Well it seems to be the hottest week of the year, which can only mean one thing…it’s time for the AJCA Round-Up. This week’s blog may be a little short and sweet as “all systems are go” as we work to welcome 118 junior cattlemen to Montgomery for a hot weekend full of educational contests and calf shows. If you don’t have weekend plans, join us on the Garrett Coliseum Grounds in Montgomery to support the future of our industry— and don’t worry, the arena is air conditioned! Keep reading to learn more about what else is happening in a week deemed for the summer show!

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Welcome, Round-Up!

We look forward to welcoming 118 exhibitors and 170 animals to the 15^th Annual Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association Round-Up. The weekend is full of livestock shows, family fun and beef industry educational contest. We welcome all to come join us and support the youth of Alabama! Should you wish to see the weekend schedule you can visit www.bamabeef.org/round-up

Membership Update

The statewide membership number ‘o the day is 8,335 members…but we’re not done yet! We are only halfway through the year, and we’ve got our sites set on 10,000. If you haven’t renewed, join us, and help your county president reach his or her goal and earn their signature ACA red coat. That deadline has been extended, but is coming soon— August 31, 2021. Let’s knock out those goals, cattlemen!

Fired Up for Cattlemen’s Cookouts

If you’re a member of the ACA, you’re invited to join us for a summertime cookout! We hosted our first of five regional cookouts last week at Perdido River Farms in Atmore and WHOA what a turnout! We enjoyed a delicious steak dinner and state update with more than 100 members from Alabama’s southwest corner! ACA officers and staff will be traveling to other parts of the state hosting membership meetings and meals so we can all catch up, also! If you have not renewed your membership, you’re still invited as we will be accepting membership dues on site. Come on out and enjoy an evening of good food and Cattlemen fellowship! The meeting dates and times are as follows:

EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA: July 22 at 5:30 p.m. at Wellborn Musclecar Museum (Alex City, AL)

WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA: August 2 at 5:30 p.m. at Big Mike’s Steakhouse (Moundville)

NORTH ALABAMA: August 3 at 5:30 p.m. at Tennessee Valley REC (Belle Mina)

There is no cost to attend this event. All we ask is that you RSVP with your name and the location of the meeting you would like to attend at least one week prior to the event date. This will ensure that we have enough food for all! Simply call or email us at: (334) 265-1867 or morgan@bamabeef.org

ACA Tailgate Tents

Tents are in! If your county Cattlemen’s association ordered a tent at the Board Meeting, then you should have received an email from Ali with an invoice. They will be available at The MOOseum for pick up anytime, or you can wait and pick it up at the August Board Meeting. If you need it before then and can’t make it to The MOOseum, please contact Ali to let her know so she can coordinate getting it to you.

Cattlemen’s Communications Survey

Let’s chat. We want to hear from you!

We are currently reviewing our communication methods regarding membership and association business efforts to ensure that you are able to find the information you need from us in a timely, relevant and accessible way.

We also want to hear from you to learn what our members most value about a membership with the ACA.

We ask that you take a moment to complete this survey, and if you do, you’ll be entered into a drawing to receive one of 3 complimentary trade show passes— valued at $300— to NCBA’s Convention in Nashville, August 10-12, 2021. Please note that you will be contacted by the information you provide below, so ensure a working email and telephone number is entered properly.

Beef 101- Back in Session

Beef 101 programming is back in session! Wallace State Community college will be coming to Auburn on July 22^nd to learn more about the pasture to plate story from experts. If you or someone you know would like to attend this session or a later one, or if you would like to schedule your own, please contact Ali Cantrell. The next Beef 101 date will be October 29, but we hope to schedule more between now and then.

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.

June has been a busy month. The going joke around the office is that everything that was supposed to happen last year is now happening in the next month. It’s a busy time, but we are enjoying the opportunity to get out and see so many that we have not seen in quite some time. As the weather heats up, we hope you all are checking off your summer to-do list around the farm and enjoying some extra labor by way of kids and grandkids who are home from school for a few months! Saddle up because there’s a busy summer ahead. Keep reading to learn more and stay up to date with the work happening here in the state office!

