REGISTER FOR ACA CONVENTION

Make plans to join us for the 81st annual ACA Convention & Trade Show February 23-24, 2024 at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, 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 featured speakers include Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth, who will keynote the Cattlemen’s Luncheon, and Mary-Thomas Hart, who serves as Chief Counsel for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Mary-Thomas is a litigation warhorse for NCBA, taking on some of our industry’s toughest challenges including the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, voluntary conservation issues and, most recently, Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS). Also joining the General Session speaker lineup is Dr. Josh Clevenger, a researcher at the HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology.

While the 2024 event will bring back old favorites, it also welcomes some *NEW* features to the event, including: a Friday Evening Happy Hour, a Saturday Sunrise Breakfast Buffet, a Junior Do-It-All Registration option, Youth Scholarship Competitions on FRIDAY instead of Saturday, and more!

Get registered today at https://cvent.me/R1d94g and find lodging information at https://cvent.me/gvYZYZ. Last but not least, if you’d like to be a trade show vendor, get more information here » https://cvent.me/NlozmM.

We’ll see you in the Rocket City on Feb. 23-24, 2024! 

YCLP Council Advocates in DC

Members of the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) Council joined ACA staff for an advocacy trip to Washington DC earlier in the month. While in town, council members enjoyed a tour of Capitol Hill lead by Heather Moore, wife of Congressman Barry Moore, and an issues briefing with the staff at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Center for Public Policy.

Following, the young leaders took to the Hill for visits with Sen. Tommy Tuberville, Sen. Katie Britt, Rep. Mike Rogers, Rep. Barry Moore, Rep. Dale Strong, Rep. Robert Aderholt, Rep. Jerry Carl and Rep. Terri Sewell. Advocacy efforts included encouraging continued funding for voluntary conservation and risk management programs in the Farm Bill and widened allowances for black vulture depredation. The crew also advocated against the importation of fresh beef product from Paraguay— as the country does not uphold scientifically-based standards for containing Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)— as well as the use of agricultural land in permanent land conversation efforts.

In addition to the advocacy efforts, council members also enjoyed networking with young cattlemen from Mississippi, who joined the crew in DC.

2024 Beef Checkoff Marketing Plan Approved

The 2024 Beef Checkoff Marketing Plan was approved by the Beef Checkoff Council in December, outlining priorities for funding for the upcoming year. The program areas include consumer outreach, producer programs, youth development and operations. As Beef Checkoff collections remain strong— due to drought and pricing— the council approved a budget of $595,000  for National Checkoff programs and $658,500  for State Beef Checkoff programs.

Beef Checkoff dollars are collected on a $1/head basis at the point of sale for all cattle. These funds are then executed across a variety of program areas (listed above) to increase beef demand, educate producers and youth, and fund industry-driven research. The marketing plan can be accessed on the website by visiting www.BamaBeef.org/Checkoff.

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

The ACA is Over the Top in 2023! Representing more than 10,100 members, we are grateful for the grassroots efforts that got us to our goal of 10,000 members. 

Membership Deadlines to Remember

The membership recruitment deadline is December 22, this Friday! The top recruiter will be awarded ten 12″ Priefert panels, donated by our friends at Fuller Supply Company and Priefert Ranch Equipment. Also, new members recruited will go into the drawing for a John Deere Gator and your name will be entered for each new member you recruit. Don’t forget, all counties who go Over the Top by year end will go into the drawing for the Priefert Squeeze Chute, also donated by Fuller Supply and Priefert Ranch Equipment. Get those memberships entered or sent to the office by the deadline to count!

County Meetings

We need your county meeting dates ASAP if you would like them to run in the magazine. This is the easiest way to get the word out to your members! Send the date, time, and location information to ACA Director of Membership Jessica Kennedy. We’ve already received a long list of upcoming county meetings! Check it out here.

NCBA Launches Estate Tax Survey for Cattle Producers

NCBA is launching a survey of our members and affiliates to gather information on the impact of the federal estate tax, also known as the Death Tax, and other certain tax provisions used in their estate planning and business operations. While some cattle producers receive relief from the estate tax and certain businesses tax provisions secured in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, that relief is not permanent. Beginning in 2026, only estates valued less than $5 million (adjusted for inflation) will be exempt from the federal estate tax, exposing many producers to greater risks of facing the 40% estate tax. Likewise, many of the business tax provisions NCBA advocated for in 2017 are set to expire at the end of 2025. NCBA will conduct the tax survey through the end of 2023 and use the survey information to advocate for tax relief for the next two years leading up to the scheduled tax hikes. 

In addition to your participation in the tax survey, NCBA is also seeking your personal stories detailing issues with the Death Tax and highlighting some of the problems you have faced with other sections of the tax code. In the lead up to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, NCBA launched the Cattlemen for Tax Reform campaign which included stories about how harmful the Death Tax can be. These stories helped secure estate tax relief for our members, and NCBA is using the same strategy again as we fight the estate tax and push for greater relief. Cattle producers face different tax burdens than the average American family, and we need your assistance with these stories so we can show Congress once again, how burdensome the estate tax can be to farmers and ranchers.

You can fill out the survey by clicking here.

YCLP Class XI— Apps Open Soon!

Online applications will open in January for those interested in participating the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) Class XI. Created for young cattlemen ages 22-40, the program is designed to give a deeper understanding of the association, the various industry sectors, and personal leadership skills— all while networking with colleagues from across the state. More information about the program and the application will be available online at www.BamaBeef.org/YCLP. 

SLE NEws

December was a busy month for the Southeastern Livestock Exposition (SLE)! Leadership flew out to Las Vegas for the PRCA Convention prior to the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) where they networked with others in the industry and were recognized by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) for winning 2^nd Place in the Southeastern Circuit for the Justin Best Footing Award. This award is voted on by the WPRA to celebrate rodeo committees that go above and beyond to ensure safe and consistent ground for the cowgirls to compete on.

As the week progressed, more SLE membership arrived to the bright lights of Las Vegas – including Miss SLE Rodeo Ada Grace Stacey. Ada Grace attended the Miss Rodeo America pageant to cheer on Miss Rodeo Alabama Ashton Libel. Ada Grace was dressed in title and therefore selected to assist the state queens on stage during the Miss Rodeo America Bucks for Bags Auction. Both queens represented our state well!

Another big accomplishment for the SLE is their deeper involvement with the PRCA. SLE sponsored one round of contestant hospitality at the NFR which provided the chance to network one on one with contestants in hopes of drawing more “big names” to Montgomery in March.

After wrapping up in Vegas, the SLE joined together once more to watch the final round of the NFR at the Wetumpka Civic Center at the first ever SLE NFR Watch Party! We are proud to say that several of those who were named world champions that night have graced the dirt in Montgomery! 

For your chance to see the top talent in the PRCA right here at the Garrett Coliseum, be sure to snag your tickets to the SLE Rodeo by visiting www.SLERodeo.com/tickets. Don’t forget to check out the event schedule on the website so you don’t miss out on any opportunities during the SLE Rodeo & Livestock Week. We hope to see you at the SLE Rodeo March 15-17, 2024! Until then, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from your friends at the SLE!

black vulture legislation IN congress

This month, the Black Vulture Relief Act of 2023 was introduced in Congress and was co-sponsored by Alabama Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville. This act aims to allow farmers and ranchers the right to protect their newborn livestock from black vultures without burdensome government interference. The legislation provides regulatory relief by allowing farmers and ranchers to take black vultures any time the birds threaten their livestock without a depredation permit. Currently, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) operates a pilot program that allows state entities, including Alabama, to register for a master permit and disburse sub-permits to livestock producers to safely depopulate black vultures, but this practice creates a patchwork of state regulations whereas a federal permit program would streamline program ease and transparency for producers.

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.

Merry Christmas

The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and The MOOseum will be closed Monday, December 25- Tuesday, January 2 to observe the holidays. From all of the herd here at the ACA, we hope you and your family have a very blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Thanks for reading this month’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.

Convention Registration Now Open

Make plans to join us for the 81st annual ACA Convention & Trade Show February 23-24, 2024 at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, 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 featured speakers include Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth, who will keynote the Cattlemen’s Luncheon, and Mary-Thomas Hart, who serves as Chief Counsel for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Mary-Thomas is a litigation warhorse for NCBA, taking on some of our industry’s toughest challenges including the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, voluntary conservation issues and, most recently, Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS).

While the 2024 event will bring back old favorites, it also welcomes some *NEW* features to the event, including: a Friday Evening Happy Hour, a Saturday Sunrise Breakfast Buffett, a Junior Do-It-All Registration option, Youth Scholarship Competitions on FRIDAY instead of Saturday, and more!

Get registered today at https://cvent.me/R1d94g and find lodging information at https://cvent.me/gvYZYZ. Last but not least, if you’d like to be a trade show vendor, get more information here » https://cvent.me/NlozmM.

We’ll see you in the Rocket City on Feb. 23-24, 2024! 

Christmas From Cowboys

What do you get the person that has everything? The ACA has just what you need! This year, you can gift your friends or colleagues a membership to the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association. For $50, the person who receives your gifted membership will receive all of the member benefits, including 12 issues of the Alabama Cattleman magazine. The promotion will run through December 22 as a way to garner new membership for the association. To learn more and get to gifting, visit BamaBeef.org/Join or call our office at (334) 265-1867.

