Welcome to the Bama Beef Blog, where you can check out the latest news from the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program and the Southeastern Livestock Expo. Keep reading for more info!

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2022 REGIONAL CATTLEMEN’S COOKOUTS

Last night hosted our first of six Regional Cattlemen’s Cookouts as we headed to Clarke County for the Southwest Regional gathering. It was a great turnout with delicious food, fun giveaways and some very welcomed fellowship. Click here for a map to check out when we’ll be headed to your neck of the woods! This event is FREE for ACA members to attend— all you have to do is click here to RSVP to attend your local meeting or call us at 334-265-1867. Guests who are not members will cost $25 per plate.

• June 14, 2022: Southeast Alabama; Pike County Cattleman’s Park, Troy
• June 30, 2022: West Central Alabama; Gvillo Lodge, Moundville
• July 12, 2022: East Central Alabama; Wetumpka Civic Center, Wetumpka
• July 19, 2022: Northwest Alabama, Moulton Rec Center, Moulton
• August 2, 2022: Northeast Alabama, Guntersville Rec Center, Guntersville

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

The second membership statement has hit mailboxes, targeting all non-renewed members for 2022! Hopefully you’ve started receiving some renewals. We are headed boldly in the direction of 10,000 members, and don’t forget that June 30 Over the Top Red Coat deadline! CONGRATS to Barbour, Butler, Dale, Dallas, Elmore, Franklin, Geneva, Hale, Henry, Lowndes, Randolph, St. Clair and Washington counties for already going Over the Top! If you are hosting an annual meeting or summertime event, please contact Jessica Kennedy at our office to let her know OR complete this online form to notify us of your meeting, assign a mailout, and request a guest speaker. As always, leaders, we encourage you to enter new members and renewals by the 15th of each month to guarantee they stay on the magazine distribution list and to deposit checks in a timely manner. Also, PLEASE send county leader updates to the state office so we can update them for future mailings, emails, etc. Contact Jessica to let her know who your county officers are!

Tell the SEC to Stick to Wall Street, Not Main Street 

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is trying to expand their authority to family farms, ranches, and small businesses. The SEC is the federal agency tasked with regulating publicly traded companies and major investors on Wall Street, but recently the SEC proposed a rule with wide overreaching impacts on the cattle industry. The rule would require publicly traded companies to disclose greenhouse gas emissions from their entire supply chain. For large companies like retailers, packers, and restaurants, this rule could force cattle producers to calculate their farm or ranch-level emissions, while exposing them to legal liability. This is unacceptable. 

Cattle producers need to send a strong message to the SEC that we are united against this rule. That’s why the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association launched a grassroots letter directed at the Chairman of the SEC and members of Congress. Please click here to sign the letter today and share with your friends, family, and fellow cattle producers. The more signatures, the better!

AJCA ROUND-UP REGISTRATION LIVE

The 16^th Annual Round-Up registration is now live! Join us July 14-17 at the Garrett Coliseum for a weekend packed full of educational events and cattle shows. We look forward to welcoming the youth of Alabama to compete and exhibit. Events like this are not possible without sponsorships. We are asking counties to consider a donation of $250.00. The counties that show their support of our youth by sponsoring at the amount of $250.00 or more will receive a star on the county sponsorship map that will be on display ringside. However, anyway you can support our juniors would be appreciated. Please consider supporting the AJCA Round-Up. It is requested that all donations be mailed to 201 South Bainbridge Street, Montgomery, AL 36104 by June 24, 2022. Thank you in advance for your continued support of Alabama’s youth in livestock.

For the full sponsor details, please check out our event website » https://cvent.me/KRGM5z   

Visiting Rodeos

This weekend, ACA’s Ali Cantrell is escorting staffer Sarah Hunter back to her home in Texas for the annual Parker County Sheriffs Posse Rodeo— a rodeo near and dear to Ali’s heart as her grandfather was one of the original organizers of the, now, annual event. The duo are out to explore new ideas and chat with organizers who have many years of rodeo planning under their belt. This summer, Sarah is taking as many opportunities as she can to explore rodeos of similar size and caliber to the SLE Rodeo in order to find new ideas to bring home to Montgomery. We’re already excited for next year’s show— coming to Montgomery March 17-19, 2023!

ACA at RMC

After a weekend in Texas, ACA Director of Education and Outreach Ali Cantrell is hopping on a plane to Iowa to attend the Reciprocal Meat Conference (RMC). There, she will network with fellow meat scientists, learn of trends in the meat business and hear from foodservice representatives about meat marketing across the nation. This will give Ali great insight about consumer trends and market forecasts as she explores avenues to effectively market beef to consumers.

BAINBRIDGE BLOCK PARTY

The staff of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, Alabama Poultry and Egg Association, and Alabama Forestry Association would like to invite you to our Bainbridge Block Party on Friday, June 24, 2022 at The MOOseum in downtown Montgomery. This event is meant to showcase the different ag commodities, associations, and entities within the state and how they can provide educational opportunities into your classrooms. All teachers that RSVP and attend will receive professional development hours and a certificate. Please RSVP to acantrell@bamabeef.org with your name and school by June 22, 2022!

We will be hosting a Sweet Grown Alabama Farmers market along with educational booths spread throughout. We encourage teachers, students, and the general public to come visit, tour The MOOseum, and head up to the 3^rd floor of the building for specialty videos and booths to explore. This event will be open to the general public from 11:00am – 2:00pm and food will be served from 11:30am – 1:30pm. We will be serving burgers, chicken wings, chips, and ice cream from Blue Ribbon Dairy!

Thanks for reading this week’s post! Until we post again, we want to remind you that you can stay in touch with us by following us on Facebook or Instagram.

Welcome to the Bama Beef Blog, where you can check out the latest news from the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program and the Southeastern Livestock Expo. Keep reading for more info!

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2022 REGIONAL CATTLEMEN’S COOKOUTS

After such fun success in 2021, we are looking forward to hosting the Regional Cattlemen’s Cookouts again in 2022! Click here for a map to check out your region, so you can save the date for your local event while we firm up locations! This event is FREE for ACA members to attend— all you have to do is click here to RSVP to attend your local meeting or call us at 334-265-1867.

• June 7, 2022: Southwest Alabama; Clarke Prep School, Grove Hill
• June 14, 2022: Southeast Alabama; Pike County Cattleman’s Park, Troy
• June 30, 2022: West Central Alabama; Gvillo Lodge, Moundville
• July 12, 2022: East Central Alabama; Wetumpka Civic Center, Wetumpka
• July 19, 2022: Northwest Alabama, Moulton Rec Center, Moulton
• August 2, 2022: Northeast Alabama, Guntersville Rec Center, Guntersville

Summer Grilling Segments, Firing Up!

