By Elesha Ergle, RDN

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Spring has sprung and busy schedules are filling up. Grocery lists get shorter because it’s easier to grab some drive-thru on your way home from a late night at the ballpark or a long day of working on the farm. While planning and meal prep are all things that help keep our daily diets more balanced, beef can provide some quick and easy recipes to keep it simple and nutritious. 

On the evenings where cooking is something you can do, take time to double recipes that can be frozen in for quick reheating. Classic Meatloaf, Baked Italian Meatballs, or Farm-ous Beef Lasagna are great recipes to double up and freeze individual portions for use later. Frozen meatballs are great to keep on-hand; just microwave and add some canned marinara sauce for quick meatball subs or spaghetti and meatballs.If you need some help reviving your leftovers, Beef It’s What’s For Dinner has an entire collection of recipes to keep you going while saving you time and reducing food waste. 

If you’re springtime has you busy knocking the pollen off your grill to get it going, beef is always a great addition to your fiery flare. Before your next BBQ, take a refresher course in beef safety with this short informational video. One of the easiest reminders for food safety is to keep hot foods hot (135℉ or greater), and cold foods cold (40℉ or less). If you’re all set for grilling, nothing beats the perfect steak. If you need step-by-step guidance on grilling steaks, this post from Simply Recipes is a great guide. 

No matter what your April brings, don’t be fooled…beef is the premier protein for your everyday meals! Whether you’re busy at the farm or chasing travel ball dreams, beef has you covered every day. For more recipes, and information on beef, from pasture to plate, visit Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.

Happy Springtime, everyone!

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

Things are firing up around the ACA as we head into some busy summer months, and we are thrilled to have a full calendar on the docket! After last year, we will never take busyness for granted again. We hope you enjoy this week’s update and that it helps keep you in the loop with all things ACA. Before we invite you to get started, we wanted to shoutout a faithful reader of the blog, Regional Vice President and Choctaw County Cattleman Johnny Gibson. Mr. Johnny is top-notch, and never misses a weekly blog update. Lately, however, he has been reading our updates from Arkansas where he is receiving cancer treatment. We invite you to join us in praying for Mr. Johnny and his wife, Henrietta, as they walk through this journey. Thanks for all you do!

Now, please continue reading to learn more about what we’re up to at the ACA this week.

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Youth Field Day Success

Our Spring Production Field Day was nothing short of a great success! We would like to thank our host, Quail Valley Farms in Blount County, for showing us true Southern hospitality. Youth of Alabama got the chance to learn about livestock judging, social media and photography, and forages. Jason P’Pool, Associate Extension Professor, did an excellent job talking with our youth on how to judge a production beef animal. Quail Valley Farms provided us with top notch Santa Gertrudis and Brangus cattle for our youth to evaluate. Participants then broke into two groups to have some hands on training. ACA staffer, Kayla Greer, talked with our youth on the do’s and don’ts of agriculture social media. She also gave some tips and tricks for when they are behind the camera! Regional Extension Agent Gerry Thompson did a great hands-on education course with the participants on hay testing and soil sampling.

A special thanks, goes to Blount County Cattlemen’s for providing over 50 youth participants a tasty hamburger for lunch! The youth then wrapped up the sunny Saturday at Quail Valley Farms with a farm tour given by farm manager, Chris Heptinstall, and owner, Ricky Cleveland.

Welcome, Senators!

Thursday morning the ACA and Alabama Poultry and Egg Association will host the Senate at the ACA building for breakfast. This is a great opportunity to have all of the Senators in our building for beef and to network with them. Senators look forward to this every year as it takes place towards to the end of the session!

On the Menu: Beef Cook-Off

The Alabama Jr. & Sr. High School Beef Cookoff will be hosted at Jefferson State Community College this Saturday, April 24. We have over 20 Family and Consumer Science students from all over the state of Alabama registered to compete for the title of Overall Best Beef Dish! While judging is taking place, students will meet with Chef Todd Jackson on how to break down a whole Tenderloin, discuss the importance of adding beef to a healthy lifestyle with Registered Dietician, Elesha Ergle, and learn the pasture to plate story from ACA staffer Ali Cantrell.

Membership Update

County leaders, please send us leadership changes for 2021 to Membership Coordinator Jessica Kennedy. We want to ensure all mailings and correspondence are getting to correct individuals in your county who are in leadership positions! Speaking of mailings, the second round of membership notices are hitting mailboxes, so be on the lookout for renewals, and get those in the system! If you’ve got upcoming events, please also share them with our staff so we can put them on our calendar and potentially attend.

AU Women in Ag

On Wednesday, ACA Executive VP Erin Beasley attended the AU College of Agriculture’s “Women in Agriculture” event and served on a panel to address attendees. The event brought about 100 women together including students, faculty, staff and industry professionals. Panelists shared their experiences about their roles in agriculture as well as field questions from attendees.

Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program News

We are one month out from welcoming our YCLP Class VIII to Montgomery to kick off their first session. Session 1 will be full of leadership and networking. The class will be joining in on the Spring Board Meeting, attending farm tours, and participating in our BEEF 201 program at the Auburn Meat Lab. 

