Alabama Cattlemen's Association

Back to School with Beef Jerky

By Elesha Ergle, RDN

The summer heat continues to bear down, and it seems impossible that it is time for the kids to go back to school already. Whether your baby is just starting kindergarten this year, or your “baby” is starting high school, there is no doubt you have given some thought about how to help your kids power through the day.

Children need proper nutrition to keep their growing bodies fueled for learning throughout the school day. Studies have shown that children who eat breakfast are able to pay attention better in classes, perform better on tests and have less behavior issues. If you are confused about how to get your family going this school year, beef is here to help.

Beef Jerky at Breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! If your kiddos are scrambling to get out the door in the mornings, whip up some Beef Jerky Trail Mix for a healthy meal on the go. Mix it with different dried fruits (no added sugars are best) and nuts, or let the kids make their own mixture to inspire their imagination and get them involved in the kitchen. Loaded with 25 grams of protein per serving, trail mix a great way to get your kids’ school day started off right. It even packs easy into a lunch box for snack time.

After School Treats
Beef Jerky Granola Bars are another great option for on-the-go breakfasts or snacking. Kids who are active in sports and other after-school activities will also love to keep these treats in their packs for busy afternoons. For a delicious snack after they hop off the bus, have some Peanut Butter Chocolate-Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Beef Jerky Cookies to keep the kids powered through homework until suppertime. These beef’d up cookies are sure to be a hit, and you can feel good knowing they have had a nutritious snack packed with protein.

Individually-wrapped beef jerky sticks come in all sizes and flavors and are delicious and handy for those days when you just thought the calendar looked light. You can find these in large quantities online for reasonable prices and have them delivered to your door, saving you time and money. Keep them packed away in the car, backpacks, and athletic bags for a quick and nutritious snack that will keep your scholars and athletes full and focused.

Everyone’s lives are busy, but we can still pack in healthy foods to fuel our active agendas. One serving of lean beef provides 50 percent of our daily protein needs, so while you are busy chasing kids, you can put your mind at ease knowing that their snacks are one less thing to worry about. Visit BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com to explore all kinds of unique beef jerky and back to school recipe ideas for this busy time of year!

This article was funded by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Progam. Paid for by Alabama beef farmers and ranchers.

What’s Going On Wednesday: August 14, 2019

Well, if it wasn’t hot enough, it just got hotter! With a volatile week of weather and cattle markets, we are happy to bring some news that’s not so dreary. We’ve got a lot coming up and in the works, so keep reading to learn more about what’s happening at the ACA this week!

Tyson Plant Burns

Let’s start with the obvious. The cattle market is the talk of the week as the boards are feeling the effects of a fire that one of Tyson’s beef harvest plants in Kansas suffered over the weekend. The plant processes 6,000 head of cattle a day taking away a landing spot for an already-saturated fed cattle market. Tyson has announced they will rebuild immediately and is working to redirect cattle into their other packing facilities. With the uncertainty so far around this situation, cattle markets have been limit down both Monday and Tuesday. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has had a significant role to ensure the Federal regulatory burden does not make recovery any harder. ACA is working to notify our congressmen and senators in D.C. of the situation so they are aware of the effects this will have on our producers in the coming weeks who are selling feeder calves.

State Ag Board Meeting

Erin Beasley attended the quarterly meeting for the Department of Agriculture and Industries Board on Tuesday in Decatur. She presented the 2018 annual report and financials for the State Beef Checkoff program and received unanimous approval from the board along with several positive comments about the program as a whole.

Bama’s Best Burger Update

Regional semi finalist voting has kicked off for the 2019 Bama’s Best Burger contest! Region 1 and Region 2 semi finalists are duking it out in a a very close first round of Facebook polling. Region 1 semi finalist is SUCH-n-SUCH (Decatur) Heart Attack Burger, while the Region 2 semi finalist is the Bananza Burger from The Strand in Fort Payne! So far the poll has garnered over 1,300 votes with SUCH-n-SUCH leading by only 30 votes. This poll closes in the morning, and the challenge between Region 3 semi finalist J&J Grocery (Bessemer) Cheeseburger and Region 4 semi finalist R&R Burgers (Springville) Jealous Grandma Burger will go live! Be sure to follow the contest to find out who all the regional semi finalists are and VOTE for your local dive.