ACA Director of Education & Outreach Ali Cantrell traveled to Fairhope to film two cooking segments with WKRG’s Cooking with John segment. First, she filmed with Bill E, owner of Bill E’s Restaurant in Fairhope and a 2014 graduate of our checkoff-funded Beef 101 program. Bill E makes his own bacon and enjoys serving up local beef in his restaurant. To highlight bacon AND beef, Bill E served up a delicious bacon cheeseburger! The segment will air in August. Following, Ali prepared a BBQ-rubbed T-Bone Steak from beefitswhatsfordinner.com that will air at the end of June.

NOW HIRING— DIRECTOR OF FIELD SERVICES

With the news that Morgan Desselle is leaving for a new position with Purina and Alabama Farmers Cooperative, we are seeking to fill the position of Director of Field Services. An application period is now open, and a job description can be found HERE. This position involves working with the state’s beef cattle industry, representing the ACA at producer meetings, cattle sales, county cattlemen chapter meetings and agribusinesses events. The position will be the lead staffer for coordinating the Association’s junior cattlemen programs and young producer programs.

ACA AT AACAAS

ACA Executive Vice President Erin Beasley will be a speaker at the Alabama Association of County Agricultural Agents and Specialists (AACAAS) Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference this evening. She will focus on talking to attendees about ACA’s grassroots structure and how the association represents its members in a number of arenas. The event will be held in Tuscaloosa, AL.

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

The second membership statement has hit mailboxes, targeting all non-renewed members for 2022! Hopefully you’ve started receiving some renewals.

We are headed boldly in the direction of 10,000 members, and don’t forget that June 30 Over the Top Red Coat deadline! Many counties are hosting annual meetings. Please, contact Jessica Kennedy at our office to let her know about county meeting dates and leadership changes OR complete this online form to notify us of your meeting, assign a mailout, and request a guest speaker. As always, leaders, we encourage you to enter new members and renewals by the 15th of each month to guarantee they stay on the magazine distribution list and to deposit checks in a timely manner. Also, PLEASE send county leader updates to the state office so we can update them for future mailings, emails, etc. Contact Jessica to let her know who your county officers are!

Alabama Ag in the Classroom Summer Institute

ACA’s Ali Cantrell will spend the second half of her week in Auburn for the 2022 Alabama Ag In The Classroom Summer Institute. She plans to mingle with teachers from the program to discuss what we do for educators and invite them to our upcoming Bainbridge Block Party, taking place on June 24 at The MOOseum.

Welcoming Visitors

This week, we have had the opportunity to host summer interns from Alabama Ag Credit and the Governor’s Office as they seek to learn more about the beef cattle industry in Alabama and our association. The groups talked with staff, toured The MOOseum and the Cattlemen’s Building and learned about the unique structure of our organization. In addition to these interns, we also look forward to hosting Boys & Girls State representatives on Friday afternoon.

AJCA ROUND-UP REGISTRATION LIVE

The 16^th Annual Round-Up registration is now live! Join us July 14-17 at the Garrett Coliseum for a weekend packed full of educational events and cattle shows. We look forward to welcoming the youth of Alabama to compete and exhibit. Events like this are not possible without sponsorships. We are asking counties to consider a donation of $250.00. The counties that show their support of our youth by sponsoring at the amount of $250.00 or more will receive a star on the county sponsorship map that will be on display ringside. However, anyway you can support our juniors would be appreciated. Please consider supporting the AJCA Round-Up. It is requested that all donations be mailed to 201 South Bainbridge Street, Montgomery, AL 36104 by June 24, 2022. Thank you in advance for your continued support of Alabama’s youth in livestock.

For the full sponsor details, please check out our event website » https://cvent.me/KRGM5z   

BAINBRIDGE BLOCK PARTY

The staff of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, Alabama Poultry and Egg Association, and Alabama Forestry Association would like to invite you to our Bainbridge Block Party on Friday, June 24, 2022 at The MOOseum in downtown Montgomery. This event is meant to showcase the different ag commodities, associations, and entities within the state and how they can provide educational opportunities into your classrooms. All teachers that RSVP and attend will receive professional development hours and a certificate. Please RSVP to acantrell@bamabeef.org with your name and school by June 22, 2022!

We will be hosting a Sweet Grown Alabama Farmers market along with educational booths spread throughout. We encourage teachers, students, and the general public to come visit, tour The MOOseum, and head up to the 3^rd floor of the building for specialty videos and booths to explore. This event will be open to the general public from 11:00am – 2:00pm and food will be served from 11:30am – 1:30pm. We will be serving burgers, chicken wings, chips, and ice cream from Blue Ribbon Dairy!

Thanks for reading this week’s post! Until we post again, we want to remind you that you can stay in touch with us by following us on Facebook or Instagram.

Welcome to the Bama Beef Blog, where you can check out the latest news from the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program and the Southeastern Livestock Expo. Keep reading for more info!

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Primary Election Recap

The primary election took place yesterday across Alabama, and several races were decided or will go to a runoff next month. A full list of results from last night can be found here. The runoff election is June 21, so get ready to go back to the voting box. The ACA sends a huge congratulations to Governor Kay Ivey for her win last night! We look forward to working with her for another four years.

2022 REGIONAL CATTLEMEN’S COOKOUTS

After such fun success in 2021, we are looking forward to hosting the Regional Cattlemen’s Cookouts again in 2022! Click here for a map to check out your region, so you can save the date for your local event while we firm up locations! This event is FREE for ACA members to attend— all you have to do is click here to RSVP to attend your local meeting or call us at 334-265-1867.

• June 7, 2022: Southwest Alabama; Clarke Prep School, Grove Hill
• June 14, 2022: Southeast Alabama; Pike County Cattleman’s Park, Troy
• June 30, 2022: West Central Alabama; Gvillo Lodge, Moundville
• July 12, 2022: East Central Alabama; Wetumpka Civic Center, Wetumpka
• July 19, 2022: Northwest Alabama, Moulton Rec Center, Moulton
• August 2, 2022: Northeast Alabama, Guntersville Rec Center, Guntersville

NOW HIRING— DIRECTOR OF FIELD SERVICES

With the news that Morgan Desselle is leaving for a new position with Purina and Alabama Farmers Cooperative, we are seeking to fill the position of Director of Field Services. An application period is now open, and a job description can be found HERE. This position involves working with the state’s beef cattle industry, representing the ACA at producer meetings, cattle sales, county cattlemen chapter meetings and agribusinesses events. The position will be the lead staffer for coordinating the Association’s junior cattlemen programs and young producer programs.