YCLP Alumni from all graduated classes we invited you to join us May 21-22 at Kick Back Ranch! The reunion will give you a chance to catch up with your classmates and meet other young cattlemen. Kick Back Ranch is a family-friendly destination featuring swimming pools, fishing, canoeing, water slides, playgrounds and much more in addition to a variety of western-themed, unique lodging for your family to enjoy! They have offered us a great weekend rate for this event, and we encourage you and your family to make a trip of this reunion. Register today at https://www.bamabeef.org/reunion.

AJCA Upcoming Events

AJCA is excited to host two ZOOM meeting opportunities for county leadership looking to grow their junior cattlemen’s involvement. Join us May 25 or 27 for an hour of discussion with junior leaders across the state! They will share their tips, tricks, and experiences on how to engage youth at a county level.  To register or learn more visit our youth event calendar at https://www.bamabeef.org/events/youth.

AJCA Round-Up is just around the corner. Staffer Morgan Desselle is working on putting the last final touches to the entry packet before she releases all the details next month. Registration will open May 17and close July 2. There will be exciting new things added to Round-Up this year. Make sure to check over the packet for all the new things coming to AJCA! Don’t worry we will keep with the tradition on some of our events as we welcome the AJCA members and their families for the 15^th Annual AJCA Round-Up July 15-18!

CFAP Info: Here’s What You Need to Know

Got questions about CFAPand the various programs administering COVID-19 relief dollars to cattle producers? Here’s what you need to know. 

There’s three parts to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s push to bring relief and assistance to producers who are struggling due to the pandemic: CFAP 1 payments, CFAP 2 payments, and the newly-created Pandemic Assistance to Producers. Let’s go over them one by one.

CFAP 1 payments have already gone out, but USDA is now increasing the rates for producers based on the number of cattle in inventory between April 16-May 14, 2020. The rates are now as follows: 

Feeder Cattle, less than 600 lbs  $7.00/head

Feeder Cattle, 600 lbs or more  $25.50/head

Slaughter Cattle, fed cattle  $63.00/head

Slaughter Cattle, mature cattle  $14.75/head

All Other Cattle  $17.25/head

“Am I eligible for the increase?” YES, you are if you previously applied for CFAP 1. “Do I need to take any action to get the funds?” NO, producers with approved CFAP 1 applications will automatically receive the increased payment rate.

CFAP 2. The original application window was September 21-December 11, 2020. However, FSA is now accepting *new* and *modified* applications for CFAP 2. This won’t impact everyone, but it’s important for cattle producers who may have missed the original deadline! To see the full eligibility requirements and payment details for CFAP 2, visit farmers.gov/cfap2/livestock. 

The third and final program to be aware of is the new Pandemic Assistance to Producers. The NCBA policy team is tracking this initiative closely. While the new program still needs to undergo a formal rulemaking process at USDA, it’s our understanding that they intend to open it up to producers this spring. The program will include additional COVID-19 aid for producers, and other efforts to strengthen the resiliency of the national food supply. We will keep pushing hard to have practical measures like the RAMP UP Act implemented. We will continue to keep you up to date as we receive additional information on federal COVID-19 assistance efforts for cattle producers. In the meantime, reach out to us at (202) 347-0228 if you have questions!

Bama Beef Events Calendar

The online Bama Beef Events Calendar is getting a list of new events daily. As Extension begins to normalize, educational programs are popping up across the state. County cattlemen’s chapters are beginning to think about meeting. Sales are lining up. Steak sandwich sales are firing up, and Junior Cattlemen events eyeball those free summer months! Not only that, but summertime means grilling season. We all know that beef is king of the grill, so summer beef promotions are also firing up! Make it a daily task to check out our calendar and keep an eye on events coming near you!

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.

Springtime is here, and our calendar shows! With items filling up our to-do lists, you can bet that while you’re busy in the barns, hayfields and pastures, your ACA staff is busy in the workplace. We’re planning and executing beef promotion, youth development events and educational opportunities. We’re putting out a magazine; we’re playing watchdog for you on the legislative front. There’s no shortage of work around here— and we know that’s something you all know a thing or two about. Keep reading to learn more about what’s happening at the ACA this week.

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Youth Spring Production Field Day – This Weekend!

We look forward to welcoming all the juniors who registered for the Field Day this Saturday! The 2021 Spring Youth Production Field Day will be held on April 17 at Quail Valley Farms in Oneonta. The Alabama State Beef Checkoff is providing a chance for our youth to become educated on topics such as cattle judging, foraging, and marketing! Registration has closed for this event, but walk-up guests are welcome. Learn more at:  www.bamabeef.org/fieldday. If you can’t make it this time, make sure to save the date for our fall field day in Andalusia on September 18!

Annual Beef Cook-Off, Coming Right Up!