Wood Fruitticher Sales Meeting

This Thursday, staffer Ali Cantrell is traveling to Trussville for the Wood Fruitticher Sales meeting to kick off the fall beef sales promotion. Barney Wilborn, the manager of Auburn University’s Meat Lab, will be joining Ali during this sales meeting to fabricate and present cuts from the chuck and sirloin to the salesmen. This presentation is meant to educate the salesmen about the cuts they sell everyday and how to better market them to their customers.

Board of Directors Meeting- Next Week!

Board members, be sure to RSVP to Jessica Kennedy for next week’s Summer Board of Directors Meeting! We’ll be giving out “Over the Top” county prizes, giving you all the ACA updates you need and letting you in on an exclusive FIRST LOOK at ALL the new changes in The MOOseum! Don’t miss out.

At the membership desk this week, remittances from our latest mail-out have begun rolling in and the membership number of the day is 8,836! We are so close to 9,000…but the goal is 10,000. Staffers have begun to call non-renewed members, so join us in recruiting!

Beef Systems Short Course

On Tuesday, ACA Director of Field Services stopped in on the first of many Beef Systems Extension Short Courses happening statewide throughout the fall months. Morgan visited the kickoff meeting at the Clanton location and enjoyed the opportunity to visit with cattlemen and get an overview of the content being taught during the four-night course. To find an upcoming course near you and to get registered, visit www.aces.edu/go/1065.

Clay County Cattlemen’s Rodeo

Staffers are looking forward to the opportunity to attend this weekend’s Clay County Cattlemen’s Rodeo happening Friday and Saturday evenings. The team will go to enjoy and support this county cattlemen event and see what all it has to offer! Next week will bring the Pike County Cattlemen’s Rodeo where staffer Morgan Pounds will be taking pride on a mechanical bull and attending the event. If you’ve got an upcoming county event, be sure to let us know about it!

Preparing for Fall Promotions

Ali Cantrell is preparing October Beef Month boxes for county Cattlemen’s Associations. These boxes will be ready for pick up at the Summer Board of Directors meeting on August 22. Please contact Ali if there is a special event this fall that you need promotional material for so she can add it to your box! If you are unable to pick up a box at the board meeting, let Ali know that you want it mailed.

News from the AJCA

If you attended the 2019 AJAC Round-Up, we want to hear your feedback on the event. Visit www.BamaBeef.org/AJCA where you’ll find a link to a survey regarding the event and 2020 upcoming events. We appreciate the time you take to help us improve the Round-Up! We also encourage you to go check out the newest feature of the AJCA, an Instagram! If you use the social app, hop on and give @al_juniorcattlemen a follow. With the guidance of ACA staff, AJCA President Ashlyn Ruf will be running the account during her year of leadership. Let’s show her and our junior association some support!

You’re Invited: Cattlemen’s BEEF 201

The ACA is hosting a Cattlemen’s BEEF 201 at Auburn University’s Beef Teaching Unit and Meats Lab on Friday, September 13. We invite all cattlemen to explore the beef industry from pasture to plate. Features of this program will include live animal evaluation, carcass evaluation and fabrication. Please sign up at www.bamabeef.org/beef201 or contact Ali Cantrell to get registered for the program.

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.

What’s Going On Wednesday: August 7, 2019

Well, it’s a scorcher out there today. Good thing today’s blog is chock-full of good reads to keep you inside during your lunch break just a liiiitttleee bit longer. As board sale and back-to-school seasons fire up, it’s a busy time for both the worlds of cattle production and beef promotion. All systems are go at our office as we tackle stockyard visits, October Beef Month plans, burger contest, board sales and The MOOseum renovation project. Keep reading to find out more about what’s happening at the ACA this week.

The MOOseum Taking Life

The big news this week is all that’s happening on the first floor of our building! As if it hadn’t already, The MOOseum is truly experiencing a total transformation as the exhibit fabricators are in town performing installation. The images we’ve seen for so long in 2D form are really beginning to take life in 3D and we’re so excited to unveil the new MOOseum!

Save the Date- August Board Meeting

If you’re a Board member, you’re opportunity to see The MOOseum isn’t far off as you’ll get a first-hand look at the August Board Meeting to be held August 22 at 10 a.m. We’ll be celebrating our “Over the Top” counties, enjoying an educational session with Dr. Misty Edmondson and getting all the updates…oh, and touring the new exhibits!! Don’t forget to RSVP to Jessica Kennedy by August 16. We’ll see you there!