YCLP Reunion Recap

The Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) Alumni Reunion was held last weekend in south Montgomery County. Special thanks to all the sponsors who made this event possible! YCLP alumni and their families gathered for a weekend of networking, education and fun. On Friday night, the alumni enjoyed a taco bar and catching up with old friends while meeting new alumni. Saturday morning, the education began! We kicked off the morning with updates from ACA President Jim Jordan, Checkoff Staff and SLE member Tina Hammonds. Next, alumni welcomed Jeff Stolle of Nebraska Cattlemen to discuss cattle markets. Participants had the pleasure of a virtual NCBA update from Colin Woodall and Mary Bea Halimeh. The education portion of the weekend ended with hands-on media training provided by ACA Director of Communications Kayla Greer. After a morning of updates and education, the alumni spent the afternoon enjoying Kick Back Ranch amenities and a friendly goat roping competition! The weekend concluded with a steak dinner, sponsored by our friends at Ag Credit.

Summer Grilling, Ready for Lift Off!

Memorial Day Weekend is the official start to summer grilling, and checkoff dollars will go to work to kick off our Spotify, Connected TV, cooking segment and billboard campaigns across the state! ACA has partnered with NCBA to roll out Spotify and connected tv (streaming service) ads for the next five months, through October. During the summer, if you listen to Spotify or subscribe to a streaming service, you should hear or see summer grilling ads as well as some words from our “A List” beef industry spokesperson, Tony Romo, about tailgating with beef. Then in October, we will switch gears to have ads that promote Beef Month in Alabama!

As you travel down the I-65 corridor to the coastline, be on the lookout for BEEF billboards in Huntsville, Cullman, Hope Hull/Letohatchee, Rabun and on the Foley Beach Express in Robertsdale. If you see it, ask your passenger to snap a photo and share it on Facebook for all to see!

Also this summer, ACA Director of Education & Outreach Ali Cantrell has lined up beef cooking segments in markets across the state. Next week, she’s set to film cooking segments with John Nodar on WKRG Mobile. She will serve up a bacon cheeseburger and a T-Bone steak to showcase for summer grilling. She’ll travel back to Mobile when WKRG finishes their new demo kitchen later this year to film three more segments with beef producer and ag teacher, Emily Dent, and Alabama Junior Cattlemen Association Director Alivia Watson.

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

The second membership statement has hit mailboxes, targeting all non-renewed members for 2022! Hopefully you’ve started receiving some renewals.

We are headed boldly in the direction of 10,000 members! Many counties are hosting annual meetings. Please, contact Jessica Kennedy at our office to let her know about county meeting dates and leadership changes OR complete this online form to notify us of your meeting, assign a mailout, and request a guest speaker. As always, leaders, we encourage you to enter new members and renewals by the 15th of each month to guarantee they stay on the magazine distribution list and to deposit checks in a timely manner. Also, PLEASE send county leader updates to the state office so we can update them for future mailings, emails, etc. Contact Jessica to let her know who your county officers are!

AJCA Round-Up Registration Live

The 16^th Annual Round-Up registration is now live! Join us July 14-17 at the Garrett Coliseum for a weekend packed full of educational events and cattle shows. We look forward to welcoming the youth of Alabama to compete and exhibit. Events like this are not possible without sponsorships. We are asking counties to consider a donation of $250.00. The counties that show their support of our youth by sponsoring at the amount of $250.00 or more will receive a star on the county sponsorship map that will be on display ringside. However, anyway you can support our juniors would be appreciated. Please consider supporting the AJCA Round-Up. It is requested that all donations be mailed to 201 South Bainbridge Street, Montgomery, AL 36104 by June 24, 2022. Thank you in advance for your continued support of Alabama’s youth in livestock.

For the full sponsor details, please check out our event website » https://cvent.me/KRGM5z   

SLE Rodeo, Always at Work

ACA Director of Rodeo Programs Sarah Hunter has enjoyed visiting other rodeos in the region to study their shows and event formats in an effort to bring home new ideas to enhance our show in Montgomery! Last weekend, she visited the Franklin Rodeo in Franklin, TN and next month, she will travel west with Texan native Ali Cantrell to her hometown’s Parker County Sheriffs Posse Rodeo, just outside of Fort Worth. Sarah has also stayed busy promoting the March event and is putting in the hours to make the 2023 show bigger and better.

BAINBRIDGE BLOCK PARTY

The staff of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, Alabama Poultry and Egg Association, and Alabama Forestry Association would like to invite you to our Bainbridge Block Party on Friday, June 24, 2022 at The MOOseum in downtown Montgomery. This event is meant to showcase the different ag commodities, associations, and entities within the state and how they can provide educational opportunities into your classrooms. All teachers that RSVP and attend will receive professional development hours and a certificate. Please RSVP to acantrell@bamabeef.org with your name and school by June 22, 2022!

We will be hosting a Sweet Grown Alabama Farmers market along with educational booths spread throughout. We encourage teachers, students, and the general public to come visit, tour The MOOseum, and head up to the 3^rd floor of the building for specialty videos and booths to explore. This event will be open to the general public from 11:00am – 2:00pm and food will be served from 11:30am – 1:30pm. We will be serving burgers, chicken wings, chips, and ice cream from Blue Ribbon Dairy!

ACA at AACAAS

Next week, ACA Executive Vice President Erin Beasley will be a speaker at the Alabama Association of County Agricultural Agents and Specialists (AACAAS) Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference. She will focus on talking to attendees about ACA’s grassroots structure and how the association represents its members in a number of arenas. The event will be held in Tuscaloosa, AL.

Thanks for reading this week’s post! Until we post again, we want to remind you that you can stay in touch with us by following us on Facebook or Instagram.

Welcome to the Bama Beef Blog, where you can check out the latest news from the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program and the Southeastern Livestock Expo. Keep reading for more info!

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Now Hiring— Director of Field Services

We are sad to announce that Morgan Desselle will be leaving our staff, effective June 2, but wish her well in her new role as the Central Alabama Livestock Production Specialist (LPS) with Purina and the Alabama Farmers Cooperative. Morgan has been vital to our team the last few years and has done an outstanding job representing the association. She grew the Jr. Cattlemen’s program, developed great relationships in the countryside and took YCLP to new levels. We will really miss her enthusiasm, work ethic and organization. Her departure comes with the exception of the AJCA Round-Up as she has so graciously agreed to help see the summer show through!

This news means that we are seeking to fill the position of Director of Field Services. An application period is now open, and a job description can be found HERE. This position involves working with the state’s beef cattle industry, representing the ACA at producer meetings, cattle sales, county cattlemen chapter meetings and agribusinesses events. The position will be the lead staffer for coordinating the Association’s junior cattlemen programs and young producer programs.

Quarterly Beef Checkoff Council Meeting

The Beef Checkoff Council will meet tomorrow for a quarterly meeting. The group will focus on reviewing the financials and program areas so far for the 2022 fiscal year. Todd Johnson from NCBA will join us virtually to serve as a speaker for the group on how Alabama works and benefits from the Federation staff at the NCBA Denver office.

