Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarships
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pplications for 2019-2020 Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation scholarships are now open and are set to close on November 1, 2019. This year’s lineup of scholarships include those funded by the sale of the Cowboy vanity car tag, such as the “Tagged for Greatness” scholarship, as well as many endowed scholarships from generous families. An addition to the many award opportunities this year is a Trade School Scholarship for students attending a trade school program in the state of Alabama. Be sure to check out our many scholarships and get those applications submitted by November 1.
Award recipients will be honored at the 2020 Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarship Banquet to be held April 11, 2020 at the Wetumpka Civic Center in Wetumpka, AL. More information and applications can be found online at www.BamaBeef.org/Scholarships.
Cattlemen’s BEEF 201
The ACA is hosting a Cattlemen’s BEEF 201 Program at the Auburn 
University Beef Teaching Unit and Meats Lab on Friday, September 13. We invite all cattlemen to explore the beef industry from pasture to plate, with emphasis on the plate side as we’ll fabricate a carcass before your eyes! This is the part you don’t get to see on the farm! Features of this program will include a live animal evaluation, carcass evaluation and fabrication. Please sign up to attend next week’s checkoff-sponsored course at www.BamaBeef.org/Beef201 or contact ACA Director of Education & Outreach Ali Cantrell.
Make Way for the 2020 Rodeo
The SLE Board of Directors will meet on Thursday to discuss several big topics in preparation of the 2020 SLE Rodeo. These will include ticket prices, entertainment, a website relaunch and other business. The annual meeting and dinner for SLE members with be Thursday, September 26 and the results of the Board disucssion will be announced to the membership. SLE members should be on the look out for an invitation to the dinner in coming days!
Sales, Sales and More Sales
It’s sale season, and it’s evident when looking at our staff calendar! On Friday, ACA Director of Field Services Morgan Pounds will be stopping by South Alabama Stockyard in Brundidge, AL to attend a special sale being hosted at the market. She’s looking forward to seeing the livestock and visiting with market owners and cattlemen attending the sale. But wait, there’s more! Morgan is also hitting the road on Saturday as she heads north to Cullman Stockyard for the Keepin’ Kind Bred Heifer Sale. If you’re out and about attending these sales, be sure to stop Morgan and introduce yourself. She’d love to talk with you!
BeefFest at SweetCreek
October 12-13 is sure to be a great time as we team up with the folks at SweetCreek Farm Market and Alabama Department of Ag and Industries to host the first-ever BeefFest in conjunction with the venue’s annual pumpkin festival! Make a road trip to Pike Road, AL for fun games, craft vendors, a beef chili cook-off and a coloring contest for kiddos. ACA staff and volunteers will be present to tell the pasture to plate story while serving up some delicious beef chili samples. Don’t miss out on all the fun!
Junior Pasture to Rail Registration Open
If you’re interested in teaching your youth about marketing cattle on the grid and retained ownership, we’ve got just the program for you! Youth are invited to register their animals into he Junior Pasture to Rail Program— a partnership between the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program and Alabama Beef Systems Extension— where they’ll ship calves in November, participate in a few pasture to plate educational opportunities, their receive the carcass data on their animals after harvest. To learn more about program requirements and to register, visit www.BamaBeef.org/JP2R.
Trade Show Registration Now Live
Registration is open for the trade show at the 77th annual ACA Convention
& Trade Show happening in Montgomery on February 14-15. That’s right, bring your sweetheart to town and enjoy promoting your product or service to Alabama’s largest gathering of cattlemen! Please contact staffer Ali Cantrell if you would like to be a vendor at the 2020 show or visit www.BamaBeef.org/Convention to register online with a credit card.