Membership Report

The ACA is Over the Top in 2023! Representing more than 10,100 members, we are grateful for the grassroots efforts that got us to our goal of 10,000 members. 

Membership Deadlines to Remember

The membership year-end deadline is December 22. We are in the last stretch to recruit new members for Top Hand prizes. The top recruiter will be awarded ten 12″ Priefert panels, donated by our friends at Fuller Supply Company and Priefert Ranch Equipment. Also, new members recruited will go into the drawing for a John Deere Gator and your name will be entered for each new member you recruit. Don’t forget, all counties who go Over the Top by year end will go into the drawing for the Priefert Squeeze Chute, also donated by Fuller Supply and Priefert Ranch Equipment. Get those memberships entered or sent to the office by the deadline to count!

County Meetings

We need your county meeting dates ASAP if you would like them to run in the magazine. This is the easiest way to get the word out to your members! Send the date, time, and location information to ACA Director of Membership Jessica Kennedy. 

Elmore County Named “Cattlemen of Beef Month”

Elmore County Cattlemen were crowned the 2023 Cattlemen of Beef Month, thanks to their fantastic programs aimed at supporting beef and their local community during October Beef Month. Their festivities included a community October Beef Month Kickoff event, 29 visits to local elementary classes for Cowboys In The Classroom, 130 social media posts promoting beef, several local fundraiser collaborations and more. Congratulations, Elmore County! 

2023 Digital Advertising Report  

In 2023, digital advertising was purchased through Alabama Media Group (AMG) to display beef promotional information on AL.com. This included display advertisements on pages with normal content, mobile full-page ads (similar in style to an Instagram post for more organic interaction), an article written by AMG educating consumers on October Beef Month and its importance, and four email newsletters to consumers across the state that are not beef producers. Additionally, a sports partnership with AMG included a video sponsorship for SEC basketball in the spring; Alabama and Auburn football graphics; and a weekly Head2Head update on Alabama and Auburn featuring sports analyst Simone Eli, former Alabama player Mike McCoy, and former Auburn player Cole Cubelic. Investment pricing and impacts are listed with results measuring from January 1, 2023, to October 31, 2023, unless otherwise noted. Total spent for these assets is $70,990 with a total impact of almost 16 MILLION consumers! 

Display Advertisements (Investment $14,740, for January to December): Total Impressions -2,327,710 Total Exposure Time – 10,087 Hours, 55 Minutes, 43 Seconds or the equivalent of over 1.21 million (30-second) TV or radio ad spots. 

Mobile Full-Page Ads (August to December asset) (Investment $6,300): Total Impressions – 296,925 Total Exposure Time – 382 Hours, 44 Minutes, 42 Seconds, or the equivalent of over 45,840 (30-second) TV/Radio ads. 

October Beef Month article (Investment $3,000): Total Impressions – 120,001 .

Three Email Newsletters (throughout the year) (2 delivered to 35,000 recipients, 1 delivered to 60,000 recipients) (Investment $8,950): Total Interactions – 48,645.

SEC Basketball Video Sponsorship (February to April) (Investment $6,000): Total Impressions – 1,997,654 .

Alabama and Auburn Football Graphics (July to November) (Investment $12,000): Total Impressions – 10,833,585.

Head2Head Weekly Updates (August to November) (Investment $20,000): Total Views (23 videos shared) – 284,301.

Alabama Beef Checkoff Task Force Gathers to Plan

Alabama industry professionals, cattlemen, and supporting partners of the Beef Checkoff Program gathered in Montgomery on November 2^nd for the Checkoff Task Force Meeting. This time was spent reviewing the effectiveness of this year’s programming and brainstorming new ideas for 2024.  

YCLP

During November, YCLP Class X had their fourth session of the year. This session brought them to Northwest Alabama, where tour stops included Golden Farms, Daily Farms, Reeder Cattle Co., and Williams Farms. The class also participated in leadership training and learned about market reports and Livestock Risk Protection. Thanks to all of our hosts and speakers, as well as the Franklin and Lawrence County Cattlemen for providing meals.

Broadcast Cooking Segments

ACA’s Josie Jones and Kathy Adams Phillips of Kathy’s Southern Kitchen visited Cooking with John in Mobile to share some great holiday beef recipes. Be sure to check them out on WKRG December 21 and 28! 

Youth Programs

ACA Director of Field Services Reid McGuire attended the Wallace Community College “Tools of the Trade” Career day in November. This event saw over 1,000 youth come to learn about different career paths in trades. Youth that stopped by the ACA booth got to learn about careers within the beef industry, BQA, and did an interactive puzzle to learn about the cuts of beef.

AISA All-Stars

The 2023 Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) All-Star Football players gathered at the ACA for a steak dinner ahead of their final game on the gridiron. While at the ACA, the young men learn more about our association, enjoyed fellowship and fueled up with plenty of protein prior to the big game.

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.

Thanks for reading this month’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.

October Is Beef Month in Alabama

The month-long celebrations are making waves across Alabama! County Cattlemen’s Chapters have SHOWN OUT as they have activated promotions in their local communities, and we could not be more proud of the creative, fun and educational opportunities they have designed to promote October Beef Month. Check out all that’s been happening from the state office and across Alabama’s 67 counties.

State Office Promotions

• Kathy Adams Phillips of Kathy’s Southern Kitchen was featured on WSFA in Montgomery, WBRC in Birmingham, Cooking with John on WKRG in Mobile and WTVY in Dothan to celebrate October Beef Month and promote beef across the state through cooking segments.  
• ACA Director of Consumer Outreach Josie Jones was featured weekly on Talk of The Valley on WHNT in Huntsville to promote October Beef Month and share simple, family-friendly beef recipes. She also did a feature on Cooking with John on WKRG in Mobile.
•  AJCA President Alyvia Watson joined Cooking with John on WKRG in Mobile to share a beef tailgating favorite.  
• ACA employees donned their cowboy hats and joined the crowd outside The MOOseum for the Joy to Life Foundation’s annual Walk of Life – a 5k honoring those who have fought breast cancer and their families.  
• Beef took on Talladega for the YellaWood500 on October 1 to kick off October Beef Month and show appreciation for race fans, who are a known loyal beef consumer group. 
• ACA and Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner partnered with Bama-Q and BBQ Hill in Perry Hill to host two beef cooking classes. The focus was steaks, prime rib and brisket dishes, along with recommended pairings.
•  Beef was at the center of the plate during three Alabama National Fair adult and youth cooking contests. Categories included appetizers, meatloaf and five-ingredient dishes.   

County Activities

Chambers County

Members read to K4 and K5 students at Wadley High School as part of the Cowboys in the Classroom Program. 

Cherokee County

Cherokee County Cattlemen hosted a steak sandwich sale. 

Clay County

Clay County Cattlemen cooked steaks for the FACS Fall Festival and the Millerville Car Show, read to 52 elementary school classes across their county during their Cowboys in the Classroom program, hosted a youth Beef Cookoff, shared about October Beef Month during a community luncheon, and cooked for their local high school band before a Friday night football performance. 

Colbert County

Colbert County Cattlemen’s Association and Farm-City partnered with five of their local Foodlands to showcase two local cattle producers during October. Signs were placed at the meat case in each location highlighting those producers and the content will be featured on social media. They also hosted a steak sandwich sale and had a great turnout. 

Cullman County

Cullman County Cattlemen and Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs proclaimed October to be Beef Month in the City of Cullman. County Cattlemen also worked with their local news to produce an article about October Beef Month and beef production in their county. Read the article here.

Elmore County

Elmore County Cattlemen hosted an October Beef Month kickoff October 1 that included campfire cooking demonstrations, steaks hot off the grill and beef cattle trivia. Then they read agriculture-focused books in 19 classrooms across the county for Cowboys in the Classroom, sponsored a Keenagers lunch for 60 people, hosted a program at a local assisted living facility where they cooked steaks for the residents and employees, and entertainment was provided by their cattlemen and local youth. County Cattlemen also worked with Allyson Andrews of Wildly Blessed to promote beef on Elmore Co TV, worked with Stanhope-Elmore FFA to host a steak sandwich fundraiser, and donated beef for two events happening in their community. 

Geneva County

Geneva County Cattlemen’s Association promoted Beef Month at the Geneva Rotary Club meeting and hosted their county’s youth leadership group for a farm tour. The students learned about beef production, including feeder and cow calf operations.

Houston County

Houston County Cattlemen passed out beef samples and information at their county’s Farm-City festivities.

Lauderdale County

Lauderdale County Cattlemen served beef and provided agriculture exposure at their local October Fest. They also participated in Cowboys in the Classroom in 45 elementary school classrooms, and hosted a steak sandwich and hamburger sale to promote beef. 

Lee County

Lee County Cattlemen had great day at the Syrup Sopping Festival where they sold raffle tickets for beef gift certificates, passed out jerky samples, hosted a kids’ corner, and networked with the community.They also participated in Cowboys in the Classroom with local schools.

Limestone County

Limestone County Cattlemen cooked steak sandwiches at the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention in Athens, AL.