2022 REGIONAL CATTLEMEN’S COOKOUTS

After such fun success in 2021, we are looking forward to hosting the Regional Cattlemen’s Cookouts again in 2022! Click here for a map to check out your region, so you can save the date for your local event while we firm up locations! This event is FREE for ACA members to attend— all you have to do is click here to RSVP to attend your local meeting or call us at 334-265-1867.

• June 7, 2022: Southwest Alabama; Clarke Prep School, Grove Hill
• June 14, 2022: Southeast Alabama; Pike County Cattleman’s Park, Troy
• June 30, 2022: West Central Alabama; Gvillo Lodge, Moundville
• July 12, 2022: East Central Alabama; Wetumpka Civic Center, Wetumpka
• July 19, 2022: Northwest Alabama, Moulton Rec Center, Moulton
• August 2, 2022: Northeast Alabama, Guntersville Rec Center, Guntersville

YCLP Reunion Weekend

The Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program Alumni Reunion is this weekend! The alumni of the program will enjoy a weekend catching up with classmates and meeting new alumni. The event will also include multiple educational opportunities. Saturday morning we will welcome Jeff Stolle from Nebraska Cattlemen to discuss cattle markets. The alumni will also get the opportunity to speak with NCBA Collin Woodall on industry hot topics. The alumni will be given updates from ACA, Checkoff, and SLE leaders and staff. The educational portion of the weekend will conclude with media training from ACA Director of Communications Kayla Greer. We look forward to seeing our young producers!

AJCA Round-Up Registration Now Live!

The 16^th Annual Round-Up registration is now live! Join us July 14-17 at the Garrett Coliseum for a weekend packed full of educational events and cattle shows. We look forward to welcoming the youth of Alabama to compete and exhibit. For the full rules packet and to register, please check out our event website » https://cvent.me/KRGM5z   

Working with Partners

Yesterday, May 17, staffer Ali Cantrell traveled to Crossville High School to speak to the ag and family and consumer science students about the beef industry and Beef 101. She spoke to 240 students throughout the day and answered their questions about the beef industry in Alabama.

Today, Erin Beasley is attending the quarterly State Soil and Water Conservation Board Meeting as well as an industry working group meeting at the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. The ACA works with various agencies in the state to ensure that regulations and programming developed are helpful and not overburdensome to cattlemen.

Down to Earth Featured on RFD-TV

On Tuesday, ACA Director of Communications and Down to Earth Co-Chair Kayla Greer had the opportunity to promote the Down to Earth campaign during a live interview on RFD-TV’s Market Day Report. She was joined by her counterpart, Down to Earth Co-Chair Caleb Hicks from the Alabama Poultry and Egg Association. The duo spoke with RFD-TV’s Suzanne Alexander about the campaign, where the idea came from, and why they see a need to share the sustainability story with Alabama consumers.

This unique opportunity came to be thanks to connections at the network. Victoria Dee, daughter of Pickens County Cattleman Mike Dee, is a producer on RFD-TV’s Market Day Report and caught wind of the campaign in her home state. She then reached out to the Down to Earth team to coordinate the segment— BIG thank you to Victoria for this opportunity! We’re proud to be part of carrying the banner for a sustainability campaign that hopefully other states will soon mimic.

Watch the segment, featuring Kayla and Caleb and produced by Victoria, here.

Beef for Father’s Day

Leaders of the Alabama CattleWomen’s Association and ACA’s Erin Beasley traveled to the Capitol building on Tuesday to declare “Beef for Father’s Day.” This event is a longstanding tradition with the ACWA and the Office of the Governor. Thank you, Governor Kay Ivey, for encouraging everyone to buy beef for the fathers in your life on  June 19!

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

The second membership statement has hit mailboxes, targeting all non-renewed members for 2022! Hopefully you’ve started receiving some renewals.

We are headed boldly in the direction of 10,000 members! Many counties are hosting annual meetings. Please, contact Jessica Kennedy at our office to let her know about county meeting dates and leadership changes OR complete this online form to notify us of your meeting, assign a mailout, and request a guest speaker. As always, leaders, we encourage you to enter new members and renewals by the 15th of each month to guarantee they stay on the magazine distribution list and to deposit checks in a timely manner. Also, PLEASE send county leader updates to the state office so we can update them for future mailings, emails, etc. Contact Jessica to let her know who your county officers are!

SLE at ARC

Last week, SLE President-Elect Frank Ellis and staffers Erin Beasley and Sarah Hunter visited Las Vegas for the Association of Rodeo Committees (ARC) Global Conference where they got the chance to network with other rodeo committees as well as receive updates from PRCA ProRodeo, CowboyChannel, and more. The SLE is continually working hard to provide you with the best rodeo experience possible, and we are certainly looking forward to the excitement that’s to come in March 2023!

Bainbridge Block Party

The staff of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, Alabama Poultry and Egg Association, and Alabama Forestry Association would like to invite you to our Bainbridge Block Party on Friday, June 24, 2022 at The MOOseum in downtown Montgomery. This event is meant to showcase the different ag commodities, associations, and entities within the state and how they can provide educational opportunities into your classrooms. All teachers that RSVP and attend will receive professional development hours and a certificate. Please RSVP to acantrell@bamabeef.org with your name and school by June 22, 2022!

We will be hosting a Sweet Grown Alabama Farmers market along with educational booths spread throughout. We encourage teachers, students, and the general public to come visit, tour The MOOseum, and head up to the 3^rd floor of the building for specialty videos and booths to explore. This event will be open to the general public from 11:00am – 2:00pm and food will be served from 11:30am – 1:30pm. We will be serving burgers, chicken wings, chips, and ice cream from Blue Ribbon Dairy!

Set Your DVR! Beef on MASTERCHEF JUNIOR

DENVER, CO (May 17, 2022) – The stakes are high as talented young chefs bring out their aprons and return to the kitchen on the hit culinary competition series MASTERCHEF JUNIOR airing Thursdays (8:00 ET) on FOX. This week, the seven remaining junior chefs test their culinary knowledge of different cuts as contestants will choose their steak in an Operation-style game. The winner of the steak challenge will get his or her recipe published on BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com and win a trip to a cattle farm. The episode of MASTERCHEF JUNIOR, featuring Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. airs THIS Thursday, May 19 (8:00 ET) on FOX.

Primaries- Next Tuesday!

Don’t forget that the Primary Election is next Tuesday, May 24! Make sure to get out and vote. The last day to apply for an absentee ballot is tomorrow and can be done here.

Thanks for reading this week’s post! Until we post again, we want to remind you that you can stay in touch with us by following us on Facebook or Instagram.