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Congratulations WLAC Champion, Chuck Bradley!

Chuck Bradley, from Rockford, Ala., was named the 2021 World Livestock Auctioneer Champion at the 57th annual competition held at Dickson Regional Livestock Center, Dickson, Tenn., and presented by the Livestock Marketing Association (LMA). 

Bradley, a three-time qualifier of the WLAC event and 2019 WLAC Reserve Champion Auctioneer, earned his spot to this year’s competition by winning LMA’s 2020 Western Qualifying Event. Twenty-eight other contestants also qualified through three regional qualifying events and received a bye into the 2021 competition due to a cancellation of last year’s event.  

“It was such a surreal moment,” Bradley said. “I was in awe. You go back and look at the other past champions, and it’s an elite group. To be classified into that group now, really means a lot to me.” 

As a part of the champion’s role, Bradley will spend the next year traveling the country, sharing his auctioneering skills with other livestock auction markets and acting as a spokesperson on behalf of the livestock marketing industry and LMA. 

“A lot of us who compete in this contest auctioneer for a living every day,” Bradley said. “This year I’m planning to continue to still go out in the field and interact with markets and their producers, while promoting LMA. 

Bradley, a graduate of North Georgia School of Auctioneering, works as an auctioneer for Montgomery Stock Yards, LLC in Montgomery, Ala. He lives in Equality, Ala., with his wife Jill and two children.  

Fired Up for Cattlemen’s Cookouts

If you’re a member of the ACA, you’re invited to join us for a summertime cookout! We hosted our first of five regional cookouts last week at Perdido River Farms in Atmore and WHOA what a turnout! We enjoyed a delicious steak dinner and state update with more than 100 members from Alabama’s southwest corner! ACA officers and staff will be traveling to other parts of the state hosting membership meetings and meals so we can all catch up, also! If you have not renewed your membership, you’re still invited as we will be accepting membership dues on site. Come on out and enjoy an evening of good food and Cattlemen fellowship! The meeting dates and times are as follows:

SOUTHEAST ALABAMA: June 29 at 5:30 p.m. at Pike County Cattleman’s Park (Troy)

EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA: July 22 at 5:30 p.m. at Wellborn Musclecar Museum (Alex City, AL)

WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA: August 2 at 5:30 p.m. at Big Mike’s Steakhouse (Moundville)

NORTH ALABAMA: August 3 at 5:30 p.m. at Tennessee Valley REC (Belle Mina)

There is no cost to attend this event. All we ask is that you RSVP with your name and the location of the meeting you would like to attend at least one week prior to the event date. This will ensure that we have enough food for all! Simply call or email us at: (334) 265-1867 or morgan@bamabeef.org

Bainbridge Block Party: Roots, Boots & Chicken Coops

Speaking of cookouts, we’re partnering with Alabama Poultry & Egg and the Alabama Forestry Association to host a fellowship event to highlight the three ag commodities located on Bainbridge Street in downtown Montgomery! We’ll be making a scene on June 25 from 11-2. Learn More

Anyone is invited to come out if you would like and join us for all the fun. We will be cooking beef burgers and chicken wings for anyone that comes, and we will have Sweet Grown Alabama farmer’s market style booths selling home grown products. We plan to invite local FFA chapters, 4H, and students in the area for games, food, and a reading of “Lucy Meets a Logger” by Stephanie Fuller of the Alabama Forestry Association in The MOOseum. Please let ACA staffer Ali Cantrell know if you plan to attend or would like to help out during the day!

Burgers on the Base

If you thought we were done talking about cookouts, you were wrong! Tomorrow the ACA crew will load up and gather with county and state leaders from all over the River Region as we grill up burgers and all-beef hotdogs for more than 800 military personnel stationed at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery. We are proud to partner with Sweet Grown Alabama, CK Cattle, Thousand Hills Cattle and Vista Farms to provide 800-1,000 burgers to airmen and their families for their annual Summer Base Wide Picnic. This event will feature food, games, music and more to honor the families who serve our country. We’re proud to be offering locally-produced beef at this event, thanks to our partnership with Sweet Grown and their members! Stay tuned for photos, and God Bless America!