The Annual Alabama Jr. & Sr. High School Beef Cook-Off will NEXT WEEKEND at a new location! Jefferson State Community College has been gracious enough to host the Beef Cook-Off and we thank the culinary education staff for the support. We are extending the registration deadline for those counties that have not been able to host a cook-off yet.This event will be held at Health Sciences and Culinary Institute building at Jefferson State and registration is FREE! Please contact Ali Cantrell if you have any questions.

YCLP Update

We are one month out from welcoming our YCLP Class VIII to Montgomery to kick off their first session. Session 1 will be full of leadership and networking. The class will be joining in on the Spring Board Meeting, attending farm tours, and participating in our BEEF 201 program at the Auburn Meat Lab. 

YCLP Alumni from all graduated classes we invited you to join us May 21-22 at Kick Back Ranch! The reunion will give you a chance to catch up with your classmates and meet other young cattlemen. Kick Back Ranch is a family-friendly destination featuring swimming pools, fishing, canoeing, water slides, playgrounds and much more in addition to a variety of western-themed, unique lodging for your family to enjoy! They have offered us a great weekend rate for this event, and we encourage you and your family to make a trip of this reunion. Register today at https://www.bamabeef.org/reunion.

Membership Update

The membership total o’ the day is: 7,143 members of the ACA! County leaders, please send us leadership changes for 2021 to Membership Coordinator Jessica Kennedy. We want to ensure all mailings and correspondence are getting to correct individuals in your county who are in leadership positions! Speaking of mailings, the second round of membership notices are hitting mailboxes, so be on the lookout for renewals, and get those in the system! If you’ve got upcoming events, please also share them with our staff so we can put them on our calendar and potentially attend!

AJCA Upcoming Events

AJCA is excited to host two ZOOM meeting opportunities for county leadership looking to grow their junior cattlemen’s involvement. Join us May 25 or 27 for an hour of discussion with junior leaders across the state! They will share their tips, tricks, and experiences on how to engage youth at a county level.  To register or learn more visit our youth event calendar at https://www.bamabeef.org/events/youth.

AJCA Round-Up is just around the corner. Staffer Morgan Desselle is working on putting the last final touches to the entry packet before she releases all the details next month. Registration will open May 17 and close July 2. There will be exciting new things added to Round-Up this year. Make sure to check over the packet for all the new things coming to AJCA! Don’t worry we will keep with the tradition on some of our events as we welcome the AJCA members and their families for the 15^th Annual AJCA Round-Up July 15-18!

CFAP Info: Here’s What You Need to Know

Got questions about CFAP and the various programs administering COVID-19 relief dollars to cattle producers? Here’s what you need to know. 

There’s three parts to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s push to bring relief and assistance to producers who are struggling due to the pandemic: CFAP 1 payments, CFAP 2 payments, and the newly-created Pandemic Assistance to Producers. Let’s go over them one by one.

CFAP 1 payments have already gone out, but USDA is now increasing the rates for producers based on the number of cattle in inventory between April 16-May 14, 2020. The rates are now as follows: 

Feeder Cattle, less than 600 lbs  $7.00/head

Feeder Cattle, 600 lbs or more  $25.50/head

Slaughter Cattle, fed cattle  $63.00/head

Slaughter Cattle, mature cattle  $14.75/head

All Other Cattle  $17.25/head

“Am I eligible for the increase?” YES, you are if you previously applied for CFAP 1. “Do I need to take any action to get the funds?” NO, producers with approved CFAP 1 applications will automatically receive the increased payment rate.

CFAP 2. The original application window was September 21-December 11, 2020. However, FSA is now accepting *new* and *modified* applications for CFAP 2. This won’t impact everyone, but it’s important for cattle producers who may have missed the original deadline! To see the full eligibility requirements and payment details for CFAP 2, visit farmers.gov/cfap2/livestock. 

The third and final program to be aware of is the new Pandemic Assistance to Producers. The NCBA policy team is tracking this initiative closely. While the new program still needs to undergo a formal rulemaking process at USDA, it’s our understanding that they intend to open it up to producers this spring. The program will include additional COVID-19 aid for producers, and other efforts to strengthen the resiliency of the national food supply. We will keep pushing hard to have practical measures like the RAMP UP Act implemented. We will continue to keep you up to date as we receive additional information on federal COVID-19 assistance efforts for cattle producers. In the meantime, reach out to us at (202) 347-0228 if you have questions!

Bama Beef Events Calendar

The online Bama Beef Events Calendar is getting a list of new events daily. As Extension begins to normalize, educational programs are popping up across the state. County cattlemen’s chapters are beginning to think about meeting. Sales are lining up. Steak sandwich sales are firing up, and Junior Cattlemen events eyeball those free summer months! Not only that, but summertime means grilling season. We all know that beef is king of the grill, so summer beef promotions are also firing up! Make it a daily task to check out our calendar and keep an eye on events coming near you!