Welcome to the Bama Beef Blog, where you can check out the latest news from the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program and the Southeastern Livestock Expo. Keep reading for more info!

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2022 Regional Cattlemen’s Cookouts

After such fun success in 2021, we are looking forward to hosting the Regional Cattlemen’s Cookouts again in 2022! Click here for a map to check out your region, so you can save the date for your local event while we firm up locations! This event is FREE for ACA members to attend— all you have to do is RSVP to Jessica Kennedy at jkennedy@bamabeef.org or call us at 334-265-1867.

• June 7, 2022: Southwest Alabama; Clarke Prep School, Grove Hill
• June 14, 2022: Southeast Alabama; Pike County Cattleman’s Park, Troy
• June 30, 2022: West Central Alabama; Gvillo Lodge, Moundville
• July 12, 2022: East Central Alabama; Wetumpka Civic Center, Wetumpka
• July 19, 2022: Northwest Alabama, location tbd
• August 2, 2022: Northeast Alabama, location tbd

Legislative Update

Both the Senate and House held hearings this week in Washington DC to welcome testimonies and ask questions related to the cattle markets and current legislation being considered. The Senate had a producer panel testifying and the House had a producer panel followed by the CEO’s of the Big 4 packing plants. Our office had conversations with Senator Tuberville and Congressman Moore, who sit on these respective committees, to ensure they were prepared for the hearings.

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

Board members— please remember to RSVP for the May Board Meeting on May 5, 2022. Call or email Jessica at the office at (334) 265-1867.

The second membership statement is out and should hitting mailboxes. This mail out will target all non-renewed members for 2022!

We are headed boldly in the direction of 10,000 members! Many counties are hosting annual meetings. Please, contact Jessica Kennedy at our office to let her know about county meeting dates and leadership changes OR complete this online form to notify us of your meeting, assign a mailout, and request a guest speaker. As always, leaders, we encourage you to enter new members and renewals by the 15th of each month to guarantee they stay on the magazine distribution list and to deposit checks in a timely manner. Also, PLEASE send county leader updates to the state office so we can update them for future mailings, emails, etc. Contact Jessica to let her know who your county officers are!

Producer Sales & Cattlemen’s Meetings

ACA Director of Field Services Morgan Desselle attended the Alabama Beef Cattle Improvement Association (BCIA) Board Meeting this Tuesday in Clanton. She also headed north to Cullman this past weekend for the Crimson Classic sale and will be at the Cut Above Sale back in Cullman this coming Saturday.

Ali Cantrell had the pleasure of attending the Hale County Cattlemen’s Meeting in Greensboro on Tuesday, while ACA staffers Erin Beasley and Sarah Hunter and President Jim Jordan attended the Collegiate Cattlemen Annual Banquet in Auburn. The calendar is full with upcoming educational and social events, and we can’t wait to see you there!

2ND ANNUAL YCLP ALUMNI REUNION

Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) will be hosting the second YCLP Alumni Reunion May 20-21 at Kick Back Ranch & Event Center. The weekend will be full of education, catching up with your classmates, and meeting new alumni! We look forward to seeing YCLP Alumni and their families this summer. To register and see the weekends schedule please visit the link below!

Registration: www.BamaBeef.org/Reunion

If you wish to sponsor this event we have a few sponsorship opportunities left visit the link below or contact Morgan morgan@bamabeef.org. 

Sponsor Link: https://www.bamabeef.org/f/137

YCLP CLASS IX ANNOUNCED

The Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Class IX will join us in Montgomery for session one in just two short weeks! We look forward to meeting the class. Members of the ninth YCLP class are:

Travis Allred, Morgan County

Daniel Burkhalter, Henry County

Logan Cofield, Randolph County

Tyler Dunn, Henry County

Jamie Dykes, Barbour County

Sheena Gay, Randolph County

Jacob Gay, Randolph County

Austin Grant, Macon County

Serah Hall, Houston County

Kelsey Hopper, Baldwin County

Jared Lawley, Shelby County

Ashley Long, Fayette County

Kevin Lusk, Jackson County 

Tanner Maddox, Franklin County

Shelby Marsh, Hale County

Laura Jean McCurdy, Lowndes County

Jeremy Pearson, Cherokee County

Jessica Rush, Lee County

Noah Sanders, Coffee County

Taylor Scott, Lauderdale County

Levi Smith, Henry County

Jason Smith, Dallas County

Christian Stanley, Pike County

Clay Tucker, Monroe County

Cooper Waller, Montgomery County

Matthew Watson, Mobile County

Daniel Wendland, Autauga County

Shelby Windham, Dale County

Macklin Watson, Monroe County

Thanks for reading this week’s post! Until we post again, we want to remind you that you can stay in touch with us by following us on Facebook or Instagram.

Welcome to the Bama Beef Blog, where you can check out the latest news from the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program and the Southeastern Livestock Expo. Keep reading for more info!

BEEF 201 Opportunity for Producers

This spring, there is one more opportunity to attend a Beef 101 on April 27. If you are a cattle producer interested in doing a more advanced version of BEEF 101, our Beef 201 program will take place on May 6. Please contact Ali Cantrell at acantrell@bamabeef.org if you would like to attend either of these programs.

Junior Cattlemen Spring Field Day Report

The Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association Board of Directors welcomed 50+ youth from all across Alabama to the 2022 Spring Field Day! The youth enjoyed a day full of education and fun. The day kicked off with four beef cattle classes to judge. The participants heard from Jonah Biensch and Jason P’Pool of Auburn University on the best ways to evaluate cattle, provided by Triple T Brangus. The youth then listened to a professional development clinic on public speaking provided by Ellie Watson with Sweet Grown Alabama. Regional Extension Agent Paul Vining hosted a hands-on forage demonstration. The day was wrapped up with Director of Education and Outreach Ali Cantrell speaking on beef nutrition. Special thanks to all the volunteers and Fayette County Cattlemen’s Association for hosting us!

Stay tuned for more junior events to come by registering for the AJCA quarterly e-newsletter here!

Save 2022 Junior Cattlemen Dates

May 16 – Round-Up Registration Opens

July 1 – Round-Up Registration Closes

July 14-17 AJCA Round-Up

September 17 AJCA Fall Field Day

SLE Rodeo Recap

Board members and committee chairs of the SLE Rodeo are gathering at the office today to get a final report from the 2022 SLE Rodeo & Exposition. They’ll also be bringing feedback and insights from their respective committees to garner ways to improve for 2023— we are always trying to grow and adapt, and it certainly takes a team to do it! The board will also be reviewing feature acts, clowns and other entertainment details so Rodeo Director Sarah Hunter can get to work on the 2023 show. Stay tuned and save the dates for March 17-19, 2023!

Out and About!