Madison County

Madison County Cattlemen provided lunch for ENABLE – Madison County’s annual clay shoot fundraiser.

Morgan County

Morgan County Cattlemen sold steak sandwiches at the Falkville Fall Festival.

Montgomery County

Montgomery County read to second and third grade classes at Macon East Montgomery Academy as part of the Cowboys in the Classroom program.

Shelby County

Shelby County Cattlemen visited a local school to teach family and consumer science students about beef production and provide steak samples. The students responded with sweet thank-you notes for their time!

St. Clair County

St. Clair County Cattlemen served steak sandwiches at the Ashville Stockyard.

Sumter County

Sumter County Cattlemen fundraised for their county scholarship and passed out educational materials at the University of West Alabama Rodeo.

Walker County

Walker County Cattlemen held their annual Youth Beef Cook-off.

Washington County

Washington County Cattlemen sold hamburgers and hotdogs at the Chatom Homecoming parade.

Don’t see your county’s activity listed, but you held a promotion? Be sure to submit it to Josie Jones by October 31 to receive your Cattlemen of Beef Month points and get a social media shoutout! 

CATTLEMEN’S FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATION

Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarships are now open for application, brought to you by the Cowboy vanity car tag and many, generous endowment families! Opportunities are available for all stages of postsecondary education— from incoming freshmen to doctoral candidates who are members, or whose parents or grandparents are members, for at least two consecutive years. Explore these many opportunities and APPLY today at www.BamaBeef.org/Scholarships. Applications close Sunday, November 5.

Christmas from Cowboys

What do you get the person that has everything? The ACA has just what you need! This year, you can gift your friends or colleagues a membership to the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association. For $50, the person who receives your gifted membership will receive all of the member benefits, including 12 issues of the Alabama Cattleman magazine. The promotion will run from October-December and is a great way to get a new member into the organization. To learn more and get to gifting, visit BamaBeef.org/Join.

Rebates Available on Livestock and Grazing Practices!

Alabama’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts are reminding cattle producers that application sign-up for the Alabama Conservation Incentive Program (CIP) has begun! CIP supports several conservation practices for livestock and grazing including watering facilities, exclusion and cross fencing and herd health.  New to the program this year are corral systems and feed troughs. Eligible applicants can receive a 75 percent rebate on the cost of installation. Check with your local soil and water conservation district for price caps and application deadlines. For more information, visit https://alabamasoilandwater.gov/cip/

Membership Report

We are proud to announce that the ACA has gone OVER THE TOP in 2023! Representing more than 10,000 members, we are grateful for the grassroots efforts that got us to this point, with time to spare in the membership year! 

Membership Deadlines to Remember

The membership year-end deadline is December 22. We are in the last stretch to recruit new members for Top Hand prizes. The top recruiter will be awarded ten 12″ Priefert panels. Also, new members recruited will go into the drawing for a John Deere Gator and your name will be entered for each new member you recruit. Don’t forget, all counties who go Over the Top by year end will go into the drawing for the Priefert Squeeze Chute. Get those memberships entered or sent to the office by the deadline to count!

County Meetings

We need your county meeting dates ASAP if you would like them to run in the magazine. This is the easiest way to get the word out to your members! Send the date, time, and location information to ACA Director of Membership Jessica Kennedy. 

Magazine Deadlines for County Meetings

December Magazine

Meetings on or before December 10 – Send information by Nov 5 for the magazine

January Magazine

Meeting dates on or before January 10 – Need information by Nov 5 for the December magazine

Meeting dates after January 10 – Need information by December 5 for the January magazine

February Magazine

Meeting dates on or before February 10 – Need information by Dec 5 for the January magazine

Meeting dates after February10 – Need information by January 5 for the February magazine

ACA at ACES Field Day

The Alabama Beef Checkoff sponsored the Tennessee-Valley Beef and Forage Field Day in Belle Mina, where ACA Director of Field Services Reid McGuire updated producers on ACA activities. Congratulations to the ACES Animal Sciences and Forages team on a great turnout! Be sure to check the ACA calendar for more producer education programs near you.

Alabama National Fair

On October 7-8, junior showmen from across Alabama gathered on the fairgrounds of the Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery to compete in the Alabama National Fair Youth Beef Show. Showmanship, a heifer show and a market show filled the weekend as junior cattlemen brought their best to the show ring to exhibit not only for friends and family, but also for the thousands of visitors who make an annual trip to the “10 Best Days of Fall” at the Alabama National Fair. Congratulations to all youth exhibitors on an excellent show weekend and for their high-quality beef cattle projects, which were on display for the public throughout the show weekend.

Also, on October 10, the ACA hosted a booth in the agricultural barn at the Alabama National Fair. We welcomed hundreds of school children as they spun a wheel to get a BEEF prize and learned about about beef cattle in Alabama.

SUNBELT AG EXPO FEATUREd A ROAD TRIP THROUGH SWEET GROWN ALABAMA 

The 2023 Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, GA is in the books, and all Alabamians can be proud of how our state’s great agricultural industry was represented in the Spotlight State Barn! 

Engaging activities and snappy swag abounded as nearly 10,000 visitors learned about Alabama’s diverse agricultural landscape— including agritourism, catfish, cattle, corn, cotton, dairy, forestry, greenhouse products, peaches, peanuts, pecans, poultry, sod, soybeans, strawberries and sweet potatoes. The exhibit received high praise from visitors and Sunbelt Ag Expo leaders alike!  

Numerous Alabama agricultural organizations and businesses worked tirelessly to support the Sweet Grown Alabama mission and produce a worthy Spotlight State exhibit. At the cattle exit, visitors played “Pin the Cut on the Cow” as they learned about beef carcass anatomy and walked away with beef cuts sheets and a beef recipe card!

BEEF CHECKOFF TASK FORCE MEETING- YOU’RE INVITED!

Invitations to participate in the Beef Checkoff Task Force meeting are going out soon. At this meeting attendees from the beef cattle industry will work to develop ideas and programs for FY24 utilizing beef checkoff dollars. Any cattlemen is welcome to attend but we do need to know you are coming so we can make sure to have enough lunch. The meeting will take place at 10:00AM at the Cattlemen’s building on November 2. This is the best way to have a direct voice in how beef checkoff dollars are spent in the upcoming year. Please let us know if you would like to attend by contacting Erin at the office, ebeasley@bamabeef.org.

AU RESEARCH: SURVEY RESPONSE NEEDED

In late August, masters students at Auburn University launched a survey intended to assess the extent of use of byproduct feeds (and supplemental feed, in general) in beef herds across the southern United States. As part of the survey, Auburn also began collecting samples of various byproduct feedstuffs to build updated nutrient analysis tables for use in Extension publications across the region. Researchers have seen a good response to the survey so far, but they wanted to widen the sample population. If time allows, please complete the survey here: https://auburn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dari40gLkPAPM2O.

Thanks for reading this month’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.

CATTLEMEN’S FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATION

Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarships are now open for application, brought to you by the Cowboy vanity car tag and many, generous endowment families! Opportunities are available for all stages of postsecondary education— from incoming freshmen to doctoral candidates who are members, or whose parents or grandparents are members, for at least two consecutive years. This year’s program features one new award, the Butch and Lisa Smathers Scholarship. Special thanks to the Smathers family for their support of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation! Explore these many opportunities and APPLY today at www.BamaBeef.org/Scholarships

AJCA FALL FIELD DAY

The Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association (AJCA) hosted its annual Fall Field Day September 13th at Lawler Farm in Lee County. Over 85 youth from across the state attended for a cattle judging clinic. Participants learned about EPD’s, beef cattle terminology, and live evaluation. They also learned about note taking and ended the day with an oral reasons workshop. AJCA hosts two field days each year, which are made possible by the Alabama Beef Checkoff. Special thanks to Tillman Dudley for hosting the event and all involved in making it a huge success.

DROUGHT RESOURCES

The US Drought Monitor named a few counties in Southwest Alabama as D3 (extreme) drought status. They are Baldwin, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Washington and Monroe. D3 drought triggers producers for eligibility into the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) which you can sign up for at your local FSA office. LFP provides compensation for grazing loses for covered livestock. 

In light of the ongoing drought conditions across many parts of the state, we encourage producers in need of hay— or those who have ample hay to sell— to visit the Alabama Hay Listing webpage housed by our friends at the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries. The hay listing webpage provides Alabama cattle producers a platform to search for hay to purchase or for hay producers to list hay for sale. Through the listings, farmers who have hay available for sale can list available bales under a variety of categories including type, size, quality and quantity available. Farmers in need of hay can search using those categories within their region. Alabama Hay Listing » agi.alabama.gov/alabama-hay-listings/

Fall Beef 101 Programs

On September 6, culinary classes from Bishop State Community College, Coastal Alabama Community College and Opelika High School attended Beef 101 in Auburn. Students learned about beef production in Alabama, discussed industry hot topics with cattle producers, and watched a carcass fabrication demonstration at the Auburn University Meat Lab. We look forward to a full calendar of Beef 101 programs coming up spring 2024.