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, April. Welcome, spring! It’s a beautiful time of year as green grass appears all over Alabama’s farm-scapes. While that green forage fools some into thinking a cattlemen’s agenda may clear out with less feeding to do, boy, we all know that’s not the truth! We’re looking at tightening fences as wondering cows start to eyeball that ungrazed roadside grass, cutting and baling hay, working and weaning calves, watering where there’s no natural sources and so much more. On top of that, the warmer weather and the reduced COVID numbers have people, groups, and events ready to GO! It’s a busy time of year for you, which means it’s a busy time of year for us. Keep reading to learn more about what’s happening at the ACA.

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Bama Beef Events Calendar

The online Bama Beef Events Calendar is getting a list of new events daily. As Extension begins to normalize, educational programs are popping up across the state. County cattlemen’s chapters are beginning to think about meeting. Sales are lining up. Steak sandwich sales are firing up, and Junior Cattlemen events eyeball those free summer months! Not only that, but summertime means grilling season. We all know that beef is king of the grill, so summer beef promotions are also firing up! Make it a daily task to check out our calendar and keep an eye on events coming near you!

Speaking of events, this weekend ACA’s Morgan Desselle and Erin Beasley will stop by the Clay and Marshall County meetings! We look forward to seeing cattlemen in those counties.

Welcome, Junior Angus Association

On Saturday, April 10. The MOOseum will be hosting a private tour for the Junior Angus Association for their “Raising the Bar Conference.” Eighty Junior Angus members from across the United States will be coming to our building to learn more about the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, the Beef Checkoff and how we raise beef cattle right here in Sweet Home. On Thursday, Erin Beasley will join the group for a discussion about the ACA and the Alabama Beef Checkoff program. Raising the Bar is a three-day conference that builds stronger leaders within state associations, create regional relationships, while preparing juniors for the future. They will be hosting workshops and farm tours around the state to learn more about Alabama agriculture operations.

Membership Update

County leaders, please send us leadership changes for 2021 to Membership Coordinator Jessica Kennedy. We want to ensure all mailings and correspondence are getting to correct individuals in your county who are in leadership positions! Speaking of mailings, the second round of membership notices will be hitting mailboxes late next week so be on the lookout for renewals, and get those in the system! If you’ve got upcoming events, please also share them with our staff so we can put them on our calendar and potentially attend!

Hosting Congressman Mike Rogers

On Tuesday, the ACA hosted a small fundraising brunch for U.S. Congressman Mike Rogers of Alabama’s third congressional district. While at the building, Rep. Rogers gave an update from D.C., explained some upcoming changes within the new Administration and answered many questions regarding armed services, taxation, and the reopening of the country post-COVID. We appreciate him stopping by and being a friend fo the cattle industry!

All You Need to Know About CFAP

Got questions about CFAP and the various programs administering COVID-19 relief dollars to cattle producers? Here’s what you need to know.

There’s three parts to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s push to bring relief and assistance to producers who are struggling due to the pandemic: CFAP 1 payments, CFAP 2 payments, and the newly-created Pandemic Assistance to Producers. Let’s go over them one by one.

CFAP 1 payments have already gone out, but USDA is now increasing the rates for producers based on the number of cattle in inventory between April 16-May 14, 2020. The rates are now as follows:

Feeder Cattle, less than 600 lbs $7.00/head

Feeder Cattle, 600 lbs or more $25.50/head

Slaughter Cattle, fed cattle $63.00/head

Slaughter Cattle, mature cattle $14.75/head

All Other Cattle $17.25/head

“Am I eligible for the increase?” YES, you are if you previously applied for CFAP 1. “Do I need to take any action to get the funds?” NO, producers with approved CFAP 1 applications will automatically receive the increased payment rate.

CFAP 2. The original application window was September 21-December 11, 2020. However, FSA is now accepting *new* and *modified* applications for CFAP 2. This won’t impact everyone, but it’s important for cattle producers who may have missed the original deadline! To see the full eligibility requirements and payment details for CFAP 2, visit farmers.gov/cfap2/livestock.

The third and final program to be aware of is the new Pandemic Assistance to Producers. The NCBA policy team is tracking this initiative closely. While the new program still needs to undergo a formal rulemaking process at USDA, it’s our understanding that they intend to open it up to producers this spring. The program will include additional COVID-19 aid for producers, and other efforts to strengthen the resiliency of the national food supply. We will keep pushing hard to have practical measures like the RAMP UP Act implemented. We will continue to keep you up to date as we receive additional information on federal COVID-19 assistance efforts for cattle producers. In the meantime, reach out to us at (202) 347-0228 if you have questions!

Spring Production Field Day

Calling all youth ages 21 and younger! Join us in Blount County for a day full of education and fun! Spring Youth Production Field Day will be held on April 17 at Quail Valley Farms in Oneonta. The Alabama State Beef Checkoff is providing a chance for our youth to become educated on topics such as cattle judging, foraging, and marketing! Registration for this hands on field day closes Friday April 9 at noon. Register today at www.bamabeef.org/fieldday

Highlighting the Alabama Beef Checkoff

ACA Director of Education and Outreach Ali Cantrell spoke to a marketing class at Samford University on Tuesday, April 6 about how the Beef Checkoff program utilizes our marketing plan. She explained both National and State checkoff programs and what we do to help promote beef throughout the year. These students learned a lot about the checkoff and how the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association represents beef producers in the state. We appreciate Linda Godfrey, a Samford University dietetics professor and Alabama Beef Checkoff Council member, for coordinating this talk.