This week, ACA Director of Education & Outreach Ali Cantrell will be on the road to attend the Sumter County Cattlemen’s Meeting on Thursday and then will be driving to Phenix City on Friday to speak to Benjamin Russell High School about the beef industry. She will be speaking to the environmental science class about Beef 101 as well as how the beef industry continues to be sustainable for the environment. Ali will also be filming cooking segments with Jack Galassini and Virginia Whitfield next week for the Montgomery area. These segments will air on Memorial Day weekend, Father’s Day, and Fourth of July weekend on WSFA.

Director of Field Services Morgan Desselle has been out and about meeting with producers this month. She visited Triple T Brangus in Fayette at the beginning of the month. Yesterday, she took a farm tour of Leto Farms with Mr. Franks Johnston and manger Logan Whatley. She wrapped up her Tuesday morning by stopping in at Mid-State’s weekly sale. She will be headed north this weekend to the Crimson Classic sale in Cullman to see some of our north Alabama producers!

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

Board members— please remember to RSVP for the May Board Meeting on May 5, 2022. Call or email Jessica at the office at (334) 265-1867.

The second membership statement is in the works and should hit mailboxes by the end of next week. This mail out will target all non-renewed members for 2022!

The 2022 membership year has officially kicked off, and we are headed boldly in the direction of 10,000 members! Many counties are hosting annual meetings. Please, contact Jessica Kennedy at our office to let her know about county meeting dates and leadership changes OR complete this online form to notify us of your meeting, assign a mailout, and request a guest speaker. As always, leaders, we encourage you to enter new members and renewals by the 15th of each month to guarantee they stay on the magazine distribution list and to deposit checks in a timely manner. Also, PLEASE send county leader updates to the state office so we can update them for future mailings, emails, etc. Contact Jessica to let her know who your county officers are!

2nd Annual YCLP Alumni Reunion

Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) will be hosting the second YCLP Alumni Reunion May 20-21 at Kick Back Ranch & Event Center. The weekend will be full of education, catching up with your classmates, and meeting new alumni! We look forward to seeing YCLP Alumni and their families this summer. To register and see the weekends schedule please visit the link below!

Registration: www.BamaBeef.org/Reunion

If you wish to sponsor this event we have a few sponsorship opportunities left visit the link below or contact Morgan morgan@bamabeef.org. 

Sponsor Link: https://www.bamabeef.org/f/137

YCLP CLASS IX ANNOUNCED

The Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Class IX will join us in Montgomery for session one in just two short weeks! We look forward to meeting the class. Members of the ninth YCLP class are:

Travis Allred, Morgan County

Daniel Burkhalter, Henry County

Logan Cofield, Randolph County

Tyler Dunn, Henry County

Jamie Dykes, Barbour County

Sheena Gay, Randolph County

Jacob Gay, Randolph County

Austin Grant, Macon County

Serah Hall, Houston County

Kelsey Hopper, Baldwin County

Jared Lawley, Shelby County

Ashley Long, Fayette County

Kevin Lusk, Jackson County 

Tanner Maddox, Franklin County

Shelby Marsh, Hale County

Laura Jean McCurdy, Lowndes County

Jeremy Pearson, Cherokee County

Jessica Rush, Lee County

Noah Sanders, Coffee County

Taylor Scott, Lauderdale County

Levi Smith, Henry County

Jason Smith, Dallas County

Christian Stanley, Pike County

Clay Tucker, Monroe County

Cooper Waller, Montgomery County

Matthew Watson, Mobile County

Daniel Wendland, Autauga County

Shelby Windham, Dale County

Macklin Watson, Monroe County

Batter Up, with Beef!

BASEBALL SEASON IS HERE! If you plan, to go to a baseball game this summer in Alabama, keep an eye out for BEEF. This season, the Alabama Beef Checkoff is sponsoring the Birmingham Barons and the Huntsville Trash Pandas. Every home game you will see a beef promotion ad on the jumbotron that will say funded by Alabama Beef Farmers and Ranchers. If you attend the Birmingham Barons game, keep your eyes glued to the jumbotron during the fourth inning to see our promotion that will be followed by the “Cowboy Cam.” And if you attend a Trash Pandas game, plan to go a little early to see our “Welcome Back to Summer” Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner video on the jumbotron for pre-game entertainment. 

Staffer, Ali Cantrell, will be at the Huntsville Trash Pandas game on April 29 with local cattlemen— Randy Moody, Don Lyles, and Katie Sowell— to provide BEEF giveaways to attendees that night. Then on August 5, she will host another giveaway night at the Birmingham Barons game.

Thanks for reading this week’s post! Until we post again, we want to remind you that you can stay in touch with us by following us on Facebook or Instagram.

Welcome to the Bama Beef Blog, where you can check out the latest news from the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program and the Southeastern Livestock Expo. Keep reading for more info!

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Foundation Board and RVPs Meet in Montgomery

Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation Board Members, including state officers and regional vice presidents (RVP), gathered at the Cattlemen’s Building on Wednesday to meeting regarding the Foundation, to discuss area RVP maps, to explain the role of an RVP and to brainstorm ways to recruit members, enhance county communication efforts and how to serve their region best. We appreciate the volunteer leaders of our association for spending the day with us!

YCLP Class IX Announced

Members of the ninth class of the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) are as follows:

Travis Allred, Morgan County

Daniel Burkhalter, Henry County

Logan Cofield, Randolph County

Tyler Dunn, Henry County

Jamie Dykes, Barbour County

Sheena Gay, Randolph County

Jacob Gay, Randolph County

Austin Grant, Macon County

Serah Hall, Houston County

Kelsey Hopper, Baldwin County

Jared Lawley, Shelby County

Ashley Long, Fayette County

Kevin Lusk, Jackson County

Tanner Maddox, Franklin County

Shelby Marsh, Hale County

Laura Jean McCurdy, Lowndes County

Jeremy Pearson, Cherokee County

Jessica Rush, Lee County

Noah Sanders, Coffee County

Taylor Scott, Lauderdale County

Levi Smith, Henry County

Jason Smith, Dallas County

Christian Stanley, Pike County

Clay Tucker, Monroe County

Cooper Waller, Montgomery County

Matthew Watson, Mobile County

Daniel Wendland, Autauga County

Shelby Windham, Dale County

Macklin Watson, Monroe County

AJCA Spring Field Day

Staffers Morgan Desselle and Ali Cantrell are headed north to prepare for the Spring Junior Cattlemen’s Field Day. Tomorrow youth from all over Alabama will meet in Fayette County for a day full of education. Youth will have a chance to evaluate three classes of Brangus cattle provided by Triple T Brangus. Auburn University’s Jonah Biensch and Jason P’Pool will walk the youth through a beef cattle judging clinic.