15th Annual AJCA Round-Up

Round-Up Registration is LIVE! We are looking forward to our 15^th annual Round-Up July 15-18. Join us in Montgomery for a weekend full of family fun. The AJCA Round-Up is more than a calf show. This event is full of educational contest and family fun! We welcome anyone who would like to support our youth by being a spectator. This event would not be possible without our many sponsors each year. If you are interested in sponsoring at any level please reach out to Morgan Desselle at morgan@bamabeef.org The Round-Up also host the AJCA District Director elections. If you know of a young motivated AJCA member from the ages 15-21, encourage them to apply to the AJCA Board of Directors! The application is now live on the site! The AJCA Board serves the ACA and AWCA by volunteering their time to help out at beef promotional and educational events through out the year. This is a great way for youth to learn more about the industry and connect with industry leaders! Applications and registration close July 2.

Cooking Segments Across Alabama

Coming up next on Cooking with John, is your Beef Checkoff dollars at work! Tune into WKRG this summer, October and December for beef recipes prepared by some of your favorite local cattlemen, cattlewomen and junior cattlemen! Here’s the lineup:

Airing TODAY: Kendra Moravec will prepare Barbecue Chipotle Burgers for summer grilling

Airing 7/17: Thomas Cotton is serving up summertime Surf N’ Turf Tenderloin

Airing 9/29: Ali Cantrell is mixing up a heart healthy Farmers Market Vegetable Beef Brown Rice Salad

Airing 10/14: Abbie Jo Gibson will prepare Beef Brisket for October Beef Month

Airing 12/9: Just in time for holiday roasting, Ali Cantrell will prepare delicious Beef Wellington

Staffer Ali Cantrell has also secured segments to air in the Montgomery and Huntsville DMAs. Stay tuned for more info on that!

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.

Summer is officially in session, and your Beef Checkoff is going to work to provide activities for junior cattlemen, adult cattlemen and doing what it does best— promoting beef! While you’re working cattle and baling hay, your ACA staff is in the office at work for you and the industry we all know and love. Keep reading to catch up on what’s been going on since the Board meeting!

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Fired Up for Cattlemen’s Cookouts

If you’re a member of the ACA, you’re invited to join us for a summertime cookout! ACA officers and staff will be traveling the state hosting membership meetings and meals so we can all catch up. If you have not renewed your membership, you’re still invited as we will be accepting membership dues on site. Come on out and enjoy an evening of good food and Cattlemen fellowship! The meeting dates and times are as follows:

SOUTHWEST ALABAMA: June 10 at 5:30 p.m. at Perdido River Farms (Atmore)

SOUTHEAST ALABAMA: June 29 at 5:30 p.m. at Pike County Cattleman’s Park (Troy)

EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA: July 22 at 5:00 p.m. at Wellborn Musclecar Museum (Alex City, AL)

WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA: August 2 at 6:00 p.m. at Big Mike’s Steakhouse (Moundville)

NORTH ALABAMA: August 3 at 6:00 p.m. at Tennessee Valley REC (Belle Mina)

There is no cost to attend this event. All we ask is that you RSVP with your name and the location of the meeting you would like to attend. Simply call or email us at: (334) 265-1867 or morgan@bamabeef.org

ACF Scholarship Banquet

This Friday, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation will have the privilege of awarding more than $80,000 in scholarships at our annual banquet. Students, parents and donor representatives will be attendance to enjoy a beef meal and presentation. This is a highlight of the year for us as we invest in the future of our industry thanks to generous donor families and funds generated by the sale of the Cowboy vanity car tag. Stay tuned on Facebook as we highlight these winners!

Summer Grilling Kickoff

Summer grilling season has officially arrived, and to welcome this joyous time of year, we launched a series of promotions that we are thrilled about! First, six billboards are now live in Alabama from Huntsville to the coastline featuring a beautiful image and the Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner slogan. We also kicked off a summer-long streaming radio and podcast commercial campaign featuring the sound of the sizzle, and we’ll be hitting television soon as staffer Ali Cantrell prepares to film for cooking segments.