Membership # of the Day: 8,770

Out and About at Alabama’s Stockyards

Field services staffer Morgan Pounds has been out and about in Alabama since she started at the ACA in May. She has been to seven yards across the state and hopes to be able to say she has made it out to visit each yard in the state before she has been on our team for a year. So far she’s visited Mid State Stockyards, Montgomery Stockyards, Livingston Stockyards, Opp Stockyards, Sand Mountain Stockyards, Alabama Livestock Auction and Clay County Livestock. For the month of August she has Double A Auction (August 24) and Coffee County (August 29). If you will be at the sale on those days, stop by to meet her and grab a cap!

Trump Signs EU Agreement

The officers of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association were on site at the White House last week for President Trump’s announcement of increased access into the European Union. NCBA President Jennifer Houston said “Today is a good day for America’s cattlemen and cattlewomen. President Trump and his trade team deserve a lot of credit for standing up for America’s cattle industry and securing this important market access to Europe. For many years it has been difficult for us to sell our high-quality U.S. beef to European consumers because of the restrictive tariff and non-tariff barriers, but the establishment of this 35,000 metric ton duty-free quota sends the signal to America’s cattle industry that Europe is ready for U.S. beef. All across America, our beef producers go to great lengths to raise safe and delicious beef products that are enjoyed by consumers around the world. It is exciting to know that European families will enjoy more of the delicious U.S. beef that we feed our families. And this would not have happened if it were not for the effort of President Trump and his trade team.”

Consider being a member of NCBA to support the efforts in Washington, join here www.ncba.org.

Fall Promotional Boxes

Next week, ACA Director of Education & Outreach Ali Cantrell will be preparing October Beef Month boxes for county cattlemen’s associations. These boxes will be ready for pick up at the Summer Board of Directors meeting on August 22. Please contact Ali if there is a special event this fall that you need promotional material for so she can add it to your box. If you are unable to pick up a box at the board meeting, let Ali know that you want it mailed. Email Ali

AJCA Leadership Retreat

ACA Director of Field Services Morgan Pounds will be headed to the 4-H center Friday with our 2019 2020 Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association (AJCA) Board. On this retreat, she hopes the juniors build relationships with each of their fellow board members and grow closer together as a team. The AJCA Board works to serve the Junior Cattlemen of Alabama. Over the weekend, they will have multiple meetings discussing upcoming AJCA events, evaluating 2019 Round-Up (be on the look out for a survey to give us your own evaluation of 2019 Round-Up), and looking at ways they can better serve in their districts as directors.

Board Sales Galore!

It’s board sale season! Staffers Erin Beasley, Kayla Greer, Ali Cantrell, and Morgan Pounds will be attending the Producers Feeder Calf Sale in Autaugaville tonight. The staffers look forward to fellowshipping with fellow cattlemen. On Thursday, Ali Cantrell and Morgan Pounds will head to the SAFE Feeder Calf Sale hosted in the Wiregrass Area.

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.

What’s Going On Wednesday: July 31, 2019

And just like that, July is complete! With the ringing of the midnight hour tonight, we’ll say “so long” to July and welcome a very busy August with open arms. As we prepare for all the fun that comes with back-to-school/countdown to kickoff/hay baling/board sale/calf weaning/board meeting season, keep reading to learn more about what’s happening at the ACA!

DENVER FOR NCBA SUMMER MEETING

ACA Executive VP Erin and the officers are in Denver this week participating in the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting where policy matters will be discussed and plans for the 2020 checkoff program will be outlined. This week has been busy and a lot of information has been discussed and presented. Alabama is well-represented as Chris Langley, Larry Reeves, Clay Kennamer, Eric Smith and Jimmy Holliman attended the conference! Hear more about what’s happening with this Southeast AgNet report.

Stopping Along West Alabama Landscape

Staffers Morgan Pounds and Kayla Greer took a trip to west Alabama on Tuesday. On their travels, they got the chance to stop by Donald Mean’s farm and check out his 275-head Brangus herd. When in Demopolis, why not stop by the building the association was organized in 1944? After enjoying a nice ribeye sandwich at Stacey’s Café in the old Demopolis Inn, staffers headed to Uniontown where they both enjoyed watching Alabama Livestock Auction’s weekly sale and saying hey to owner Jim Sealy. The day did not end there. Staffers then headed to Greensboro to snap a few pictures of stocker calves so check out the September issue of the Alabama Cattleman to see our favorite photo from the day and where it was taken!

Speaking of stockyards, be sure to stop by Clay County Stockyards next Tuesday to meet Director of Field Services Morgan Pounds! She will be visiting with the buyers of the sale and will have a few hats and tags for our cattlemen in tow. Don’t miss out!