YCLP CLASS X HEADS NORTH

To round out the month of September, the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) Class X will have its third session in Dekalb County. Tour stops include D&S Quality Beef, Sand Mountain Research Center, and Lake Majestik Farms. Thanks to our tour hosts, and DeKalb County Cattlemen’s for preparing our Friday night supper.

OCTOBER BEEF MONTH RUNDOWN

October Beef Month in Alabama kicks off Sunday, and we’ve got a month full of celebrations on the menu! Keep reading to hit some of our promotional highlights and don’t forget that county Cattlemen’s chapters across Alabama are activating locally to join in the celebrations! 

• BEEF at Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 1 — Tune into Motor Sports Network to hear the sound of the sizzle and be on the lookout for BEEF signage in the stadium!
• Checkout your local news station throughout October for Beef Month highlights and fall favorite recipes! We will be featuring delicious chili, tailgate-ready sliders and meatballs, spooky pizzas perfect for trick-or-treating, and nutritious sheet pan meals for the busy family. Be sure to watch WHNT in Huntsville, WKRG in Mobile, WSFA in Montgomery, and WBRC in Birmingham for these beef-tastic segments!
• The ACA is partnering with Mobtown Burger Week to highlight restaurants serving beef in Mobile Sept. 30 – Oct. 7, so if you would like to get involved in this tasty fundraising event, visit www.mobtownburgerweek.com
• Want to be the king of the tailgate? Look no further! Bama-Q is partnering with the ACA to host two beef-focused grilling classes Oct. 14 and Oct. 28 at BBQ Hill in Pike Road. For more information or to sign up for this great event, please visit https://bama-q.tv/

Does your county need last minute supplies for October Beef Month celebrations? Please contact Josie Jones today at josie@bamabeef.org or (334)265-1867 for promotional boxes, banners, or Cowboys In The Classroom books. 

DON’T FORGET! We need you to submit all photos AND a summary of your county’s October Beef Month events and celebrations throughout the month to Josie Jones at josie@bamabeef.org to compete in the 2023 Cattlemen of Beef Month contest. You might also see these pictures featured on our social media pages throughout the month, so be sure to follow!

Membership Update

We are just 83 members away from going Over the Top! The current membership count is 9,921. Remember, each county who goes Over the Top by the end of 2023 will go in the hat for a chance to win the Priefert Squeeze Chute. Also, the county with the highest percentage increase in membership will be awarded the Priefert Head Gate. Not to mention the opportunity to win prizes for recruiting new members!

State Beef Checkoff Supports Research

The Alabama Beef Checkoff Council met in September for its third quarter meeting and spent a large portion of time evaluating research proposals related to the cattle industry. Congratulations to the following researchers on projects receiving funding for the upcoming year. 

1.     Understanding the Digestion of Warm-Season Grass-Legume Mixtures by Micayla West, Dr. Maggie Justice, Dr. Kim Mullenix, Dr. Brandon Smith

2.     Auburn University Variety Selection Platform by Henry Jordan, Joshua Elmore

3.     Evaluating Byproduct Feedstuff Utilized in Alabama to Optimize Their Application in Beef Cattle Production by Dr. Brandon Smith, Dr. Aghata Moreira da Silva, Dr. Kim Mullenix, Dr. Leanne Dillard, Dr. Jose Pereira Neto 

4.     Development of Alabama Representative Farms to Produce Timely Cost Studies for Alabama Cattle Producers (Phase Two) by Ken Kelley, Dr. Max Runge, Dr. Kelly Palmer, Dr. Michelle Elmore, Dr. Adam Rabinowitz, Dr. Windiam Sawadgo

5.     Factors Affecting the Success of Biofertilizers in Bermudagrass Pastures by Dr. David Held, Dr. Tony Adesemoye, Dr. Leanne Dillard

6.     Predicting the Ground Beef Shelf Life From the Initial Microbial Community Profile by Dr. Aeriel Belk, Dr. Jason Sawyer

SOUTHEASTERN LIVESTOCK EXPO NEWS

The Southeastern Livestock Exposition is gearing up for the 2024 SLE Rodeo and Livestock Week! The board of directors met earlier in September to discuss final details of the 2024 event, and the entire membership gathered in Troy this week for the SLE Annual Meeting and Dinner. Big Mike’s Steakhouse provided delicious steaks to enjoy – something our cattlemen friends will be glad to hear! Thank you to Dr. Nealy Barrett, Tina Hammonds and Dr. Doug Smith for three years of outstanding service to the SLE Board of Directors, and congratulations to newly-elected board members— Tommy Fuller, Jim Jordan and William Martin! Also, a special thank you goes to the Pike County Cattlemen’s Association for hosting us for this event.

Speaking of Pike County, the Miss SLE Rodeo Pageant will be held March 2, 2024 at the Pike County Cattleman Park. Applications open October 15 and are due by January 15. Follow the SLE Rodeo Facebook page for more details. (Miss SLE Rodeo age: 17-20, Junior Miss SLE Rodeo age: 13-16).

Sponsorship opportunities for the 2024 SLE Rodeo will open on October 6. If you are interested in details, please contact Sarah Hunter (shunter@bamabeef.org). Sponsorship packages will be sold first come, first served.

Sunbelt Ag Expo Features a Road Trip through Sweet Grown Alabama 

Make plans to join us at the 2023 Sunbelt Ag Expo October 17-19 in Moultrie, GA as we highlight agriculture in Sweet Grown Alabama! For 2023, Alabama is the expo’s Spotlight State.

Engaging activities and snappy swag abound as visitors learn about Alabama’s diverse agricultural landscape. The bounty includes agritourism, catfish, cattle, corn, cotton, dairy, forestry, greenhouse products, peaches, peanuts, pecans, poultry, sod, soybeans, strawberries and sweet potatoes.

Numerous Alabama agricultural organizations and businesses have worked tirelessly this year to support the Sweet Grown Alabama mission and produce a worthy Spotlight State exhibit. Their employees are the masterminds behind the road trip design of the building, as well as the exhibit’s volunteers, who are all excited to share their expertise about and passion for Alabama’s agricultural industry. Through all its related industries, agriculture has a $70.4 billion economic impact on the state and employs more than 580,000 people. 

The Sunbelt Ag Expo is North America’s Premier Farm Show with more than 1,200 exhibitors on the grounds at Spence Field in Moultrie. The event highlights the latest agricultural technology, research and equipment, which draws thousands of attendees. Learn more at sunbeltexpo.com.

BEEF CHECKOFF TASK FORCE MEETING- YOU’RE INVITED!

Invitations to participate in the Beef Checkoff Task Force meeting are going out soon. At this meeting attendees from the beef cattle industry will work to develop ideas and programs for FY24 utilizing beef checkoff dollars. Any cattlemen is welcome to attend but we do need to know you are coming so we can make sure to have enough lunch. The meeting will take place at 10:00AM at the Cattlemen’s building on November 2. This is the best way to have a direct voice in how beef checkoff dollars are spent in the upcoming year. Please let us know if you would like to attend by contacting Erin at the office, ebeasley@bamabeef.org.

Christmas from Cowboys

What do you get the person that has everything? The ACA has just what you need! This year, you can gift your friends or colleagues a membership to the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association. For $50, the person who receives your gifted membership will receive all of the member benefits, including 12 issues of the Alabama Cattleman magazine. The promotion will run from October-December and is a great way to get a new member into the organization. To learn more and get to gifting, visit BamaBeef.org/Join or call our office at (334) 265-1867.

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. Approved applicants must report each take within 48 hours. 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.

Thanks for reading this month’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.

Auburn Family Dinner

The ACA had a unique opportunity to provide beef at the center of the plate for the Auburn Football team during the Auburn Family Dinner with Coach Hugh Freeze on August 6.  Thanks to the grilling teams at Elmore and Montgomery County Cattlemen’s, players, coaches and their families enjoyed ribeye steaks. This event was sponsored by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program and provided an opportunity to showcase beef and share about its nutritional benefits with the AU athletic staff!   

Farm Bill Listening Session

In coordination with Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville spent time in Alabama in early August to hold Farm Bill Listening Sessions with producers. ACA leaders and staff were in attendance for the central Alabama session, which held a focus on the cattle industry. Programs of interest in the Farm Bill for cattlemen include risk management, conservation and programs related to feral hogs. ACA President Chuck Madaris thanked “Coach” for his support of agriculture and the voice he gives Alabama on the Senate Ag Committee.

YCLP UPDATES

The Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) Class X held its second session in west Alabama on August 11-12. Tour stops included CK Cattle in Hope Hull, the Blackbelt Research and Extension Center in Marion Junction, Glover Farms in Greensboro, and Prairie Lakes Farm in Greensboro. Session 3 for the young cattlemen group is coming up soon and will be in DeKalb County September 29-30.

Then, on Thursday, August 24, several past and current YCLP class members promoted beef and the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association during the Trash Pandas vs. Birmingham Barons game in Madison. Thanks to all our young leaders who volunteered to help!

And last but not least, the YCLP Council and Auburn Collegiate Cattlemen will be hosting a tailgate September 16 for Auburn’s Homecoming game against Samford University. All YCLP alumni are invited to come out to Upchurch Hall for food and fellowship before the game!