Last but certainly not least was the launch of our This Is Alabama feature video that tells the story of beef cattle production in Alabama. This video featured the family at CK Cattle, Moravec Cattle Company, XTRA Ranch and Cleveland Land and Cattle. Thanks to all who made this amazing video possible. If you haven’t seen it yet, click here!

Bainbridge Block Party: Roots, Boots & Chicken Coops

We’re partnering with Alabama Poultry & Egg and the Alabama Forestry Association to host a fellowship event to highlight the three ag commodities located on Bainbridge Street in downtown Montgomery!

Anyone is invited to come out if you would like and join us for all the fun. We will be cooking beef burgers and chicken wings for anyone that comes, and we will have Sweet Grown Alabama farmer’s market style booths selling home grown products. We plan to invite local FFA chapters, 4H, and students in the area for games, food, and a reading of “Lucy Meets a Logger” by Stephanie Fuller of the Alabama Forestry Association in The MOOseum. Please let ACA staffer Ali Cantrell know if you plan to attend or would like to help out during the day!

AJCA Update

The Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s State Adviser Morgan Desselle hosted two “Building Your County Junior Cattlemen’s” Virtual Meetings last week. Guest speakers joined us to tell the participants how they started their county junior chapter and where it is today. They provided the participants with their tips and tricks on how to activate juniors in your county and keep them involved. We would like to thank Kathleen Evans of Lowndes County and Brian Smith of Lauderdale County as well as Kim Jordan of Clay County and Smokey Spears of Lee County.

Round-Up Registration is LIVE! We are looking forward to our 15^th annual Round-Up July 15-18. Join us in Montgomery for a weekend full of family fun. The AJCA Round-Up is more than a calf show. This event is full of educational contest and family fun! We welcome anyone who would like to support our youth by being a spectator. This event would not be possible without our many sponsors each year. If you are interested in sponsoring at any level please reach out to Morgan Desselle at morgan@bamabeef.org The Round-Up also host the AJCA District Director elections. If you know of a young motivated AJCA member from the ages 15-21, encourage them to apply to the AJCA Board of Directors! The application is now live on the site! The AJCA Board serves the ACA and AWCA by volunteering their time to help out at beef promotional and educational events through out the year. This is a great way for youth to learn more about the industry and connect with industry leaders! Applications and registration close July 2.

Shoutout to Cullman County

The Cullman County Cattlemen’s Association deserves a huge shoutout after serving up more than 4,700 steak sandwiches over the course of Memorial Day Weekend. The drive-through and walk-up sale even recognized new members and law enforcement officers as they were given a free meal with proper i.d. Great job to the entire crew in Cullman County for firing up summer grilling season with a bang!

YCLP Update

The Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) hosted the program’s FIRST YCLP Alumni Reunion this May 21-22. Alumni from all seven classes were invited to a weekend full of education, networking, and family fun! The weekend kicked off with a Friday night cookout including some delicious burgers donated by Vista Farms.

Saturday the alumni got down to business! The morning started off with a warm welcome from YCLP Council Chair Bradfield Evans. Then the alumni jumped into a morning full of education beginning with Dr. Mike Brown from Elanco speaking on ruminate nutrition. Following Dr. Brown, State Veterinarian Dr. Frazier and Associate State Veterinarian Dr. Edmonson spoke on Animal Disease Traceability (ADT). The alumni had the pleasure of hearing from National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) CEO Colin Woodall who virtually addressed industry issues and hot topics. Colin also provided time for alumni to have a Q&A with him. Saturday night meal sponsor, Alabama Ag Credit, spoke to the alumni group about young producer loan opportunities. The alumni wrapped up the educational sessions with Ken Kelly from Alabama Cooperative Extension System speaking on how to create a farm business plan. The afternoon was filled with family fun including a skeet shoot sponsored by Purina and families taking advantage of Kick Back Ranch amenities! 

We would like to thank all our sponsors and speakers for taking time to invest in our Young Cattlemen Alumni. The YCLP Council looks forward to planning and hosting the second alumni event in 2022.

Wrapping Up Sale Season

Staffer Morgan Desselle has hit several sales in the past week as our producers are wrapping up the Spring Sale Season. She headed to South Alabama Stockyard’s weekly sale in Brundidge last and attended the Spring Fling in Uniontown on Friday. If you are looking to learn more about sales around the state visit our sale calendar here.