ALACTE Summer Conference

Today, ACA Director of Education & Outreach Ali Cantrell presented at the ALACTE Summer Conference to Family and Consumer Science teachers in Birmingham. The presentation was over incorporating beef basics and cookery techniques into a classroom lesson plan. This was also an opportunity to discuss the Alabama Jr. & Sr. Beef Cookoff for next year with the FACS teachers.

WE’RE HIRING

The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, in partnership with the Southeastern Livestock Exposition, is seeking to hire a Director of Rodeo Programs. Responsibilities of this job largely include the execution of the annual SLE Rodeo, sponsorships and serving as field staff for the Cattlemen’s Association. To learn more and apply, visit www.BamaBeef.org/Staff. A copy of the job description can also be viewed by clicking here>> Director of Rodeo Programs.

BOARD MEETING SOON

Board meeting notices are out, Board members! Be sure to send back those RSVPs. The meeting will be August 22 at the Cattlemen’s building. We will be honoring the “Over the Top” counties and having an educational program from Dr. Misty Edmondson. RSVP to Jessica Kennedy at the office if you plan to attend!

Membership # of the day: 8,743

Riverchase Career Center Ribbon Cutting

On Thursday, staffer Ali Cantrell will be attending the ribbon cutting for the Riverchase Career Connection Center in Hoover City Schools. The Riverchase Career Connection Center will be a program for high school students in Hoover City Schools to learn a trade and learning skills that will help them find substantial careers. ACA has been working with the culinary program professionals to incorporate beef education into the lesson plan.

The MOOseum, Under Construction

The MOOseum has shut its doors and is under construction as we renovate throughout July and August! In just a few short weeks, the space has really begun to transform, and we are very excited with the changes and upgrades thus far! Weʼve got one more week of demo and preparation before the graphic fabricators are in town to install the many pieces that will make The MOOseum new and exciting! It is amazing how quickly this project is moving along when compared to the many, many hours of detailed work that went into planning. he MOOseum is really bringing the best it has to offer in terms of upgrades. You wonʼt believe what weʼve got in store, so Board Members REALLY donʼt want to miss the August Board Meeting where we will be unveiling the finished product to you, our board!

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.

Burger Mania for the End of Summer!

By Elesha Ergle, RDN

Hamburgers.

That one word can get your mouth drooling! From diner smash burgers to gourmet cheeseburgers, burger lovers desire the best of the best. Cooking the perfect burger at home can be intimidating with so many different methods, but you can find one that suits your taste. Check out this great video from Epicurious that gives different cooking methods and the science behind cooking a great burger. Start perfecting your own recipes or try out some of these great ideas!

Burgers for Breakfast

Burger lovers will flock to the idea of having a tasty burger at breakfast. If you cook hamburgers and have leftovers, try making yourself a burger for breakfast! Reheat a burger (165 degrees), top with some bacon, fried egg, or cheese on a bun or roll, and you’ve got yourself a high protein breakfast that is quick, delicious and packed with protein! If you would rather have a recipe, try this Bistro Breakfast Burger.

Smash burgers

The delicious diner favorite. Ground beef is rolled into a ball, placed on a hot griddle or skillet, smashed thin, and served 1-3 patties thick, usually slathered with cheese and all kinds of delicious toppings. Use a cast iron skillet and make some of these delicious burgers at home. This recipe for smash burgers gives step-by-step instructions if you are a first timer. Warning: after having these you may never want to cook a burger any other way!

Grill Masters Unite

If the thoughts of frying a burger in a skillet annoys you, don’t hesitate to craft a delicious, juicy burger on your grill. Whether you’re using charcoal or gas, be sure that you know the safety instructions for both methods, or refer to this video for some great tips. When you are ready to grill, try out this recipe for Classic Beef Cheeseburgers. For those of you who have mastered the art of grilling and are looking for a great new burger recipe, try these Gourmet Grilling Burgers.

Low-Carb and Gluten-Free

With many people focusing on low carb or gluten free diets, there are ways to enjoy a good burger while sticking to diet restrictions. Try having your favorite burger wrapped with all your favorite toppings inside whole leaf lettuce. You can have all the deliciousness of the burger sans the bun. This spicy Western Burger is cool with avocado and wrapped in crispy leaf lettuce for a fresh, delicious, summer-worthy burger.