Beef at the Barons

Speaking of sports, over 400 cheeseburger samples were handed out at the Birmingham Baron’s Ag Night August 4. Jefferson County cattlemen showed up and showed out to promote beef and talk with game attendees about cattle production in Alabama! Special thanks to Jefferson County Cattlemen for helping us making this tabling night a success!

Membership Report

The ACA is proud to represent 9,811 members thus far in 2023, which means we are only 189 members from the state going Over the Top this year!

Don’t forget our recruitment prizes! If you join as a new member of the ACA, your name automatically goes into a drawing for a John Deere Gator, sponsored by John Deere, SunSouth and TriGreen Equipment. But wait! That’s not all. If you are responsible for recruiting a new member, your name also qualifies for the drawing and begins your journey toward joining our Top Hand Club— which awards exclusive prizes to recruiters.. The prize for Top Recruiter is 10 Priefert panels! 

Your membership matters to your county chapter. Each year, one lucky chapter who goes “Over the Top” from the previous membership year qualifies for a drawing to win a Priefert squeeze chute, sponsored by Fuller Supply Co. and Priefert Ranch Equipment. The county chapter with the largest percentage membership growth year over year is awarded a Priefert head gate. Help your local chapter roll home with a tool all members can benefit from!

AJCA News

The AJCA Board of Directors held its first meeting this month. Led by newly elected president Alyvia Watson, the board reviewed the 2023 AJCA Round-Up and made plans for the Fall Field Day. The Fall Junior Cattlemen’s Field Day will be held Wednesday, September 13, at Lawler Farm in Opelika. Participants will learn about beef cattle evaluation from EPDs and performance records to visual appraisal and oral reasons.

The event is free and open to all youth. Register at AJCA Fall Field Day (bamabeef.org) by September 6^th.

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. Approved applicants must report each take within 48 hours. 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.

AADA

The Alabama Agricultural Development Authority (AADA) is now accepting applications for low interest loans intended to support meat and poultry processing businesses in Alabama. Loans can be used to purchase or construct new facilities, expand existing facilities, purchase new equipment, cover start-up costs and hire additional employees. 

Phase I applications are now open and will close September 14. For more information and loan application details, visit www.agi.alabama.gov/news/usda/mpilp.

Thanks for reading this month’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.

2023 Alabama Beef Checkoff Referendum

Alabama Law (Act No. 280, Legislature of Alabama 1961) requires a statewide vote of cattle owners every five years to continue the voluntary Alabama beef checkoff program. On August 24, 2023, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association will conduct this referendum from 8AM – 4PM at all County Extension Offices statewide. Learn more about the Alabama Beef Checkoff at www.BamaBeef.org/Vote. 

Who can vote?

All Alabama cattle owners, no age restrictions apply.

When is the vote?

Thursday, August 24 

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Where can I vote?

County Extension Offices 

Click here to find your county office

The Alabama Beef Checkoff Program is a self-help program for cattle producers that works to increase consumer beef demand and provide opportunities for youth development, research and educational programs for cattlemen in the state. A perfect example of a state-checkoff funded program is the AJCA Round-Up, which welcomed 120 youth competitors to town for a week of educational and fun beef industry contests (read more below), and BEEF 101, which teaches culinary students, nutritionists and other consumer “influencers” about the beef cattle lifecycle through a live animal evaluation and carcass fabrication. Without the State Beef Checkoff, these programs would not exist.

The program is not mandatory as producers who do not wish to participate can request refund on the state beef checkoff assessment.

2023 AJCA Round-Up

A fun weekend was had by all for the 17th annual Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association (AJCA) Round-Up in Montgomery July 20th-23rd! One hundred and twenty competitors took to Garrett Coliseum to showcase their best agricultural skills through contests including livestock judging, salesmanship, essays, photography, record books, showmanship, cooking, team grooming and the main event – cattle showing. Youth also elected the 2023-2024 AJCA Board of Directors, who will work to plan the 2024 AJCA Round-Up and other educational events for the coming year.

The newly-elected officers and Board of Directors for the AJCA are:

President – Alyvia Watson, Mobile County

Vice President – Abby Burgess, Blount County

Secretary – Lyndee Meadows, Randolph County

Treasurer – Ashbee Norman, Montgomery County

Ex-Officio– Russell Jordan, Clay County

District 1 Director – Amelia Thrower, Marshall County

District 2 Director – Shae McCain, Clay County

District 3 Director – Gus Ashley, Montgomery County

District 4 Director – Annabelle Wesley, Pike County

At-Large Director – Rex Harrison, Cullman County

At-Large Director – Faith Dillard, Geneva County

If you are interested in getting involved with the AJCA, please visit the association webpage here: www.BamaBeef.org/AJCA

Membership Report

Following the June 30 “Over the Top” County deadline, we are THRILLED to report that we had 30 counties go “Over the Top” to earn their president an iconic ACA red coat! They are: Barbour, Bullock, Calhoun, Coffee, Colbert, Conecuh, Coosa, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dale, Elmore, Escambia, Geneva, Hale, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Limestone, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Monroe, Montgomery, Pike, Russell, Shelby, St Clair, Talladega, Wilcox, Winston counties. 

Big congrats to these counties and THANK YOU for your incredible grassroots efforts! Membership is the lifeblood of our organization, and we wouldn’t be who we are without you. Don’t forget- if you’re one of the counties listed on the list above, be sure to get your president’s coat size and secretary’s shirt size submitted to Jessica Kennedy at our office. 

In other membership news, Jessica is working diligently to upload archived membership files dating back, sporadically, to the 1970s. These are lists of state reports, by county, so if you ever need to access historical county data, Jessica just may be able to help! 

On one final note, state board members, be sure to save the date and RSVP for the August 10 State Board of Directors meeting. Email Jessica

Alabama’s Congressional District Map in the Federal Court’s Hands

The Second Special Session of the 2023 Alabama Legislature occurred July 17-21, and your ACA lobbyist team were on site to keep an eye on legislative activities. This special session was a result of the June 8 U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the ruling of a lower court claiming Alabama’s 2021 map— which features one majority Black district out of seven— violates the Voting Rights Act (VRA). 

As of Friday, July 21, Governor Kay Ivey has signed a new map into law. It now lies in the hands of a federal courts to decide if it meets the strict requirements of the VRA. If not, a court-ordered demographer will draw Alabama’s congressional district lines on behalf of the State. 

The new map, a result of a House and Senate conference committee — can be viewed here, alongside a comparison from the 2021 map. Most notable on the new map, District 7 remains the only majority Black district, while in District 2, the Black voting age population (BVAP) was increased from 30% to 40%, which Republican leaders believe will satisfy the court by creating an “opportunity district” in which Black voters have an opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice.

Another note worth mentioning, the new map— if approved— will not put any two incumbents in the same district in the next election cycle.  

Bainbridge Block Party Brings Fun to Downtown

Almost 400 folks visited Bainbridge Street on Tuesday, July 11 for the Bainbridge Block Party. Live music, burgers, chicken wings, and a fantastic farmers market were enjoyed as attendees learned more about the agriculture entities housed on Bainbridge Street in Montgomery. This event would not have been possible without our co-hosts and friends from Sweet Grown Alabama, Alabama Poultry & Egg Association and the Alabama Forestry Association!

SLE News

Southeastern Livestock Exposition members have been busy this summer offering assistance with different Alabama Cattlemen’s Association events including the Bainbridge Block Party and AJCA Round-Up. Staffer Sarah Hunter is spending the last week of July out west visiting rodeos in Utah and Wyoming to network with contract personnel and take notes on how other rodeo committees structure their events. 

The SLE is continually striving to improve and make the SLE Rodeo and Livestock Week the best it can possibly be. Mark your calendars and join us at the Garrett Coliseum next year: March 15-17, 2024!

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. Approved applicants must report each take within 48 hours. 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.

AADA

The Alabama Agricultural Development Authority (AADA) is now accepting applications for low interest loans intended to support meat and poultry processing businesses in Alabama. Loans can be used to purchase or construct new facilities, expand existing facilities, purchase new equipment, cover start-up costs and hire additional employees. 

Phase I applications are now open and will close September 14. For more information and loan application details, visit www.agi.alabama.gov/news/usda/mpilp.

Rounding Out Regional Meetings

The month of June hosted five out of six 2023 Regional Cattlemen’s Cookouts, sending staff to Decatur, Fayette, Selma, Troy and Lineville. Throughout the regional meeting season, we were thrilled to interact with more than 600 cattle producers who attended for fellowship, fun and Cattlemen’s updates. This meeting series would not be possible without support from our generous sponsors, so join us in thanking Agoro Carbon Alliance, First South Farm Credit, Alabama Livestock Marketing Association, ENVU and the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program. We would also be remised if we didn’t highlight the County Cattlemen’s cook teams who brought the BEEF to these meetings. Big thank you to the cattlemen of Morgan, Fayette, Dallas, Pike and Clay counties! Until next year…

Membership Report: OVER THE TOP Edition

Today, June 30 is the final day to submit membership for the Over the Top County deadline to earn your president an iconic red coat! Going “over the top” means recruiting more members in a county chapter than there were in the previous year. The numbers are still rolling in and the final list won’t be established until after the holiday weekend after all online submissions are processed, but SO FAR we are thrilled to report have 24 county chapters who have achieved Over the Top Status! They are: Barbour, Calhoun, Colbert, Conecuh, Coosa, Cullman, Dale, Elmore, Escambia, Geneva, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Monroe, Montgomery, Pike, Russell, Shelby, St Clair, Talladega, and Wilcox counties.