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.

We’ll keep this short and sweet since we will be seeing many of our regular readers tomorrow for the Council and Board meetings! It is no doubt a busy week at the ACA, so keep reading to learn more about what’s going on!

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A Cattlemen Buzz in Montgomery This Week

Boots, hats and those iconic red coats will stampede downtown Montgomery as we host several meetings in the same day! Tomorrow at 10 a.m. the Alabama Beef Checkoff Council will gather at the Cattlemen’s building for a quarterly meeting preceding the Spring Board of Directors Meeting taking place at 12 p.m. at the RSA Activity Center. We plan for this to be the last Board meeting to take place outside of our building as COVID restrictions in the state and City of Montgomery are slowly being lifted. We will also host our Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program Council tomorrow for a meeting to be held in conjunction with the kickoff of the eighth class. Keep reading to learn more about that!

Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program Kick-Offs Class VIII

The Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) welcomes our eighth class to Montgomery tomorrow! The class will start their day off at the ACA Building in downtown as they learn about the ACA and the many hats we wear. Dr. Don Mulvaney will then interact with the class and build on their leadership skills. After an educational session and getting to know fellow classmates a little bit, the class will head over to the May Board of Directors Meeting to understand how ACA conducts its business and hear from special guest, Attorney General Steve Marshall.

The class will then head the Frank Turner and Sons Farm in Hayneville to enjoy a tour led by Farm Manager and Alabama Beef Checkoff Council Chairman Nathan Lipscomb. As chairman, Nathan will also speak to the class on the importance of checkoff programming in Alabama. We will then wrap up the first day at Kick Back Ranch and Events Center with Montgomery County Cattlemen cooking a hamburger dinner for the class!

Saturday the class will head to Lambert-Powell Meats Lab at Auburn University to take part in a BEEF 201 program. We look forward to meeting all the members of this year’s class!

Beef 101 is BACK…in-person, that is!

As aforementioned, this Friday, the new YCLP class will be participating in our Beef 201 program at Auburn’s Meat Lab instead of enjoying the virtual learning experience. With that said, we are excited to see this program returning back to normal and happening in person for the fall! ACA Director of Education and Outreach Ali Cantrell is preparing to schedule more Beef 101 programs for the fall. If you are interested in attending a Beef 101 or scheduling a date for a big group, please contact her at acantrell@bamabeef.org or call at 334-265-1867.

Junior Activities, Coming Up!

ACA Director of Field Services Morgan Desselle is hard at work preparing for the Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association(AJCA) Round-Up that is just around the corner. The AJCA Round-Up packet and registration will be live on on this coming up Monday, May 17. Round-Up registration will close July 2. The AJCA Round-Up is more than a calf show. This event is full of educational contest and family fun! We welcome anyone who would like to support our youth by being a spectator.

The Round-Up also host the AJCA District Director elections. If you know of a young motivated AJCA member from the ages 15-21, encourage them to apply to the AJCA Board of Directors! The application is now live on the site! The AJCA Board serves the ACA and AWCA by volunteering their time to help out at beef promotional and educational events through out the year. This is a great way for youth to learn more about the industry and connect with industry leaders!

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.

YCLP Alumni Reunion, Next Weekend!

We look forward to an excellent inaugural YCLP Alumni Reunion May 21-22 at Kick Back Ranch in Ada, Alabama! Registration closed on Monday for this event, and we are excited to have a crowd of around 75 joining us for the fun. The reunion will feature networking opportunities and several educational sessions for program alumni. Special thanks to all who sponsored this event and plan to join us for a weekend of good, old-fashioned fellowship!

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 storms have us just about as on our toes as our schedules do! We don’t know which is more fired up…the weather patterns or in-person events. While we appreciate a good rain, I think we could without the damage of wind and tornados and would MUCH rather attend an event with you all on a beautiful day instead. As we head into the summer months, saddle up! The ACA staff is B-U-S-Y so keep reading to learn what’s on the calendar this week.