YCLP Update

YCLP Council members met yesterday for a meeting to discuss upcoming events and applications for the YCLP Council seats Class IV and VII. We will be hosting our first YCLP Reunion! YCLP Alumni from all graduated classes we invited you to join us May 21-22 at Kick Back Ranch! The reunion will give you a chance to catch up with your classmates and meet other young cattlemen. Kick Back Ranch is a family-friendly destination featuring swimming pools, fishing, canoeing, water slides, playgrounds and much more in addition to a variety of western-themed, unique lodging for your family to enjoy! They have offered us a great weekend rate for this event, and we encourage you and your family to make a trip of this reunion. Register today at https://www.bamabeef.org/reunion.

Congratulations to the 2021-2022 Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program Council:

Well, hey there! It has been awhile since we updated our blog, but boy has it been a busy month! Now that March is nearly in our rearview, we can look back and celebrate the fantastic month that it was. Convention was a hit of an event— we had a great crowd, good food, an excellent trade show and educational sessions and hosted a PAC auction that earned over $12,000 in PAC proceeds. Then we rolled right on into the SLE Rodeo which brought down the barn with its many successes! A PRCA ProRodeo Tour stop with two sellout performances, air time on national television and more than $168,000 in payouts. Folks, that’s big league, and we were thrilled to have it in Montgomery!

Now we shift our eyes to all that’s coming. It’s spring sale season. Grills are getting ready to fire up for summertime grilling. Youth events line the calendar. The legislature is still in session. There’s so much yet to do, so keep reading to tap into this week’s update. Oh, and don’t forget to wish our Head Heifer (aka Erin Beasley) a big ole HAPPY BIRTHDAY. We’d also like to wish you and yours a Happy Easter!

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Sponsor Day at Baron’s Stadium

Staffers Erin Beasley, Ali Cantrell, Kayla Greer, and Morgan Desselle will be heading to home plate today at Birmingham Barons stadium to tour the facilities and get a partnership sneak peak for Baseball season! The Beef Checkoff program is sponsoring the home games at the Barons stadium this summer so that baseball fans will have beef on the mind as they watch their favorite minor league. The Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner campaign will be featured on the jumbotron for every home game so go buy your tickets to a game this summer!

More CFAP Payments to Come

Late last week, the US Department of Agriculture released details about the next round of CFAP payments. USDA will begin making CFAP payments for cattle producers starting next month. Below is some additional information on the announcement, and more detailed information can be found on www.farmers.gov/cfap. 

CFAP 1

USDA is implementing an increase in CFAP 1 payment rates for cattle based on the number of cattle in inventory between April 16, 2020, to May 14, 2020. Cattle producers with approved CFAP 1 applications will automatically receive these payments. Eligible producers do not need to submit a new CFAP 1 application form or take any action.Only producers who previously applied for CFAP 1 are eligible to receive this additional payment.

The following payment rates will be used:

Class of Cattle	Payment Rate
Feeder Cattle: less than 600 lbs	$7.00/head
Feeder Cattle: 600 lbs or more	$25.50/head
Slaughter Cattle: fed cattle	$63.00/head
Slaughter Cattle: mature cattle	$14.75/head
All Other Cattle	$17.25/head

CFAP 2

The original application period for CFAP 2 was September 21 through December 11, 2020. However, beginning April 5, FSA will begin accepting new and modified CFAP 2 applications. While this is unlikely to impact a great number of cattle producers, it will benefit any individuals who may have missed the original signup deadline.

• As a reminder, CFAP 2 cattle assistance payments are equal to the highest owned inventory of eligible livestock – excluding breeding stock – on a date selected by the eligible producer from April 16, 2020, through August 31, 2020, multiplied by a payment rate of $55/head, up to $250,000 or 4,546 head per producer.
• Operations can qualify for up to three payment limitations if they provide at least 400 hours of active personal labor, active personal management, or combination thereof with respect to the production of 2020 commodities.

• Two payment limits = $500,000 or 9,091 head.
• Three payment limits = $750,000 or 13,636 head.

More information on CFAP 2 eligibility and payment details related to livestock can be found at www.farmers.gov/cfap2/livestock.

Annual Beef Cookoff, Coming Right Up!

The Annual Alabama Jr. & Sr. High School Beef Cook-Off will be on April 24 at a new location! Jefferson State Community College has been gracious enough to host the Beef Cook-Off and we thank the culinary education staff for the support. If your county has hosted a local beef cook-off, be sure to get your winners registered on our website at https://www.bamabeef.org/cookoff ! We are extending the deadline for those counties that have not been able to host a cookoff yet. This event will be held at Health Sciences and Culinary Institute building at Jefferson State and registration is FREE! Please contact Ali Cantrell if you have any questions.