Big congrats to these counties and THANK YOU for your incredible grassroots efforts! Membership is the lifeblood of our organization, and we wouldn’t be who we are without you. With that, we are signing off in June with 9,550 members, just barely short of our 10,000 member goal at only halfway through the year! Stay tuned for the FINAL report in July. 

2023 Alabama Beef Checkoff Referendum

Alabama Law (Act No. 280, Legislature of Alabama 1961) requires a statewide vote of cattle owners every five years to continue the voluntary Alabama beef checkoff program. On August 24, 2023, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association will conduct this referendum from 8AM – 4PM at all County Extension Offices statewide. Learn more about the Alabama Beef Checkoff at www.BamaBeef.org/Vote. 

Who can vote? All Alabama cattle owners, no age restrictions apply.

When is the vote? Thursday, August 24 // 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Where can I vote? County Extension Offices (Click here to find your county office)

The Alabama Beef Checkoff Program is a self-help program for cattle producers that works to increase consumer beef demand and provide opportunities for youth development, research and educational programs for cattlemen in the state. The program is not mandatory as producers who do not wish to participate can request refund on the state beef checkoff assessment.

Welcome, Josie!

In June, Josie Jones joined the team at ACA as our Director of Consumer Outreach. A Bibb County native and Mississippi State University graduate, Josie will coordinate statewide programming focused on educating consumers about beef as part of a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. Her responsibilities will include working with partners to host events across the state – including BEEF 101, the Alabama Junior and Senior High School Beef Cookoff, and October Beef Month – and promoting the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand.

Her email is Josie@bamabeef.org— reach out to her for all your beef promotion needs! 

Redrawing Alabama’s Congressional District Map

Governor Kay Ivey called a Special Session of the Alabama Legislature, beginning July 17, to redraw Alabama’s congressional district map. On June 8, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the ruling of a lower court which claimed Alabama’s current map— which only features one majority Black district out of seven— violates the Voting Rights Act (VRA). The federal courts have given the State of Alabama until July 21 to submit the drawing for a new congressional map. While redistricting is the only topic of the special session, your team of ACA lobbyists will be playing a watchdog role throughout the legislative gathering. The Legislature’s Committee on Reapportionment met Tuesday, June 27 for the first public hearing on the matter to to discuss proposed map renderings. 

Boys State Talks Agribusiness at ACA

On Friday, June 2 we had the opportunity to host delegates of Boys State as we offered insight to Alabama’s agribusiness industry! Joined by our friends from Alabama Farmers Federation, Alabama Poultry & Egg Association, Alabama Forestry Association and Alabama Agribusiness Council, we enjoyed sharing about our respective organizations, industry challenges, and fielding excellent questions from these young men.

AJCA Round-Up

The Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association is hosting its 17th Annual Round-Up, July 20-23, 2023 in Montgomery! This Alabama Beef Checkoff-funded event features 15 youth cattle shows and contests— including a heifer show, steer show, bull show, showmanship, cattle judging, cattle judging, skill-a-thon, salesmanship, photography, poster, golden pitchfork, record book, ad design, battle of the beef, team grooming and volleyball.

Learn more about the event and register your junior cattleman at https://cvent.me/d8K9dD. Registration and AJCA director applications close TOMORROW July 1, 2023!

Beef for Father’s Day

Since 1955, the Alabama CattleWomen’s Association has promoted “Beef for Father’s Day” through a variety of campaigns.

From stickers to placemats, and roadway signs to restaurant table tents, “Beef for Father’s Day” promotions date back to the earliest years of the ACWA— formerly known as the Alabama CowBelles Association.

In June, the time-honored tradition of presenting Alabama’s governor with a platter of steaks at a proclamation signing carried on, and the ladies of the ACWA were there, just like they have been for nearly 70 years! 

AADA

The Alabama Agricultural Development Authority (AADA) is now accepting applications for low interest loans intended to support meat and poultry processing businesses in Alabama. Loans can be used to purchase or construct new facilities, expand existing facilities, purchase new equipment, cover start-up costs and hire additional employees. 

Phase I applications are now open and will close September 14. For more information and loan application details, visit www.agi.alabama.gov/news/usda/mpilp.

Digital Beef Promotion Package Touts Big Reach for Beef

The Alabama Beef Checkoff partners annually with Alabama Media Group (including AL.com) to promote beef on their digital assets through display advertising, sports packages and email services. At our midyear check-in, we were proud to see that thus far, our Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner advertising efforts had garnered more than 1 million online impressions and over 5,100 hours of in-screen exposure time, driving more than 1,300 unique users to www.BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com. This type of exposure translates to more than 612,000 30-second television ads— talk about bang for your buck! Also this week, we launched a summer grilling e-blast campaign that went to 35,500 verified Alabamian email inboxes, just in time for the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Stay tuned on those reporting numbers and be on the lookout for our AL.com Crimson Tide and AL.com Auburn Tigers Facebook promotions to begin soon, brought to you by BEEF! 

Alabama Pasture to Rail

On Saturday, June 17, the ACA hosted an educational event regarding the 2023 Alabama Pasture to Rail Program, managed by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and chaired by Regional Extension Agent Rickey Hudson. During the event, attendees learned about the retained ownership program offered by Extension, as well as risk management strategies and herd health. To learn more about Alabama Pasture to Rail, contact Rickey Hudson or visit the ACES website or contact your local Extension agent.

SLE News

In June, the Southeastern Livestock Exposition was proud to sponsor and present awards to youth who won the Livestock Evaluation contest at the Alabama FFA 95^th Annual State Convention. President Frank Ellis and staffer Sarah Hunter recognized many faces in the winner’s circle who have competed at the SLE Livestock Judging contest in recent years. Following Father’s Day weekend, Hunter also attended the Alabama Agribusiness Council annual meeting where she joined more than 100 members and guests of the organization to network and receive industry updates. Topics discussed included workforce development, state and federal legislative policies affecting ag, and educational initiatives at Auburn and Tuskegee Universities.

Please do not forget that the SLE has two beautiful young ladies who represent the agriculture industry and would be proud to assist at your next rodeo or ag event. You can book an appearance from Miss SLE Rodeo Ada Grace Stacey and Junior Miss SLE Rodeo Allyson Singleton by contacting SLE Royalty Director Victoria Suggs: victoriajeffcoat@yahoo.com

The SLE leadership team is making exciting decisions about the 2024 SLE Rodeo, so be sure to follow the SLE Rodeo Facebook page (@SLE Rodeo) for announcements that are coming soon!

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. Approved applicants must report each take within 48 hours. 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.

Regional Cattlemen’s Cookouts

On Monday, May 22, we hosted our first of many Regional Cattlemen’s Cookouts across the state! We had an excellent turnout for an evening of fellowship and updates in Atmore. We appreciate everyone who joined us, especially our speaker, Regional Extension Agent Ken Kelley. 

It’s not too late to join in on a meeting near you! Join us for dinner, fellowship and an update from your state Cattlemen’s Association.

• June 6, 2023: North Alabama, Ingalls Pavilion Event Center, Decatur
• June 12, 2023: Northwest Alabama, Fayette Multipurpose Complex, Fayette
• June 22, 2023: West Central Alabama, YNOT Entertainment Center, Selma
• June 27, 2023: Southeast Alabama, Pike County Cattleman’s Park, Troy
• June 29, 2023: East Alabama, Clay-Central High School, Lineville

WHO CAN ATTEND THIS EVENT?

(1) Current Alabama Cattlemen’s Association members.

(2) Anyone who needs to renew their ACA membership.

(3) Anyone who would like to join the ACA.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO ATTEND? If you’re a current ACA member, this event is FREE to enjoy! If you need to renew your membership or join the ACA, you can simply pay your membership dues at the door, and we’ll be glad to have you join us! Meals are FREE to current ACA members. Guest plates are $25/adult, $15/child.

Alabama Farm Honored with National Environmental Stewardship Award

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (April 27, 2023) — The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced Tuesday, April 25, that Carter Cattle Company, LLC, in Pintlala, Alabama, is the 2022 National Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) winner. The award, which annually recognizes the outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements of cattle producers, was presented to the Carter family during NCBA’s annual Spring Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.

“As a seventh-generation beef cattle operation, Carter Cattle Company radiates excellence in environmental stewardship,” Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) Executive Vice President Erin Beasley said. “Their efforts—and those of cattle producers throughout our great state— display our industry’s commitment to sustainable beef production across Alabama and the United States. We could not be more proud of the Carters’ achievement and representation of Alabama’s beef cattle industry.”

Sustainability began as a lifestyle more than a practice seven generations ago in the mid-1820s when the farm was established. The Carters make management decisions with the future in mind, utilizing rotational grazing for their forage-based feeding program. Rotational grazing has been vital to improving the overall health of the farm ecosystem, soil health, forage base, watershed, livestock and wildlife.

