment for Dairy Production, you must have been eligible for USDA’s CFAP program for Dairy Production and you must provide the total amount of the CFAP payment you received for Dairy Production.
Need a copy of your W-9
Require successful submission of this application and signed certification and assurances form
Must submit bank account information for electronic payment
Must provide of a voided check or a memo from your bank with account number and routing number.

Maximum “per head” payments for beef cattle:

Less than 600 lbs. x $69/head

600-900 lbs. x $106/head

Fed cattle (Fats) (over 900 lbs.) x $181/head

If you have any questions regarding eligibility, please call 334-240-7100 or email: aasp-questions@agi.alabama.gov

Foundation Scholarships Now Open

Applications for the 2021-2022 Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarships are now open online at www.BamaBeef.org/Scholarships. The ACF is proud to award over $65,000 in scholarships annually to Alabama’s youth in livestock and those who are the children or grandchildren of longtime members. We offer a variety of scholarships with a range of requirements— there’s truly something to fit any student! We appreciate those who purchase the Cowboy vanity car tag that help fund these scholarships, as well as the generous families who have endowed scholarships through our foundation. Applications CLOSE on November 6 at midnight, so be sure your favorite student(s) submits today!

Beef Up the Blood Supply

This year, the ACA is going to “Beef Up the Blood Supply” throughout Alabama with LifeSouth Blood Bank. To celebrate Beef Month, we will be hosting a week of blood donations across Alabama starting in Dothan on October 12! If you live in the Dothan area, have blood, and love a good steak please reach out to us about donating blood that day and you will receive a discount on a Conestoga Steak for your donation. Then the beef mobile will be driving to Decatur Morgan Hospital in north Alabama for two straight days of blood donation and giving away steak sandwiches and beef meal vouchers. We will return to the MOOseum on October 15 for blood donations in the Montgomery area and then we will wrap up the week at the Pike County Cattlemen’s Association center in Troy, AL. Please contact our staffer, Ali Cantrell, about getting signed up for these blood drives if they are near your area!

Save the Date- Beef Checkoff Task Force Meeting

The Alabama Beef Checkoff Task Force meeting will be held Thursday, October 29 at the Cattlemen’s building in Montgomery. ANY cattlemen in Alabama interested in attending this meeting is welcome to do so by contacting the ACA office at (334) 265-1867. It is a way to get completely involved in the process and having a say in how beef checkoff dollars are spent in the state. The ideas that come out of the task force meeting will be put into a marketing plan and presented to the Beef Checkoff Council for approval and budgeting. Contact an ACA officer or the office today to get more information on the meeting.

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, Twitter or Instagram.

Kids in the Kitchen

Incorporating Beef’s Bold Nutrition into At-Home Learning

By Elesha Ergle, RDN

In these uncertain times, there are some things that continue to remain constant. Good nutrition for our kids is vital for their growth and development. Growing children need plenty of high-quality protein to support proper muscle and tissue growth, with adolescent athletes’ needs being even higher. Lean beef is an excellent source of high-quality protein, with the proteins in beef providing a great source of the amino acid, leucine, which is vital to muscle growth and development. A three-ounce portion of lean beef contains about 25 grams of protein and 10 essential nutrients, giving it the “gold star” of nutrition!

Amid the pandemic, you are probably spending more time eating at home, and beef is here to help. Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner has an entire collection of “Kid-Friendly Fare” that can help you get more of beef’s high quality proteins into your little scholars’ diets.

With some schools and sports preparing to return this fall— as well as some preparing for online learning— kids will need optimal fuel to get them through their busy days. Many schools do not offer culinary classes, so teaching cooking skills at home is a great way to incorporate learning while also checking off your lunchtime to-do list.

Because cooking can even be overwhelming to some adults, start simply and slowly. Choose your recipes wisely, and don’t try to cook something that you know your kids will not eat. Ease in to the process with Personal Beef Pizzas. Kids can prepare their own pizza and make a wide variety of toppings available to them to include some veggies. Let them chop or slice veggies (as age appropriate) and through their culinary involvement, they will be more likely to try them. Get kids involved in recipe choices, ingredient swaps, and creative ideas for serving. Let go of your control factor in the kitchen and let them be kids…let them make messes and remember it is not supposed to look just like that picture on the internet.

Assign kids their own tasks that are age appropriate, and let them even have their own measuring cups, plates, or even an apron. Using recipes like Beef Jerky Trail Mix, kids can make their own healthy snacks with no actual cooking involved. Get your young athletes involved in the kitchen by helping them make Beef Jerky Granola Bars. The mix of high-quality protein and carbs in this recipe is the perfect pre-or-post game (or practice) fuel.