Youth Production Field Day- Blount County

The Junior Cattlemen’s Board of Directors will meet virtually tomorrow to discuss and finalize Spring Field Day. We look forward to having youth come from all across the state to this educational event! If you would like to learn more about this checkoff-funded youth event please visit www.bamabeef.org/fieldday and register.

All the News for YCLP

The YCLP Council will meet virtually at the beginning of next week to review open council seat applications from Class IV and VII. If you are an alumni from either of those classes and would like to serve on the council please email  morgan@bamabeef.org for the application. Applications are due on TODAY by 5:00 pm!

If you are an YCLP Alumni we invite you to participate in the YCLP Reunion! We are hosting an alumni event for all of the graduated classes. Join us May 21-22 at Kick Back Ranch for a chance to catch up with your classmates and meet other young cattlemen. Kick Back Ranch is a family-friendly destination featuring swimming pools, fishing, canoeing, water slides, playgrounds and much more in addition to a variety of western-themed, unique lodging for your family to enjoy! They have offered us a great weekend rate for this event, and we encourage you and your family to make a trip of this reunion. Register today at https://www.bamabeef.org/reunion

Membership Update

Our membership today is home to 6,963 members and counting as several county chapters have meetings coming up! Jessica Kennedy is working to get statements prepared to go to print next week to attract the latest in non-renewed members. County leaders, be on the lookout for a list verifying the return address!

Summertime Grilling Hits Billboards

Staffer Kayla Greer has been working on an advertising package to promote summertime grilling on, that’s right…billboards! As Alabama’s beaches attract so much travel in the summer months, BEEF will plaster up on popular roadways headed to the Gulf. From Huntsville to the Foley Beach Express and many miles in between, we hope to highlight the Beef. It’s Whats For Dinner message at the big signs along with digital promos this summer.

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.

It’s mid-February, and someone turned down the AC, but that’s ok because we’re full steam ahead into convention and rodeo season, regardless of the weather! There’s not much time to spare on small talk, so keep reading to learn more about ALL the work your staff is up to in the Montgomery office this week!

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ACA Convention & Trade Show

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

Get your seat at the table and be sure to join us March 5-6 by registering online now, and don’t forget to book your stay at the Westin Hotel online or by calling (205) 307-3600 and using code ACA. REGISTRATION CLOSES NEXT FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26 SO DON’T MISS YOUR SEAT AT THE TABLE!

Speaking of convention, this week, Alabama Ag Credit came to the office to help stuff registration bags with masks and hand sanitizer as part of their sponsorship! We are very excited that convention is almost here and we can meet and mingle safely with all of our cattlemen in Birmingham.

SLE Rodeo Tickets Now on Sale

We are 43 days out from the first performance of 2021! Buck on over to www.SLERodeo.com/Tickets now to secure your seats at the greatest show on dirt! This year’s show is sure to please as we’re featuring freestyle bullfighting, the best stock in the PRCA, all kinds of children’s events and hometown rodeo clown, Trent McFarland! We’ve got some awesome ticket deals available for you to take advantage of, so don’t wait. Get on over to www.SLERodeo.com or call 888-2RODEO2 to learn more about all that SLE Livestock Week offers and to purchase your tickets today!

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

Feasibility Study Underway

The State Beef Checkoff is funding a comprehensive feasibility study for expanded beef processing in the state which will be conducted by the Ag Economics research team at Auburn University. Tomorrow researchers will meet with a cattlemen panel to drill down on specific topics they hope to see the study produce. The research and report should be produced by end of 2021 to be disseminated out to interested parties.

Alabama Legislature

There’s not much by way of a legislative update this week. The legislature took this week off to evaluate COVID-19 protocols in the State House. They will be back in town next week to get back to business, and we’ll be around monitoring activity.

ACF Scholarship Announcements

The Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation will be announcing scholarship winners in the next week. If you applied for a scholarship keep an eye out in your email for notification of an award!

Industry Relations in Pike County

Director of Field Services Morgan Desselle is headed to South Alabama Stockyard in Brundidge today for their weekly sale. Morgan travel’s to stockyards across the state to promote the Alabama State Checkoff program. While she is at yards she works to maintain relationships with yard owners and producers across the state!

AJCA Update

The Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Board of Directors meet virtually on Monday. This group of youth leaders discussed the upcoming ACA Convention and youth career-centered contests that will take place March 6 in Birmingham. The AJCA Board has been hard at work planning these events and are looking forward to having youth come to compete all across the state! If you missed the online pre-registration, no worries! We offer walk up registration Friday March 5 at the convention center. We look forward to seeing our youth. Visit https://www.bamabeef.org2020/aca-convention-trade-show for more information on ACA Convention and youth career centered contests!

Be sure to follow news and updates by following the AJCA on Instagram and/or Facebook! You can also subscribe to receive email update at www.bamabeef.org/ajcanews.

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

February is in full blast, and we’re full steam ahead into convention and rodeo season. There’s not much time to spare on small talk, so keep reading to learn more about ALL the work your staff is up to in the Montgomery office this week!