That afternoon will be packed full of educational sessions. Sweet Grown Alabama’s Ellie Watson will provide a professional development course on public speaking. Regional Extension Agent Paul Vining will host a hands-on forage demonstration. The day will be wrapped up with Director of Education and Outreach Ali Cantrell speaking on pasture to plate. We look forward to seeing all the participants! 

2022 Cook-Off Results

Congratulations to the winners of the 2022 Alabama Junior and Senior High School Beef Cook-Off that was hosted this past weekend at Jefferson State Culinary and Hospitality Institute in Birmingham. Additional thanks go to our many judges, Amanda Engle— who provided an excellent ribeye ultra sounding demo— Registered Dietitian Elesha Ergle who spoke on beef nutrition, and the chefs of Jefferson State, who so generously hosted our event and gave a great lesson on preparing beef tenderloin. Big thanks also to Tim Tate of Tate Farms for providing a heifer to scan during ultrasounding! The winners of this year’s event are:

Overall Best in Beef

Abbey Grace Tuck, Jefferson County

Rosemary Thyme Beef Filet

Junior South

1) James Betres, Shelby County

2) Daniel Navarro, Baldwin County

3) Dejuan Richardson, Russell County

Junior North

1) Sutton Howard, Jefferson County

2) Rebekah Nordin, Walker County

3) Nevaeh Foster, Calhoun County

Senior South

1) Patrick Fuller, Shelby County

2) David Parrish, Baldwin County

3) Madison Jones, Russell County

Senior North

1) Abbey Grace Tuck, Jefferson County

2) Cherokee Finney, Limestone County

3) Dallas Davis, Marshall County

Beef 101

Beef 101’s are back in the swing of things! On April 6 we hosted 40 students from Shades Valley High School along with 10 producers and employees from Cargill. Then on April 12, we hosted 20 culinary students from Trenholm State Community College at the Auburn Beef Unit. Dr. Misty Edmondson and Jason Edmondson gave talks on the beef production system. The manager of the meat lab, Barney Wilborn, and regional extension agent, Dr. Alex Tigue, also spoke to them in the meat lab and fabricated a whole side of beef.

This spring, there is one more opportunity to attend a Beef 101 on April 27. And if you are a producer interested in doing a more advanced version, our Beef 201 program will take place on May 6. Please contact Ali Cantrell at acantrell@bamabeef.org if you would like to attend either of these programs.

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

The 2022 membership year has officially kicked off, and we are headed boldly in the direction of 10,000 members! Many counties are hosting annual meetings. Please, contact Jessica Kennedy at our office to let her know about county meeting dates and leadership changes OR complete this online form to notify us of your meeting, assign a mailout, and request a guest speaker. As always, leaders, we encourage you to enter new members and renewals by the 15th of each month to guarantee they stay on the magazine distribution list and to deposit checks in a timely manner. Also, PLEASE send county leader updates to the state office so we can update them for future mailings, emails, etc. Contact Jessica to let her know who your county officers are!

Samford University Nutrition Advisory Board

Last week, Ali Cantrell, traveled to Samford University to attend the Nutrition Advisory Board meeting, of which she is a member. They discussed curriculum and how to best enhance the department. She also, stayed to speak with students in the Food Service Management course for nutrition students about Marketing Development Practices within the beef checkoff program.

Thanks for reading this week’s post! Until we post again, we want to remind you that you can stay in touch with us by following us on Facebook or Instagram.

Welcome to the Bama Beef Blog, where you can check out the latest news from the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program and the Southeastern Livestock Expo. Keep reading for more info!

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DOWN TO EARTH: AGRICULTURE SUSTAINS ALABAMA

Alabama farm and forestry organizations debuted a yearlong public education campaign — Down to Earth: Agriculture Sustains Alabama — during a campaign launch event in Pike Road on March 31, 2022. 

At an afternoon press conference, Gov. Kay Ivey proclaimed March 31 Down To Earth Day. Ivey, whose rural roots run deep, lauded the collaborative campaign, which will showcase sustainable, high-tech and efficient techniques farmers and forest landowners have followed for decades.

Ivey’s remarks followed a fun-filled field trip for Pike Road School System fourth-graders at the Pike Road Agriculture, Recreation and Performing Arts Center (ARPAC). Through hands-on activities at a dozen stations, over 200 students learned about Down to Earth’s Big 6 topics — carbon emissions; animal and plant efficiency; data and technology; conserving natural resources; smart land use; and sustaining for the future.

Down to Earth Co-chair Kayla Greer said her group’s goal is to reach at least 1 million consumers with Down to Earth messages. “At the end of the day, we want people to know sustainability isn’t about the size of the farm or the commodity produced,” said Greer, who serves as campaign co-chair along with Caleb Hicks. “It’s about using the land in smart ways and protecting our natural resources so we can produce food, timber and fiber for people now and long into the future.”

Following the field trip and press conference, hundreds of locals flocked to the Pike Road ARPAC. A bevy of booths educated the public about sustainability, farm life, Alabama forestland and efficient, high-tech farm practices.

Meanwhile, five teams of media personalities participated in a competition featuring common agricultural tasks. The contest included a rural relay, where participants roped a calf, donned a poultry biosecurity suit and measured feed; raking a fire break to slow a forest fire; and Rural Jeopardy! featuring questions about Down to Earth’s Big 6 topics.

Down to Earth partners include the Alabama Agribusiness Council, Alabama Association of RC&D Councils, Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries, Alabama Farmers Federation, Alabama Forestry Commission, Alabama Poultry & Egg Association and Sweet Grown Alabama. 

Over the year, the Down to Earth message will be shared online at DownToEarthAL.com as well as through social media ads, events and bimonthly press releases. FFA groups, 4-H clubs and civic organizations will help share Down to Earth’s sustainability message. Down to Earth was also Alabama Farm-City’s 2021 theme.

Interact with @DowntoEarthAL on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Spring Junior Cattlemen’s Field Day

Legislative Update

The legislature is expected to conclude the session this week. Today marks day 28 of the session leaving only two more possible days. Lawmakers are working out details of several bills including concurrence on the Education Trust Fund. Three bills related to agriculture are on the House special order calendar today. They include the “Sweet Grown Alabama” bill (SB274) which exempts sales tax on value added products, a raise for the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries (SB319) and SB 317 related to agricultural authorities. A recap of the session will be provided in next weeks blog.

Speaking of policy, Tuesday night, the ACA attended the Montgomery City Council meeting as proposed changes to the city’s animal ordinance was on the agenda. The item was carried over until the next meeting in two weeks which will give time for comments and changes to be submitted to the proposal. For any questions about this matter, contact Erin at the office.

IT’S COOK-OFF TIME!