Oh, and happy Cinco de Mayo! Be sure to break out some beef for your family’s fiesta tonight!

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Culinary Activities Firing Up!

Earlier this week, staffer Ali Cantrell traveled to Huntsville for the ProStart Invitational Cook-Off. Since ACA sponsored this event, she was able to meet with potential culinary students to educate them about beef cooking techniques and the beef production system. She was also an Entrée Judge for the culinary tasting portion of the competition. She also presented the contestants with the Best Beef Entrée Award; congrats to Opelika High School who won the Best Beef Entrée Award with their Steak Tacos.

On Friday, Ali will be presenting to students at the Riverchase Career Connection Center in Hoover, AL about the pasture to plate story. All of these students have aspirations to go into the culinary field and are excited to learn why beef should be the center of the plate. Ali will discuss with them how the beef checkoff works and how they can learn more through a Beef 101 program.

Sen. Tuberville’s Team Visits Beef Farms

Staffer Ali Cantrell and Senator Tommy Tuberville’s Chief of Staff Mike Albares will be visiting with Bill Lipscomb on Wednesday at his cattle operation. Mike Albares has a great understanding of ag and worked for Congressmen Martha Roby before becoming Senator Tuberville’s chief of staff. It will be great to have fellowship Mr. Albares as we highlight the importance of beef cattle in the Alabama economy.

Junior Activities, Coming Up!

ACA Director of Field Services Morgan Desselle is hard at work preparing for the Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association(AJCA) Round-Up that is just around the corner. The AJCA Round-Up packet and registration will be live on May 17. Round-Up registration will close July 2. The AJCA Round-Up is more than a calf show. This event is full of educational contest and family fun! We welcome anyone who would like to support our youth by being a spectator. The Round-Up also host the AJCA District Director elections. If you know of a young motivated AJCA member from the ages 15-21 encourage them to apply to the AJCA Board of Directors. The AJCA Board serves the ACA and AWCA by volunteering their time to help out at beef promotional and educational events through out the year. This is a great way for youth to learn more about the industry and connect with industry leaders.

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.

YCLP 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. 

We look forward to an excellent inaugural YCLP Alumni Reunion May 21-22 at Kick Back Ranch in Ada, Alabama! Registration closed on Monday for this event, and we are excited to have a crowd of around 75 joining us for the fun. The reunion will feature networking opportunities and several educational sessions for program alumni. Special thanks to all who sponsored this event and plan to join us for a weekend of good, old-fashioned fellowship!

Board Reminder: Save the Date!

Reminder, board members, we will see you on May 13 for our Spring Board of Directors Meeting beginning at noon at the RSA Activity Center in downtown Montgomery. If you plan to attend that meeting, give Sydney Dougherty on our staff a call and let her know you’ll be there! 334-265-1867

Staffers Out and About

Staffer Morgan Desselle will be out an about this week. Today she is headed to YCLP Alumni, Bryan Monk, farm in west Alabama. Where she will enjoy visiting with the producer and learning about what his day-to-day operations look like. Thursday she will be headed to judge a state FFA contest. She looks forward to seeing all the youth compete and just how bright our industry future is. To end the week, Saturday Morgan will be headed north to Cullman to support the buyers and sellers in the “Cut Above” Sale. If you see her out and about this week make sure to day hi!

On Thursday, staffers Ali Cantrell and Lauren Wilson will be headed to Lawrence County Cattlemen’s Association Meeting at the Moulton Parks and Recreation Center on Thursday night. Both staffers will highlight SLE Rodeo and Beef Checkoff programs. Last week, Kayla Greer attended a very nice meeting in Coosa County. at the chapter’s facility in Hanover!

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.

What. A. Week! Spring fever is setting in as our schedules are on fire with activities. After a year like 2020, we’ll take it! We’re also giddy with joy as we’ve got something big to celebrate at the ACA this week. Keep reading to learn more!

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Welcome, Baby Kennedy!