Whether you love them grilled, fried, leftover for breakfast…or any way that you can get them…burgers are a great way to pack in beef’s excellent protein in a delicious, affordable way. While burgers may seem like they aren’t the healthiest choice for your dinner plate, there are many methods of cooking and leaner choices available in ground meat to provide numerous options, and don’t forget to top it with fresh veggies such as lettuce, tomato and even avocado for an added boost of nutrition to complement all that delicious protein. For more recipes, cooking methods and to learn more about beef from pasture to plate, visit Beef It’s What’s For Dinner.

Stay cool, and go eat some burgers, ya’ll!

What’s Going On Wednesday: July 24, 2019

Hey, hey, hey…how about those cooler temps this morning? It was just a little tease at the fall weather yet to come, and we can’t wait! Why, you ask? The fall means ALL SORTS of exciting things at the ACA— Beef Month, bull sales, the National Fair, county meeting season kick off, tailgating season, holiday roasting…so much fun stuff to keep us on our toes here at the office! While we are busy making plans and scheduling upcoming events, let’s pause to find out what else is going on during this post AJCA Round-Up planning time of year!

AJCA Round-Up Wrap-Up

What a holly jolly weekend we had at the 13th annual AJCA Round-Up held in Montgomery. We would first like to shoutout anyone who helped come and judge any one of our 14 contest…THANK YOU! This event would not be possible without your support and expertise! But now, for the real shoutouts to all those awesome Juniors who really brought their best game to the show ring and the contests. Here’s the rundown of winners:

2019-2020 Officers:

President, Director 1: Ashlyn Ruf, Limestone County
Vice President, District 4: Will Meadows, Houston County
Secretary, District 3: Tucker Hilyer, Chilton County
Treasurer, District 1: Hannah Maddox, Dekalb County
Ex-Officio: Michael Morrison, Clay County
District 2: Russell Jordan, Clay County
District 2: Christian Meadows, Randolph County
District 3: Jewel Thompson, Lee County
District 4: Matthew Baxley, Geneva County
At-Large: Olivia Powers, Chilton County
At-Large: Hannah Grace Childress, Chilton County

Market Show

Grand Champion Market Steer
Greer Jones, Pike County
% Charolais

Reserve Champion Market Steer
Trace Strock, Autauga County
Charolais

3rd Overall Market Steer
Aniston Bolding, Chilton County
Commercial

4th Overall Market Steer
Madison Caylor, Mobile County
Maine-Anjou

5th Overall Market Steer
Walker Johnson, Cullman County
Commercial

Breeding Heifer Show

Supreme Champion Breeding Heifer
Chelsea Langley, Chambers County
Angus

Reserve Supreme Champion
Isabella Kent, Baldwin County
Shorthorn

3rd Overall
Callie Rae Childers, Morgan County
Maine-Anjou

4th Overall
Lakin Whatley, Montgomery County
Commercial

5th Overall
Emma Merriman, Etowah County
Charolais

Showmanship

Junior Top 5
(1) Greer Jones
(2) Asa Thompson
(3) Annabelle Wesley
(4) Mylee Stagner
(5) Sara Best Faust

Intermediate Top 5
(1) Olivia Powers
(2) Russell Jordan
(3) Curt Williams
(4) Mary Hannah Gullatt
(5) Victoria Thompson

Senior Top 5
(1) Kirsta Murphree
(2) Tucker Hilyer
(3) Hannah Maddox
(4) Lakin Whatley
(5) Trace Strock

BEEF 101

This week, ACA is hosting a BEEF 101 in Auburn for Childhood Nutrition Directors from Vestavia Hills City Schools. Staffer Ali Cantrell will be teaching 40 directors the Pasture to Plate story along with Past President Bill Lipscomb and Extension Specialist Alex Tigue. Also in attendance are John and Henrietta Gibson, staffer Morgan Pounds, and The MOOseum Coordinator Kara Coplin.

Denver Bound for NCBA Summer Meeting

ACA Executive VP Erin and the officers will be traveling to Denver next week to participate in the NCBA summer meeting where policy matters will be discussed and plans for the 2020 checkoff program will be outlined. The week will be busy and a lot of information will be discussed and presented. Alabama will be well represented as Chris Langley, Larry Reeves, Clay Kennamer, Eric Smith and Jimmy Holliman attend the conference!

WE’RE HIRING

Board Meeting Soon

Board meeting notices went out this week! The meeting will be August 22 at the Cattlemen’s building. We will be honoring the “Over the Top” counties and having an educational program from Dr. Misty Edmondson. RSVP to Jessica Kennedy at the office if you plan to attend!

Cowboys in the Classroom: Coming Up!