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NCBA Tailgating Tournament- Voting Ends Today!

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is hosting a tailgating tournament to highlight delicious beef recipes for the SuperBowl, NASCAR and the upcoming baseball seasons. Alabama Junior Cattlemen Mason and Mackenzie Smith of Marshall County filmed a video and THEY NEED YOUR VOTE. If announced the winners, the Smith Family as well as our association will be awarded a Traeger Pellet Grill for use at beef promotions across the state. Click THIS LINK and hit “Vote” to cast your ballot. Let’s support these excellent junior cattlemen in their beef promotion efforts!

ACA Convention & Trade Show

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

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

SLE Rodeo Tickets Now on Sale

We are 43 days out from the first performance of 2021! Buck on over to www.SLERodeo.com/Tickets now to secure your seats at the greatest show on dirt! This year’s show is sure to please as we’re featuring freestyle bullfighting, the best stock in the PRCA, all kinds of children’s events and hometown rodeo clown, Trent McFarland! We’ve got some awesome ticket deals available for you to take advantage of, so don’t wait. Get on over to www.SLERodeo.com or call 888-2RODEO2 to learn more about all that SLE Livestock Week offers and to purchase your tickets today!

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

Membership Update

As of today, the ACA is home to 5,743 members and counting as county meetings are happening (in some form) across the state! Secretaries, be sure to get those new and renewed members updated in the system by February 15 in order for them to get the March magazine and PLEASE send your county leadership changes to Jessica Kennedy at jkennedy@bamabeef.org.

Farmers Now Eligible for PPP Loan

As part of the of the continuing COVID relief programs, individual farmers have recently been granted eligibility to participate in the Payroll Protection Program(PPP). The PPP is a loan that all or part can be forgiven. To determine the amount you are eligible to borrow, on your 2019 federal tax return find your Schedule F and take the amount on line 9 and divide by 12, then multiply by 2.5.

For example, if line 9 is $50,000.00.

$50,000.00/12 = $4166.67

$4166.67

    X 2.5

$10,416.68

This loan is designed to be forgiven, but that it is not a guarantee. Please contact your local lender for more information.

Please share this information with your county members. U.S. Treasury Website with more information

Ag Board Gathers for a Meeting

The Agriculture and Industries Board, which oversees the Department of Ag and Industries, met yesterday. Of note for the cattle industry, a change to the state’s Trichomoniasis rule was approved by the board which gives the State Veterinarian a pathway for action should a bull test positive for Trich. The change will now be published for 60 days before becoming final rule.

In the Field- North Alabama

Staffers Morgan Desselle and Kayla Greer traveled north on Tuesday! The duo stopped by Arab Livestock Market to visit owners, buyers, and sellers. They then headed to Hollywood, Alabama for Clay Kennamer’s presidency photo shoot and video. The staffers enjoyed touring Clay’s unique operation and capturing him in his element!

SLE Rodeo Promotions Kick Off

Not only will radio commercials hit sound waves and billboards paint landscapes soon, but television and digital promotions have already kicked off! Today, staffers Ali Cantrell and Lauren Wilson will be filming interviews to promote the SLE Rodeo with Jack Galassini on “The Time of Your Life” WSFA segment. Ali will be promoting the Bama-Q SLE Rodeo Steak Championship with a Ribeye steak sandwich cooking demo while Lauren talks all things rodeo! Also in the works this week was the premiere of our first Central Alabama Business Break on WSFA news station and some early social media ads hitting the World Wide Web. Promotions will really amp up soon as we join forces with our many advertising partners to make the 2021 rodeo the best yet!

YCLP Update

The Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program Council had a successful meeting last week. During this meeting, the council had a hard task of selecting the next YCLP Class. We would like to thank each applicant for applying for the program. We look forward to traveling the state with the next 25 young leaders. Stay tuned for the announcement of YCLP Class VIII members in your March magazine and make sure to stop by YCLP booth at convention to learn more about the program. The YCLP Council will host a meeting on Saturday, March 6 at 3:00 during convention in Birmingham. Alumni, mark your calendars to attend this meeting. The Council will update alumni on upcoming events for 2021 and socialize with their class members. We look forward to hosting and planning an alumni meeting this year!

AJCA Update

The Junior Board has been hard at work planning events for 2021! Two events are just around the corner. We will open our Spring Production Field Day registration March 1. This year, Quail Valley Farms in Blount County will be hosting this event for all youth interested in the cattle industry. The field day will provide youth with the educational opportunities in judging, forages, and marketing!  Mark your calendars to attend a day full of education on April 17. The deadline to register for spring field day will be March 31. 

Speaking of deadlines, the convention contest deadline is approaching FAST! The AJCA Board of Directors are excited to host career-centered contest at Convention sponsored by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program. Deadline to register for quiz bowl, career development, and public speaking in February 15! Register today at: https://www.bamabeef.org/Convention

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.