“It is an honor and lifelong dream to receive this award, and extremely humbling,” said Dr. Will Carter of Carter Cattle Company. “We are in the cattle business, but we are in the grass business first. Our job is to manage the grass and allocate it to the cattle that then take the resource and produce something of greater value.”

Through conservation incentives offered under the Watershed Project and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Carters installed 2,000 feet of water lines to two new water troughs, protected 1,250 square feet of heavy use areas and built 1,300 feet of fence to exclude cattle from Pintlala Creek. These efforts help the Carters utilize the land in the most effective way for their cow herd while protecting natural resources. In addition, being good stewards doesn’t stop at the farm gate, as both Will and Monnie Carol Carter are veterinarians who care for other animals in their community.

“Carter Cattle Company is an excellent example of how cattle producers across the country undertake stewardship efforts unique to their environment, landscape and resources,” said NCBA President Todd Wilkinson, South Dakota. “The Carters are keenly focused on conserving natural resources for future generations.”

ESAP is generously sponsored by companies and federal agencies who share the cattle industry’s commitment to caring for the environment and protecting natural resources. Sponsors, including U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, Corteva Agriscience, McDonald’s, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, partner with NCBA to promote environmental stewardship throughout the beef supply chain. For more information, visit www.environmentalstewardship.org.

Fencing Materials Tax Exemption Legislation, Introduced & Referred

A priority piece of legislation for the ACA this spring is a tax exemption bill relating to fencing materials for livestock production purposes. This legislation would join the other agricultural tax exemptions, such as feed, seed and fertilizer, and would apply to practical livestock fencing materials such as T-posts, barbed wire, woven wire, electric wire, metal gates, etc. As stated, tax exemptions are already applied to a number of ag-use products, and fencing materials are a rightful fit for this section of Alabama Code. A barrier to new producers and a high unintended cost in the case natural disaster damages, fencing is a necessary piece of infrastructure for all cattle operations, and that is why your team at ACA has put this legislation on the radar of the 2023 Alabama Legislative Session.

On April 11, Senate Bill 200— cosponsored by Jack Williams, David Sessions, Rob Stewart, Gerald Allen, Steve Livingston, Josh Carnley, Lance Bell, Larry Stutts, Randy price, Jay Hovey, Bobby Singleton, Garlan Gudger, Clay Scofield and Tim Melson— dropped in the Senate and was referred to the Senate Finance & Taxation Education Committee, as the exempted dollars would directly impact the Education Trust Fund (ETF). A companion bill, HB330 co-sponsored by Danny Crawford, Andy Whitt, David Standridge, Reed Ingram, Phillip Pettus, Rick Rehm, Van Smith, Chip Brown and Matt Hammet, dropped in the House in the following weeks was referred to the House Ways & Means Education Committee for review. ACA lobbyists Erin Beasley and Kayla Greer have been carefully following the proposed legislation, working to gain support with committee members. Stay tuned as we seek to gain a favorable committee report and final passage on the floors. 

ACA Introduces 2023 Regional Meeting Calendar

Make plans to join us for one of six regional membership meetings happening across the state throughout May and June. Regional Cattlemen’s Cookouts are an opportunity for members from adjacent counties to come together for food, fun and fellowship, and is our way of saying “thanks” for your membership. This year’s events will highlight steak sandwiches, prepared by county chapters, a brief state update, and an educational session from our friends at the Alabama Cooperative Extension System Animal Sciences and Forages Team. The upcoming dates/locations are as follows, all beginning at 6:00 p.m.:

These meetings are open to Cattlemen’s Members and/or anyone looking to join our association or renew membership. Meals are FREE to current ACA members. Guest plates are $25/adult, $15/child.

More information can be found at tinyurl.com/RegionalCookouts2023. RSVP now by contacting ACA Director of Membership Jessica Kennedy at (334) 265-1867 or by completing this simple online form» tinyurl.com/RegionalCookouts-RSVP. 

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 applicants for the depredation sub-permit must agree to the requirements found in the Authorizations and Conditions section of the black vulture depredation permitting page at agi.alabama.gov. These authorizations and conditions are part of the statewide permit issued to ADAI by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). ADAI cannot alter these provisions.

All approved applicants will be allowed to take up to three black vultures as long as the statewide take number has not exceeded 500. Approved applicants must report each take within 48 hours. 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.

Approved applicants are not allowed to take any other migratory bird species. Even if an approved applicant does not harvest any black vultures, they must login to their account and report “no birds taken,” no later than December 31, 2023. For more information, visit agi.alabama.gov.

Hunter Named SLE Executive Director

Sarah Hunter has been named the Executive Director of the Southeastern Livestock Exposition (SLE) following the Board of Directors’ unanimous approval on April 3, 2023.

Hunter, a native of Eufaula who earned her Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Communications from Auburn University in 2016, has served as Director of Rodeo Programs for the entity since 2021 where she has successfully planned and executed two SLE Rodeo and Livestock Weeks.

“It has been a pleasure working for the Southeastern Livestock Exposition, and it is truly an honor to be trusted with leading the organization,” Hunter said. “I firmly believe this is the path God has intended for me; my passion for this organization is undeniable. Our rodeo committee has worked tirelessly to make a name for the SLE Rodeo in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) circle, and I am proud of how far we have come. We have big goals and a vision for the future, so I am eager to continue the growth and success of this rodeo to further pursue our mission of impacting youth who are involved in Alabama agriculture.”

After a successful four years in leadership, former Executive Director Erin Beasley stepped away to focus more attention to the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, where she serves as Executive Vice President.

“From the day that we hired Sarah, she has worked hard and learned quickly to excel in her role,” Beasley said. “I am very confident that she will continue course as Executive Director. She has a passion for the rodeo industry and has the ability to take the organization to the next level. I am proud of her and can’t wait to see what she achieves with the SLE. Under her leadership, the SLE and Alabama Cattlemen’s Association will continue to have a very strong working relationship to provide opportunities for youth in agriculture.”

The organization looks forward to future success and continued growth under Hunter’s leadership.

“We are grateful to Erin for her work with SLE for the past four years,” SLE President Frank Ellis said. “As we enter this new chapter, we are very excited to promote Sarah to the position of Executive Director. She has been a valuable asset to our organization since she came on board, and she has endeared herself to our members, sponsors and contestants. The future of the SLE is very bright.”

Greer Named Director of Communications & Legislative Affairs

ACA staffer Kayla Greer was named the Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs on April 5, 2023. The promotion comes after eight years of experience working across many areas of the association— primarily in a communications role.

“I am honored to be trusted with the task of representing Alabama’s beef cattle producers,” Greer said. “I look forward to taking the experiences gained throughout my tenure and using them in a new way to protect and promote our cattlemen’s way of life.”

Since 2015, Greer has managed all digital content for the association and the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program, as well as contributed photography and feature content to the Alabama Cattleman magazine. She also coordinated all advertising and digital content for the Southeastern Livestock Exposition. In her new role, Greer will shift her focus primarily to association communication and legislative efforts.

ACA leadership recognizes the importance of strengthening the policy efforts of the organization on behalf of its members. Previously, governmental affairs were solely under the direction of the executive vice president. Greer will become a second lobbyist alongside ACA Executive Vice President Erin Beasley to assist in legislative matters.

“In Kayla’s eight years on our team, she has proven herself time and again no matter the situation,” Beasley said. “That time has allowed her to grow in her communication skills, leadership and knowledge of issues facing our industry. Coupled with a true passion for the beef cattle industry, I am confident that Kayla will be a true asset to our efforts in the state house. This will strengthen our ability to serve the members of the association in great ways.”

Greer earned her Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Communications from Auburn University in 2015. She and her husband, Mitch, enjoy raising their daughter on her family’s eighth generation beef cattle operation in south Montgomery County.

AJCA Hosts 2023 Spring Production Field Day

The 2023 Spring Youth Production Field Day welcomed nearly 75 young cattlemen from across the state for a day of hands-on industry education, networking and fun! Participants of this Alabama Beef Checkoff funded field day learned about live cattle grading, weed identification, temporary fencing solutions and enjoyed a farm tour. 

Special thanks to our guest speakers, the Clay County Cattlemen’s Association for preparing a delicious steak sandwich lunch, and our generous hosts, Stockdale Farms in Munford, AL. 

2023 Alabama Junior & Senior High School Beef Cook-Off

Talented students from across Alabama gathered at the Jefferson State Culinary College Culinary Institute on April 14 as we hosted the 2023 Alabama Junior and Senior High School Beef Cook-Off. While the judges sampled dishes, participants enjoyed two educational sessions pertaining to the beef industry. Chef Joseph Mitchell and Chef Todd Jackson welcomed students to the kitchen as they demonstrated methods of preparing a beef tenderloin, while ACA’s Kayla Greer gave a Pasture to Plate Beef Industry Overview. 

Below are the first, second and third place winners the Junior South, Junior North, Senior South and Senior North divisions who won $150, $125 and $100, respectively. An addition to this year’s prize package was the inclusion of a full semester’s tuition to each of the four first place recipients, presented by Jefferson State Community College. 

Special thanks to our generous hosts and members of the Alabama CattleWomen’s Association and the Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association for their help in making this event a success. 