YCLP Update

Thanks for reading this week’s post! Until we post again, we want to remind you that you can stay in touch with us by following us on Facebook or Instagram.

Welcome to the Bama Beef Blog, where you can check out the latest news from the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program and the Southeastern Livestock Expo. Keep reading for more info!

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DOWN TO EARTH: AGRICULTURE SUSTAINS ALABAMA

Sustainability is a buzzword that has captured the attention of producers and consumers alike, and agricultural communicators from across the state are taking on the buzz. In March 2021, communications staff from commodity representatives and trade organizations across the agricultural sector began meeting to discuss how to tackle this topic. The result of almost a year of conversations— Down to Earth: Agriculture Sustains Alabama.

This yearlong public education campaign is a collaborative communications effort designed to be a voice for agricultural stakeholders in Alabama to promote the sustainable, conservation-minded practices farmers and ranchers are already doing. The goal is to reach 1 million Alabama consumers to influence their beliefs by promoting the work of farmers and ranchers across the state— to tell YOUR story. We know your goal is to create as much output with as little input, all while protecting the environment for future generations, and it is now time we, as communicators, do a better job of telling that story. To do that, the group has broken down the sustainability topic into six main points: Carbon Emissions, Animal & Plant Efficiency, Data & Technology, Conserving Natural Resources, Smart Land Use and Sustaining for the Future. We will be extending this campaign via digital advertising, broadcast news, print media, and a video campaign. The 2021 Farm-City theme also reflected this concept, which served as an excellent soft launch and way to introduce this tricky topic in an interactive way to school children across the state. 

Working group members include the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, the Alabama Farmers Federation, Alabama Poultry & Egg Association, Alabama Agribusiness Council, Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, Sweet Grown Alabama, the Alabama Commission, Simply Southern and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. ACA’s Kayla Greer is a co-chair to this statewide, collaborative effort alongside Caleb Hicks of AP&EA. 

The campaign officially launches TOMORROW  March 31, 2022 with an event called “Down to Earth Day” in Pike Road, AL. It will include an educational field trip portion, public education event, and a media conference with elected officials as our special guests. This is YOUR campaign, so if you want to be part of it as a spokesperson, event volunteer, or just learn more about how to help spread the message, contact Kayla Greer at (334) 265-1867 or email her. Otherwise, please help us spread the Down to Earth message on social media beginning March 31, 2022 on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Scholarship Banquet This Friday

On Friday night, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarship Banquet will be held at the Wetumpka Civic Center. The foundation is awarding over $80,000 this year to deserving students from across the state! The foundation is funded through sales of the Cowboy Tag, so go buy you one today. Several scholarships are also available through the generous endowments from families in the state.

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

The 2022 membership year has officially kicked off, and we are headed boldly in the direction of 10,000 members! May counties are hosting annual meetings. Please, contact Jessica Kennedy at our office to let her know about county meeting dates and leadership changes OR complete this online form to notify us of your meeting, assign a mailout, and request a guest speaker. As always, leaders, we encourage you to enter new members and renewals by the 15th of each month to guarantee they stay on the magazine distribution list and to deposit checks in a timely manner. Also, PLEASE send county leader updates to the state office so we can update them for future mailings, emails, etc. Contact Jessica to let her know who your county officers are!

As a reminder, the deadline for the Membership Cash drawing is March 31. Get membership in before that date in order to make the drawing!

Legislative Update

The legislature is back to town this week after taking a week off for spring break. Today marks the 25^th day of the session, which means things are in crunch mode. Both budgets still need final passage and are working their way through committee action this week. The ACA is keeping a check on several budget items and also monitoring bills through this home stretch. The senate ag committee meets this afternoon before legislators go into session for the day. 

It’s cook-off time!

Coming up on April 9, the Alabama Beef Checkoff, FCCLA, and Alabama CattleWomen’s Association will be hosting the Alabama Jr. and Sr. High School Beef Cook-off competition. We are excited to host students from all of the state at Jefferson State Community College where they will present creative and delicious beef dishes for our judges. Winners will win money as well as the notoriety of being a Beef Cook-off Champion. While judges are tasting, the students, teachers, and parents will be participating in educational programs from chefs from Jefferson State Community College, Registered Dietitian Elesha Ergle, and they will get to see ultrasound tech, Amanda Engle, ultrasound the ribeye area of a calf.

SLE Rodeo Recap

Thank you to everyone who came to the 2022 SLE Rodeo and Livestock Week! This was an incredibly successful event on all fronts. We are thrilled to see the youth programs growing each year.

In 2022, the Southeastern Livestock Exposition was able to support 350+ youth rodeo competitors, 200+ junior beef and swine exhibitors, and 300+ youth competed in the 7^th annual SLE Livestock Judging Contest including not only 4H and FFA, but also 16 collegiate teams from across the country! We are thankful for the support from the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. With their help, we were able to give over $75,000 in scholarships to Alabama’s youth in agriculture. Our charitable efforts don’t stop there. The SLE also donated $8,300 to a special group in 2022: The Alabama Sheriffs Youth Ranches. Girls from the Tallapoosa County Ranch even volunteered their time to help with the 2022 Miracle Rodeo, and they (along with ~140 other people) also joined us for our first ever Cowboy Church in the Teague Arena on March 20.

Not only are we proud of the joint efforts we receive to promote and support our youth, but we are also proud to have had a sold-out rodeo on March 19! The SLE Rodeo is part of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) NFR Playoff Series. Thanks to this great accomplishment, we welcomed a number of world champions to Montgomery, AL!

We hope to see this event continue to grow, so save the dates for next year and tell your friends: the SLE Rodeo will bring the best in bucking stock and the best cowboys back to the Garrett Coliseum to compete again March 17-19, 2023. We look forward to seeing you there!

BAMA-Q SLE RODEO STEAK CHAMPIONSHIP

The SLE Rodeo hosted the 2^nd Annual Bama-Q SLE Rodeo Steak Championship. We had two winners for the steak championship, Steak A & B winners were Jeff Moody and Marty Plute. This competition saw 48 contestants from all across the country, and we even had one participant come all the way from New Zealand. Troy Bilbrough flew in from New Zealand to compete for the Steak Cookoff Association World Championship in Fort Worth, TX the week before and then made the trip to Alabama for the Bama-Q SLE Rodeo Steak Championship. A special congratulations also goes also to Catherine Noble who won the Hot Dog Ancillary competition!

YCLP Council elected and set to meet

The Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program Council will be meeting tomorrow. They will elect a YCLP Council Chairman, vote on incoming YCLP Class IX seats, discuss the YCLP Alumni Reunion and other business. We look forward to the first meeting of newly elected council. 

The newly elected council members are:

Thanks for reading this week’s post! Until we post again, we want to remind you that you can stay in touch with us by following us on Facebook or Instagram.