While the weather stays chilly, things around town are heating up! The legislature is in session. The convention is T-minus one month away, and the rodeo is just 43 days away! That’s not all that’s happening— although it feels like enough! We’re still promoting beef, educating, putting together new YCLP classes, providing scholarships, interacting on social media and SO MUCH MORE. Keep reading for your weekly ACA update.

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NCBA Tailgating Tournament- Vote Now!

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is hosting a tailgating tournament to highlight delicious beef recipes for the SuperBowl, NASCAR and the upcoming baseball seasons. Alabama Junior Cattlemen Mason and Mackenzie Smith of Marshall County filmed a video and THEY NEED YOUR VOTE. If announced the winners, the Smith Family as well as our association will be awarded a Traeger Pellet Grill for use at beef promotions across the state. Click THIS LINK and hit “Vote” to cast your ballot. Let’s support these excellent junior cattlemen in their beef promotion efforts! Thanks, Mason and Mackenzie, for highlighting your talents and to their parents, Kirk and Tonya Smith, who encourage their children to be excellent beef industry advocates!

ACA Convention & Trade Show

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

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

SLE Rodeo Tickets Now on Sale

We are 43 days out from the first performance of 2021! Buck on over to www.SLERodeo.com/Tickets now to secure your seats at the greatest show on dirt! This year’s show is sure to please as we’re featuring freestyle bullfighting, the best stock in the PRCA, all kinds of children’s events and hometown rodeo clown, Trent McFarland! We’ve got some awesome ticket deals available for you to take advantage of, so don’t wait. Get on over to www.SLERodeo.com or call 888-2RODEO2 to learn more about all that SLE Livestock Week offers and to purchase your tickets today!

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

NCBA Virtual Winter Meeting

NCBA Virtual Policy Meetings are taking place this week. ACA leadership is participating in these meetings to carry votes for Alabama. These will wrap up Thursday evening with the virtual Board of Directors meeting where Larry Reeves and Clay Kennamer will be voting for Alabama.

Alabama Legislative Session Begins

The Legislative Session kicked off yesterday and the ACA hosted the Ag Coalition along with Senate and House Ag Committee Chairs. The group discussed topics for the upcoming session along with how protocols will work with limited access for lobbyists in the state house. Today will be a full day of committee meetings with several important bills being considered. These include the Business Immunity bill (SB30) in Senate Judiciary committee and the income tax exclusion for any Coronavirus money received (SB98) bill in Senate FT&E committee. The Ag committees will not meet this week. ACA will be monitoring bills this session that could be negative to our industry.

In federal news, on Tuesday, Tom Vilsack was confirmed by the Senate Ag Committee to assume the role as Secretary of Agriculture. The confirmation will now go before the Senate body. Vilsack previously served in this position for eight years under the Obama administration.

Alabama Junior & Senior High School Cook-Off Happening in 2021

The Alabama Jr. & Sr. High School Beef Cook-Off will be on April 24 at a new location! Jefferson State Community College has been gracious enough to host the Beef Cook-Off and we thank the culinary education staff for the support. If your county has hosted a local beef cook-off, be sure to get your winners registered on our website at https://www.bamabeef.org/cookoff by March 26! If your county is unable to have a cookoff due to COVID restrictions, counties are permitted to submit 2020 county cookoff winners for the 2021 contest. This event will be held at Health Sciences and Culinary Institute building at Jefferson State and registration is FREE! Please contact me if you have any questions.

YCLP: Selecting Class VIII

Our Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Council will meet tomorrow to discuss several topics. The council will be reviewing Class VIII applications, discussing alumni opportunities for 2021, and involvement during convention. YCLP Class VIII applications are closed. Our current YCLP Class VII will be graduating Saturday night of Convention. We look forward to watching these young cattlemen over the next years as they become leaders of our industry. 

Membership Update

As of today, the ACA is home to 5,421 members and counting as county meetings are happening (in some form) across the state! Secretaries, be sure to get those new and renewed members updated in the system by February 15 in order for them to get the March magazine and PLEASE send your county leadership changes to Jessica Kennedy at jkennedy@bamabeef.org.

AJCA News

February brings excitement to our juniors as they get closer to convention! The AJCA Board of Directors will be meeting this month to discuss convention and all the behind the scenes work. The AJCA Board of Directors are excited to host career-centered contest at Convention sponsored by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program. Deadline to register for quiz bowl, career development, and public speaking in February 15! Register today at: https://www.bamabeef.org/Convention

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.

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

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ACA Convention & Trade Show

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

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

SLE Rodeo Tickets Now on Sale

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

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

Slicing into Prime Rib

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

County Meetings & Calf Shows

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

Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program: CLOSING SUNDAY!

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

AJCA News

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

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

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

ACA Convention & Trade Show

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

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

Alabama Steak Championship

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

Audit Underway

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

SLE Rodeo Tickets Now on Sale

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

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

Alabama Ag Coalition Resumes Meetings

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

Stopping by the Crenshaw County Belt Buckle Classic

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

Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program: Apps Now Open

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

2021 Membership Update

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

AJCA News

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

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