This week ACA received a shipment of books from Amanda Radke for our Cowboys in the Classroom program this coming fall. The book is called Levi’s Lost Calf, and it showcases the day in the life on a farm from a boy named Levi’s perspective. If you’re county is interested in reading this book to some of your schools please contact Ali Cantrell by email or phone to receive a book to read and donate to the library of your school.

THE MOOSEUM: CLOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION

Don’t forget! The MOOseum has shut its doors and is under constructionas we renovate throughout July and August! Doors won’t open again until mid-August. We’re excited to see this project coming quickly to a fruition and cannot wait to re-open in August with a fresh, new look. You won’t believe what all we’ve got in store!!

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.

What’s Going On Wednesday: July 17, 2019

Well, we may be headed to a Christmas in July- themed Round-Up, but it ssuuuureeee doesn’t feel like Christmas in July! Snowflakes wouldn’t make it anywhere near this Alabama heat, and unless Santa’s sleigh can glide over humidity…he may be out of luck also! While you take a break to beat the heat today during your lunch hour, enjoy catching up with all the ACA happenings this week. We look forward to seeing many of you at this weekend’s 13th annual AJCA Round-Up!

Membership # of the Day: 8,699

A HOLLY JOLLY ROUND-UP

This weekend is sure to be the most wonderful time of the year as over 130 youth come to town on their aluminum-sided sleighs with reindeer that look shockingly like show calves!! We’re excited to host the 13th annual AJCA Round-Up this weekend at Garrett Coliseum here in Montgomery. Check-in begins tomorrow from 12-5pm. We’ll also be hosting steer and commercial weigh-in from 4-6pm tomorrow at the Lewis Barn. We’re looking forward to this premier youth livestock event and hope to see you there supporting the future of Alabama’s beef cattle industry. A schedule of events can be found online at www.BamaBeef.org/RoundUp and in the July issue of the Alabama Cattleman magazine.

Tailgating with Beef Filming

On Monday, staffer Ali Cantrell filmed cooking segments with Jack and Virginia at WSFA here in Montgomery. These cooking segments will air on August 18 and 25, and the recipes focus on Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner tailgating album. For the segments, Ali cooked up some Classic Sloppy Joes, Cheesehead Sliders and Classic Beef Kabobs…all perfect for the upcoming FOOTBALL season in the south!!

Stocker Cattle Shortcourse

On Friday, the ACA will have a booth at the Stocker Cattle Shortcourse in Greensboro, AL. Staffer Ali Cantrell will be attending the conference to mix and mingle with stocker operators and cattlemen from all over the state of Alabama. We look forward to seeing you there and applaud REA Blenda Glover on her continued efforts to make this event happen annually!

WE’RE HIRING

Preparation for Bicentennial Day

ACA attended the monthly Bicentennial Stakeholder’s meeting this morning to go over the schedule of the day of activities of December 14. The ACA will host rodeo games, farming equipment and an appearance of Cowboy Santa to celebrate Alabama’s 200 years of statehood. The beef truck will also make an appearance at the Bicentennial parade through downtown that morning from 10 – 11:30am. So come out and celebrate with your favorite cattlemen!

THE MOOSEUM: CLOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION

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.

What’s Going On Wednesday: July 10, 2019

Things are heating up around the ACA…and we don’t just mean the weather! We are heading into quite the busy season as the AJCA Round-Up rides into town next week! But that’s not all that’s happening in our neck of the woods. Keep reading to catch up with your Cattlemen’s Assocition this week.

Brainstorming Session

On Tuesday, we were thrilled to host over 50 members of the Southeastern Livestock Exposition (SLE) as we looked ahead and shared ideas on the 2020 SLE Rodeo and Livestock Week. The morning hosted a quick update and recap from the 2019 show, then led into breakout groups where members had the opportunity to speak on a variety of topics such as: Sponsorships & Rodeo Entertainment, Advertising & Communications, Membership and Ticket Sales, Day-Of Rodeo Promotions and Children’s Events. After a delicious lunch, the members split out again— this time to new groups— where we continued the idea sharing! It was truly a great meeting with lots to chew on for the staff and executive committee. Be sure to save the dates for the 2020 show held at Garrett Coliseum March 19-21!

YCLP Class VI Meeting in Calera

On Friday, YCLP Class Vi students will be attending their second session in Calera. The group will be meeting with Sysco, which is one of the global foodservice leaders in selling, marketing, and distributing food products. Here they will learn more about the foodservice side of our industry and about how the beef checkoff aids foodservice companies like Sysco. After our tour, Dr. Don Mulvaney will host leadership training in their conference room. The class will wrap up their day at A.C. Legg which is a spice and seasoning company down the road from Sysco.