It is with the utmost joy that we announce the safe and healthy arrival of Baby Beau Hawkins Kennedy, the newborn son of ACA’s Jessica Kennedy! Beau Hawkins made his arrival on Tuesday weighing in at 7lbs 4oz, and Mama Jessica is doing well, also! So far he looks like Jessica made over, down to the curly black hair, and we are thrilled to add the newest Beef Baby to the ACA herd. Join us in congratulating Jessica, her husband, Trey, and big sister, Trinity! Take a look at this cutie…

Alabama Junior & Senior High School Beef Cook-Off

This past Saturday at Jefferson State Community College’s Culinary & Hospitality Institute in Birmingham, the ACA hosted the Annual Alabama Junior and Senior High School Beef Cook-off! We had over 20 students registered for this event and they were able to participate in educational sessions to teach them more about the beef industry. They met with Registered Dietician, Elesha Ergle, to talk about nutrition of beef, Chef Todd Jackson of Jefferson State Community College to learn more about the breakdown of a whole Tenderloin, and with ACA staffer, Ali Cantrell, to learn the Pasture to Plate story.

The winners for the contest are as follows: 

Overall Best in Beef

Steak Frites prepared by Bethanie Cross of Limestone County

Senior North Division Winners:

1st- Bethanie Cross, Steak Frites, Limestone Co.

2nd- Denisen Justice, Steak Fajitas w Pepper Poppers, Shelby Co.

3rd- James Nichols, Balsamic Glazed Steak Rolls, Calhoun Co.

Senior South Division Winners:

1st- Jessica Criswell, Queso Stuffed Bell Peppers, Washington Co. 

2nd- Patricia Williams, Teriyaki Steak Skewers, Russell Co.

3rd- Carrie Salter, Philly Cheesesteak Ring, Baldwin Co. 

Junior North Division Winners:

1st- Caroline Green, Seared Steak Salad, Shelby Co.

2nd- Carsean Machristie, Taco Throwdown, Calhoun Co.

3rd- Peyton Parrish, Beef Enchiladas, Franklin Co. 

Junior South Division Winenrs:

1st- Lauren Glass, Grilled Ribeye Steak, Washington Co.

2nd- Daniel Navarro, Spinach Mozzerella Stuffed Flank Steak, Baldwin Co.

Senior Division Classroom Award:

Limestone County Career Technical Center

Junior Division Classroom Award: 

Washington County High School

Census Celebration- Alabama Counts!

The big news of the week for the state is the official report being released from the US Census. Credit to our great state for getting the work done to complete the census because the direct result was maintaining seven congressional seats in Washington DC! Alabama’s official population count came in at 5,030,053. Now that these results have been released, the legislature can work toward redistricting both state and congressional legislative district lines.

Junior Activities, Coming Up!

ACA Director of Field Services Morgan Desselle is hard at work preparing for the Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association(AJCA) Round-Up that is just around the corner. The AJCA Round-Up packet and registration will be live on May 17. Round-Up registration will close July 2. The AJCA Round-Up is more than a calf show. This event is full of educational contest and family fun! We welcome anyone who would like to support our youth by being a spectator. The Round-Up also host the AJCA District Director elections. If you know of a young motivated AJCA member from the ages 15-21 encourage them to apply to the AJCA Board of Directors. The AJCA Board serves the ACA and AWCA by volunteering their time to help out at beef promotional and educational events through out the year. This is a great way for youth to learn more about the industry and connect with industry leaders.

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.

Hosting Leadership Huntsville

ACA President Clay Kennamer will host Leadership Huntsville at his farm this Friday, which has around 40 community leaders involved. The group will tour his operation and gain insight on his role as Cattlemen’s President. The group is spending 3 days scouring North Alabama to learn about many industries and we are happy they included agriculture on their trip!

YCLP 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.

Board Reminder: Save the Date!

The ACA Executive Committee will meet Thursday for a business meeting. A few items of business will be taken care of prior to the Spring Board of Directors Meeting taking place next month. Reminder, board members, we will see you on May 13 for that meeting!

Gear Up for Beef Promos

This week, staffer Ali Cantrell is working on beef promotion for the rest of 2021. She will be traveling to Birmingham to meet with local television stations about airing cooking segments throughout the year and with Associated Grocers of the South to discuss beef promotion within the retail store. Kayla Greer is also putting a stamp on a billboard campaign firing up this summer!

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.

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.