While you are teaching in the kitchen, now is the perfect time to talk food safety with your kids. Going through the proper handwashing techniques, using different cutting boards and knives between meats and vegetables, and discussing the proper cooking temperatures are all great life skills that children will need to master to be successful now, and later on, in the kitchen.

Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner is a great teaching tool while working in the kitchen with your kids. From simple recipes and videos to nutrition information and information about beef from pasture to plate, anything you need for a delicious and nutritious lesson plan in there.

So, head to kitchen to prepare for, and tackle, this year’s school year.

This article was funded by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program. Brought to you by Alabama beef farmers and ranchers.

Bama Beef Blog Weekly Update: July 29, 2020

As we near the end of July, our eyes turn to a busy fall season ahead. Schools return in session, and all the activities that come with the school time season do also. While it may look different in 2020, the fact still remains the same…beef can fuel you through it! The fall focuses on ramped up beef promotions and producer events, and we look forward to putting our boots on the ground for both. While we look ahead, we are also keeping our heads down on the work at hand. Keep reading to learn more about what your ACA staff is up to this week!

ACA LEADERS IN DENVER

Clay Kennamer, Jim Jordan and Erin Beasley are in the Denver this week while President Larry Reeves joins in virtually for the NCBA Summer Meeting. The group will be voting on new policies, resolutions and receiving an update from the Denver office and staff. They took the opinions of Alabama Cattlemen received during our virtual round-ups and aim to represent cattlemen from our home state in their voting efforts!

ATTENDING THE ALABAMA GROCERS CONVENTION

On July 27- 29, ACA’s Ali Cantrell will be headed to Destin, FL to meet with retailers and wholesalers at the Alabama Grocers Association Convention. The convention will have a small trade show during the lunch hour of each day for exhibitors to meet with retailers and host a booth with promotional material. Ali will be speaking with attendees about Beef promotion in the retail sector as well as future educational opportunities with staff and sales such as a BEEF 101.

JUNIOR LEADERS COME TO TOWN

ACA Director of Field Services Morgan Pounds welcomed the newly-elected AJCA Board to Montgomery Monday and Tuesday for their first meeting of their term. This meeting was heavily focused on leadership and team building. The group conducted meetings discussing upcoming events, officer responsibilities, and goals as an overall board for 2021. The AJCA Board also evaluated the 2020 Round-Up and decided to release another survey to get feedback from participants. If you participated in 2020 Round-Up or where in attendance please take the survey here to help us plan for next year.

THE MOOSEUM AND ONLINE GIFT SHOP STAYING BUSY

The MOOseum is open for business for small groups. Masks and temperature checks are required, but that’s not stopping visitors from walking through our doors! We’ve had several tour groups stop by to learn about Alabama’s beef cattle industry as our indoor educational facility is a welcomed stop to parents and childcare leaders looking to keep their kiddos entertained.

Also, online sales have not stopped! In fact, they have revved up tremendously and we are proud to now offer Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association (AJCA) T-shirts for sale on the store, so purchase one to support our youth organization today! www.BamaBeef.org/Store

BAMA’S BEST BEEF NOMINATIONS FIRE UP

Get ready to nominate your favorite hometown beef dish THIS WEEK as nominations for the 2020 Bama’s Best Beef contest open up on Friday. This year’s contest combines our spring and fall promotions and will have an added bonus of a People’s Choice contest, in conjunction with the actual tasting round featuring a panel of industry judges. Nominations will be live on www.BamaBeef.org/BestBeef so be on the lookout and nominate, nominate, nominate!

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

As of today, the ACA is proud to represent 8,780 members of our state association and counting as counties continue to recruit new and renewal members. County leaders- don’t forget the new “Over the Top” deadline is THIS FRIDAY, July 31. Help us get to 10,000 members strong while earning your iconic ACA red coat! We also encourage ONE representative to save the date for August 13 as we will be hosting a very limited audience Board of Directors Meeting in Montgomery at the RSA Activity Center.

ACES TO HOLD SHORT COURSES THIS FALL

Producers new to the cattle business should attend Alabama Extension’s new Beef Systems Short Course. The short course is a multi-night lecture series covering the fundamentals of beef production and is geared for new and limited experience producers.

Producers can take the course at different locations around the state, including Jasper, Hayneville, Texasville and Centre. These are regional meetings and producers should select the location and dates most convenient for them. Over four nights, producers will learn critical information on profitable beef production.

There is a $40 registration fee, and all participants will receive a copy of Extension’s recently updated Alabama Beef Handbook.

Alabama Extension animal scientists developed a concentrated curriculum that is most vital for new cattle producers to master. The course will be taught by Extension regional animal science agent. Learn more and register at www.ACES.edu.

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