FHSHTE Meeting at ACA

Today, the ACA is hosting the Family Human Services, Hospitality and Tourism, and Education (FHSHTE) Advisory Council through the Alabama State Department of Education. The purpose of the State Advisory Council is to provide advice and counsel to the FHSHTE State Staff by making suggestions and recommendations for the improvement of the instructional program. This council enables the FHSHTE maintain successful and viable programs across the state. It is also a great opportunity for our staffer, Ali Cantrell, who has been invited to sit on the advisory council.

WE’RE HIRING

Stakeholder Meetings

This morning (Wednesday), ACA Exec Erin Beasley spent some time at the Alabama Department of Ag and Industries and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management as she represented Alabama’s cattle producers in meetings involving the regulation of on-farm activities and animal health.

BCIA Board Meeting

On Thursday, ACA Director of Field Services will take a break from putting the final touches on the Round-Up as she heads to Clanton for the Alabama Beef Cattle Improviment Association (BCIA) Board of Directors Meeting held at the Chilton Research & Extension Center. While there, she will report on ACA happenings and the help the group meet the main goal of reviewing and approving the 2018-2019 fiscal year-end financial report and the 2019-20 financial budget from the budget committee. She will also enjoy a lunch where she will have the opportunity to network with BCIA members and leaders.

Biscuits Are Better with Beef

On Thursday, ACA Director of Education & Outreach Ali Cantrell will be meeting with Montgomery Biscuits Corporate Sponsorships director to discuss future partnerships. This potential partnership will provide exposure within the River Region. With attendance on the rise, and new ownership continuing to add new off-season events to their agenda, this is a perfect opportunity for the ACA to tap into this market.

THE MOOSEUM: CLOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION

Don’t forget! The MOOseum has shut its doors and is under construction as we renovate throughout July and August! Doors won’t open again until mid-August. We’re excited to see this project coming quickly to a fruition and cannot wait to re-open in August with a fresh, new look. You won’t believe what all we’ve got in store!!

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.

What’s Going On Wednesday: July 3, 2019

Short week, short blog! Before we head into our long Independence Day weekend, we wanted to give you a quick update from the ACA. Our news, announcements and updates never end, so keep reading to learn more about what’s happening at the Cattlemen’s this week. We hope you enjoy a fun, safe and delicious holiday weekend and we salute those who fought for the freedoms we celebrate this Independence Day.

We’re Hiring

LMA Meeting On the Coast

The Livestock Marking Association (LMA) hosted a regional listening session with the Southeastern states to discuss disease traceability and to get feedback from markets on the USDA policies. The Alabama LMA also hosted a successful state meeting to discuss new business where the ACA had the opportunity to address the group and provide literature and “swag” for the stockyards to take home. After the meeting, the group broke off for fellowship and a little surf-n-turf as the meeting was hosted on Alabama’s coast!

A Holly Jolly Round-Up

July 18-21 is sure to be the most wonderful time of the year as over 120 youth come to town on their aluminum-sided sleighs with reindeer that look shockingly like show calves!! We’re excited to host the 13th annual AJCA Round-Up in just two short weeks at Garrett Coliseum here in Montgomery. Contests, prizes, logistics and breaking classes are all in the works as registration officially closed this past Saturday! We’re looking forward to this premier youth livestock event and hope to see you there supporting the future of Alabama’s beef cattle industry. A schedule of events can be found online at www.BamaBeef.org/RoundUp and in the upcoming July issue of the Alabama Cattleman magazine.

BEEF 101 for Childhood Nutrition Directors

The ACA will host a Beef 101 on July 24 for Childhood Nutrition Program Directors from Vestavia Hills City Schools! We are expecting a group of 45 to be in attendance. ACA Regional Vice President Johnny Gibson and his wife Henrietta will be in attendance, and we invite you— if you are interested— to attend this program also!! If you’d like to attend or plan your own trip, please contact staffer Ali Cantrell by calling (334) 265-1867. Cattlemen are always welcome at any Beef 101!

The MOOseum: Closed for Construction

Don’t forget! The MOOseum has shut its doors and is under construction as we renovate throughout July and August! Doors won’t open again until mid-August. We’re excited to see this project coming quickly to a fruition and cannot wait to re-open in August with a fresh, new look. You won’t believe what all we’ve got in store!!