With Previous Injunction Secured by NCBA, WOTUS Rule is Paused in 26 States

On April 12, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) praised the decision by a judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota to grant a preliminary injunction stopping the Biden administration’s “Waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule from taking effect in 24 states. Combined with a previous ruling in the Southern District of Texas, 26 states across the country are protected from the Biden WOTUS rule.

“Once again, the courts have affirmed that the Biden administration’s WOTUS rule is overreaching and harmful to America’s beef farmers and ranchers,” said NCBA President Todd Wilkinson, a South Dakota cattle producer. “Cattle producers in 26 states now have some additional certainty while this rule is being litigated, and we are optimistic that the Supreme Court will provide nationwide clarity on the federal government’s proper jurisdiction over water.”

This injunction was granted thanks to a lawsuit filed by 24 state attorneys general seeking to overturn the WOTUS rule. In total, NCBA and its litigation partners have secured preliminary injunctions in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming. NCBA’s motion for a nationwide injunction is still pending in the North Dakota court.

NCBA LAUNCHES GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN TO DEFEND THE BEEF CHECKOFF

To counter animal activist groups that are trying to eliminate the Beef Checkoff program, NCBA has launched a sign-on letter for cattle producer to send a message to their representative and senators in Congress. The Beef Checkoff program is the strongest took we have to promoted beef and ensure the farming and ranching way of life can continue. Click here to read the letter and contact your members of Congress today.

MARCH 2023 MEMBERSHIP REPORT

The ACA is proud to represent 8,014 members thus far in 2023. Don’t forget our NEW membership benefits including perks at Big Mike’s Steakhouse franchises statewide, discounts at Great Wolf Lodge and deals from Trucker’s Warehouse. Check out the list of member benefits at www.BamaBeef.org/Benefits. 

As many county meetings have happened across the state, we’d like to remind county leaders to send in updated leadership names and contact information to Jessica Kennedy. This is an important step in leadership transition as new presidents and secretaries need to be added to our mailing and emailing lists for important state updates and news! For example, the second membership dues notice will go out the first part of April. Please check your email to confirm your county contact information for those remittances. We encourage you to input any memberships you’ve already gotten in the system so that they don’t receive another notice on the next round!

Legislative Update

The month of March brought the start to the 2023 Legislative Session, convening with over 30 new members between the two chambers. To begin the session, Governor Kay Ivey called a special session during her “State of the State” address to Alabamians to address how the state would spend the 2^nd traunch of funds allocated by the federal government from the American Rescue Plan Act. The more than $2 billion was approved for sewer and water infrastructure, broadband and public health. 

Following the special session, the legislature reconvenes for the remainder of the regular session. They finished up three legislative days last week and were on spring break this week. The Governor’s budgets were released with the Education Trust Fund starting in the Senate and the General Fund starting in the House of Representatives. Both budgets include several programs that are focused on agriculture including funding for a livestock judging coach and youth livestock specialist at Auburn University. The ACA will also be working on a bill related to tax exemption of fencing materials this session which will be dropping in the coming weeks.  

Beef Checkoff Council, Set to Meet

The Beef Checkoff Council holds the 1^st quarter meeting tomorrow. The group will be reviewing and approving the 2022 audited financials for the National Beef Checkoff and State Beef Checkoff. The council will also receive updates from the staff on beef checkoff activities. Being that this is the first meeting of the quarter, the members will get an orientation to review the flow of the beef checkoff dollars and how programs are funded. The following people serve on the council this year either by appointment or by position with an entity:

• Terry Slaten, Federation Chair
• Richard Meadows, ACA Treasurer
• Michael Jordan, ALMA Presdient
• Henrietta Gibson, ACWA President
• Chris Prevatt, ALFA
• Bob Plaster, ADAI
• Brenda Glover, Producer
• Nathan Lipscomb, Producer
• Erin Duke, Producer
• Chris Bell, Producer
• Steven Smith, Producer
• Barney Wilborn, At-Large
• Linda Godfrey, At-Large
• Teresa Long, At-Large
• Rob Renfroe, At-Large

SLE Rodeo- What a Year!

The Southeastern Livestock Exposition held it’s 66^th annual SLE Rodeo March 17-19 at the Garrett Coliseum. This event ranks in the top 60 of over 700 rodeos in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), making it part of the NFR Playoff Series! John Harrison (reigning PRCA Clown of the Year) brought the laughs, and Frontier Rodeo Company (8X and reigning PRCA Stock Contractor of the Year) brought their top-notch bucking stock. Cowboys came from all over, including Australia and Canada, to compete at the SLE Rodeo. Among the almost 23,000 rodeo fans who bought a ticket to come, we even had fans from Ukraine and Ireland in attendance! This was definitely a can’t-miss event. To learn more about the payout for these cowboys and cowgirls, check out this link: Southeastern Livestock Exposition | PRCA Sports News (prorodeo.com)

The SLE Rodeo and Livestock Week, from March 8-19, hosted a number of events including the Junior Livestock Judging Contest, Miss SLE Rodeo pageant, PRCA youth rodeo clinic, two-day SLE Youth Rodeo Showdown, three-day Alabama Stock Horse Show and Clinic, three-day SLE Team Roping, Junior Beef Expo, Junior Dairy Expo, Junior Swine Expo, Miracle Rodeo, Shackelford Lane concert, and several children’s events which were open to the public. The Southeastern Livestock Exposition is incredibly proud of the impact made on Alabama’s youth who are involved in agriculture. To learn more about the SLE history and mission, visit History (slerodeo.com).

We want to say a sincere THANK YOU to everyone who was involved in the SLE Rodeo and Livestock Week. We can’t wait to do it again in 2024!

Youth Events During the Rodeo

You may not know this, but the Southeastern Livestock Exposition exists to support Alabama youth in agriculture! They do this in a variety of ways throughout the year, but nothing shines more brightly than the events during SLE Livestock Week. It all kicked off with the 8^th Annual SLE Livestock Judging Contest. More than 330 contestants competed across four age divisions— from junior high to collegiate. Congratulations to all winners and thanks to volunteers from SLE, Auburn University, FFA, and ACES for making this event a success!  

Also, youth from across Alabama competed in the Junior Beef Expo, Junior Swine Expo and the Junior Dairy Expo— a new event to the SLE Week line-up. We paused on Saturday from the show ring to recognize the 91 youth from 46 counties who were awarded a $250 scholarship from the Poarch Band of Creek Indians (PBCI). This monetary prize recognizes their involvement in youth livestock activities.

Chairman Mike Rogers Fundraiser

On March 14, we were honored to host a brunch for U.S. Representative Mike Rogers at our headquarters in downtown Montgomery. During the fundraising event, Chairman Rogers updated those in attendance on what to expect with the 2023 Congress. He reported on federal budgets, armed services and fielded questions from the crowd. We continue to be proud to have a venue that can host our legislators and friends when they’re in town!

2023 AJCA Spring Youth Field Day

The 2023 AJCA Spring Production Field Day will be held Wednesday, April 12 at Stockdale Farms in Munford, AL. Topics will include live cattle grading, weed id and control, and temporary fence. Attendees will also get a tour of Stockdale Farms. Alabama Farm Credit will be on hand with information and giveaways as well! Register by April 7 for this FREE educational event at www.BamaBeef.org/FieldDay.

Beasley Named 2023 Woman Who Shapes the State

For 10 years, This is Alabama— an affiliate of Alabama Media Group— has honored women who are shaping our state in big ways. This year, 25 honorees were celebrated at a luncheon on March 8 at The Club in Birmingham. Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President Erin Beasley was named in the cohort of 2023 honorees. 

“When I think about the one thing I wish I’d known earlier in my career, my mind goes straight to the importance of your network,” she said. “I can remember hearing this all of the time in college, but it did not really sink until I started my career. Everything revolves around your network and who you know. In my world, we do a lot of problem-solving and issues management for our membership. The best thing I have in my toolbelt is knowing who I need to call to try and help our members. Your network can also really help you when looking for a job or if you are in a position to hire people. As you build out your network, it is very important to leave people with a good impression of your work and never burn a bridge if you can help it.”

Congratulations, Erin, on this achievement! Thank you for all you do for Alabama’s beef cattle industry.

ACA- Now Hiring!

The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association is seeking to hire a Director of Consumer Outreach. Learn more about the position and how to apply at www.BamaBeef.org/Staff.

LMA SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY

The Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) is pleased to announce the release of a new scholarship program. With the goal of investing in the next generation, the program is designed to award five (5), $2500 scholarships to individuals that are interested in or display knowledge of the importance of the agriculture industry and its supporting entities, with plans to use their career to advocate for or advance the livestock marketing industry. 

Applicants must be a graduating high school senior and/or currently enrolled at an accredited, postsecondary institution and maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher. A letter of recommendation from an active LMA member must accompany the application at the time of submission. LMA members may not recommend more than two (2) applicants for the LMA scholarship in the same academic year. 

Applications will remain open until March 31, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. Following the deadline, scholarship applications will be reviewed by a panel of LMA leadership, LMA membership and allied-industry relations.  For more information on the LMA Scholarship Program, visit https://lmaweb.vercel.app/About/scholarships.

Thanks for reading this month’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.