Happy Fourth of July

The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association will be closed July 4-5 in observance of Independence Day. Normal business hours will resume Monday, July 8 at 8 a.m. We encourage you to fire up the grill and enjoy beef this Fourth of July as we celebrate our many freedoms and America’s 243rd birthday!

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.

What’s Going On Wednesday: June 26, 2019

And just like that, this is the last blog post for June 2019 as it will soon be in the rear view mirror like the first half of the year already is! Time flies when you’re having fun, or super busy, or sweating a lot…basically time just flies all the time! Believe it or not, we are beginning preparations for our August Board Meeting, are getting ready to close Round-Up registration and have already begun to think about plans for October Beef Month! It’ll all be here before we know it. Keep reading to learn about what all is happening and stay in touch with your state Cattlemen’s Association.

Disaster Relief Discussion in AL

After a long battle in D.C., the disaster bill was finally passed in early June with $3 billion available for agriculture. This bill encompasses the aid needed to help our folks who were severely impacted by Hurricane Michael along with many other natural weather disasters across the country in the last year. Recently, Commissioner Pate held a meeting of agriculture stakeholders to discuss how Alabama will handle the disaster money available. At this point, there are a few options on the table including the possibility of a state block grant. This would give the state some more control over how the money is distributed and with any luck expedite the process to get producers paid for damages sustained last fall. A follow up meeting will be held today (Wednesday) of industry stakeholders to further discuss compensation plans.

AJCA Round-Up Registration Ends FRIDAY

Santa’s checking his list and checking it twice…make sure your name is on it for a very merry Christmas in July!! The Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association is proud to host the 13th annual AJCA Round-Up at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery, AL. You don’t want to miss this event and all the competition it brings through cattle shows and 14 other contests! Registration closes THIS FRIDAY, June 28 at 11:55 p.m.

Bring your best Christmas spirit to Montgomery July 18-21.

Register Now>> www.BamaBeef.org/RoundUp

This year’s event will be like no other! We’ve got a great novice contest in the works, new faces on the judging platform, great prizes, AND some little elves mentioned that this year we are adding a dunking booth to the event! Bring your dollar bills and have a chance to soak some of the AJCA Directors while raising money for the juniors of Alabama.

Also, we’ve only received two director applications, which are also due this Friday! We have an open seat in each district, so in order to have a full board, WE NEED APPLICANTS! Here’s a quick link to the director app >> Click Here.

Don’t forget! You can sponsor the Round-Up easily online now by clicking here.

Franklin County Junior Cattlemen’s Field Day

This Saturday staffer Ali Cantrell will be traveling to Franklin County to participate in the 2nd annual Junior Cattlemen’s Summer Field Day. This field day will host almost 40 kids and will go over livestock judging, analyzing beef cuts as well as quality grades and hay sampling. Ali is excited to meet with these outstanding juniors to discuss beef cuts as well as beef nutrition!

Staff Position Opening

With the big changes made in the Southeastern Livestock Exposition (SLE), we’ve got a new position open within the ACA under the title “Director of Rodeo Programs.” The ACA is seeking to hire an individual full time that will dedicate the majority of their year planning and executing the annual SLE Rodeo while also serving in a field staff role within in the Cattlemen’s Association. To learn more about the opening or to apply, visit www.BamaBeef.org/Staff and scroll to the bottom of the page where you’ll find the job description!

ACA Sits on FHSHTE Council

This week, staffer Ali Cantrell was invited to sit on the Family Human Services, Hospitality and Tourism, and Education (FHSHTE) Advisory Council through the Alabama State Department of Education. The purpose of the State Advisory Council is to provide advice and counsel to the FHSHTE State Staff by making suggestions and recommendations for the improvement of the instructional program. This council enables the FHSHTE maintain successful and viable programs across the state. The advisory council will meet on July 10.

Summer Grilling Campaign

Our July grilling campaign kicks off next week! We will have commercial spots on iHeart media radio stations such as 97.7 the Kicker, 102.1 WDRM, 95 KSJ, 98 TXT, and WWMG. Everyone across the state will hear the wonderful sound of a sizzle and our classic tagline of Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner. Billboard signs in Birmingham are already displaying a savory and patriotic burger to encourage consumers to celebrate freedom by firing up the grill!

THE MOOSEUM- CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONs

Don’t forget! The MOOseum has shut its doors and going under construction as we renovate throughout parts of June, July and August! Doors closed last Thursday and won’t open again until mid-August! We’re excited to see this project coming quickly to a fruition and cannot wait to re-open our doors in August with a fresh, new look. You won’t believe what all we’ve got in store!!

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.