It’s officially the most wonderful time of the year! Not only has the Christmas season arrived, but bright fall leaves are painted across our farmscapes, new calves are on the ground, hay fills the rings in our pastures and turkeys make way for delicious holiday roasts on our tables. Like we said, it’s the most wonderful time of year!! As your state staff prepares to tie up all the ends of 2017, we are also looking forward to a big year in 2018. Keep reading to catch up on all that’s been going on in Alabama’s beef cattle industry and to get a few very important updates.
Scholarship Application Deadline
Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation scholarship applications are now 
available online at BamaBeef.org/Scholarships and the deadline to apply is THIS FRIDAY at midnight! We encourage you to visit the site and explore the many scholarship opportunities for high school and college students in Alabama. Each year, the AFC awards over $50,000 in scholarships to deserving students whose parents or grandparents are members of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association.
Check out the many scholarship opportunities, and don’t forget- the deadline is Friday, Dec. 1 at midnight!
Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program Industry Tour
The Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) Class IV took an industry tour of west Alabama cattle operations Nov. 10-11, and it was an excellent weekend of learning and networking. The tour started out at Alabama Livestock Auction, Inc. at the BCIA Fall Round-Up Bull Sale, headed west to tour Next Step Cattle Company’s bull development facility in Livingston with ACA Past President Jimmy Holliman and enjoyed dinner at Diamond Jims & Mrs. Donna’s. After a good night’s sleep in Demopolis, the crew toured Ralph Cole and family’s diversified cattle and catfish operation in Greensboro then rounded out the tour back in Uniontown where Jim and Jimmy Sealy offered marketing advice to the young cattlemen. Special thanks to all our hosts and all who attended!
Hot Topic Tuesday: YCLP Leadership Project Success!
Speaking of YCLP, Class IV students Matthew Brady and Blake Hamner 
completed their joint leadership project this week and did an excellent job! Sponsored by the Perry and Tuscaloosa Cattlemen’s Associations and Alabama Ag Credit, Blake and Matthew organized “Hot Topic Tuesday,” an event held at the Black Belt Experiment Center on November 28th. Extension Veterinarian Dr. Soren Rodning preformed a live estrus synchronization, a hands-on calving demonstration and presented on hot topics in the beef industry to around 25 attendees. After the program, lunch was provided by Alabama Ag Credit.
This is what the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program is all about. Congratulations on a job well done to Matthew and Blake. Special thanks to all who helped make the event a success!
County Annual Meetings & Membership Update
It’s county annual meeting season, and our Bama Beef Events Calendar is bursting with meeting dates. Check it out, and be sure to send ACA Membership Coordinator Jessica Kennedy your county annual meeting dates for us to share!
Speaking of Jessica, she is still working to perfect the membership reporting process. Stay tuned with more information from her and remember that we’re all learning how this new program works together! Secretaries who will be inputting membership can email Jessica or call (334) 265-1867 for their logins and website links. Before beginning to enter membership, we encourage secretaries to sign up for a training webinar. Send Jessica a list of days and times that work for best for you: Mon-Sun 8am, 12pm, 3pm, 7pm.
A Quick Legislative Update
We have been working diligently with leadership in D.C. this week in regards to the Electronic Logging Devices (ELD) bill. Last week, a 90-day waiver was granted for the livestock hauling sector of the industry to allow more time to formulate solutions to this mandate. ACA has been working with Livestock Marketing Association along with producers to discuss with Sen. Shelby and Congressman Rogers offices the details as to why ELDs cause issues for our industry from the standpoint of animal welfare. Stay tuned for details as they unfold.
Last week we met with the Ag Coalition to listen to details about an Agribusiness and Rural Jobs Act that will be presented in the legislature in the upcoming session. The bill expands access for private financing for small rural businesses who are either expanding or starting from the ground up.
Additionally, the Alabama BEEF PAC Committee will meet next Wednesday, Dec. 6 to evaluate all candidates in the upcoming election. The PAC Committee will decide which candidates will receive financial contributions.
Alabama Forage Conference
ACA Director of Industry Relations & Youth Programs Michael Agar spent time in Eufala this week at the Alabama Forage Conference. Special thanks to Drs. Kim Mullenix and Leanne Dillard for spearheading this event designed to help cattle produce high-quality forages for Alabama livestock.
A Very MOOey Christmas
The MOOseum is hosting its 2nd annual MOOey Christmas at the 
Cattlemen’s Building on Dec 8 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Currently, we have 155 kiddos scheduled to come and give their Christmas wish list to our very own Cowboy Santa, Mr. Bill Lipscomb. We have partnered with the United States Marine Corps to host a Toys 4 Tots drive, and we are having a competition for the schools scheduled. The school that brings the largest donation will receive a $50 The MOOseum gift certificate to use for merchandise for their classroom. We will also be honored to have servicemen from the USMC to attend our event.
Also, could it be a “MOOey” Christmas without the “Moo?” AJCA President Cassidy Catrett and AJCA Past President Cameron Catrett are once again lending a hand and bringing live cattle to the building for the children to see. YCLP Class IV student and Lee County Cattleman Markie Hageman is bringing a few cattle reindeer props for photos, and of course, we will be serving cookies and milk! Come on out and celebrate with us…and don’t forget your Toys 4 Tots donations!!
AUBURN UNIVERSITY COLLEGIATE CATTLEMEN & CATTLEWOMEN SAUSAGE BOXES
Are you looking for the perfect Christmas gift for the meat eater in your life? The AU Collegiate Cattlemen and Cattlewomen have got JUST what you need in their jam-packed with goodness sausage boxes. For only $30 you can 2-lbs of summer sausage, 1-lb. of jalapeño summer sausage and 1-lb. of a perfectly-paired cheese. Who wouldn’t love a gift like that?!
Proceeds from the sale of this year’s sausage boxes will aid in sending our collegiate cattlemen and cattlewomen to the 2018 NCBA Convention in Phoenix, Arizona. This is an outstanding educational and networking opportunity for our young people who will soon enter the industry. If you’re interested in ordering a box, call (334) 674-0569, email clb0012@auburn.edu or mail in this printer-friendly order form.
SEC Championship Recipe Inspiration
Alabama’s own Auburn Tigers are taking on the Georgia Bulldogs this weekend in the SEC Championship and no matter who you cheer for, we can all agree on one thing…Beef. It’s What’s For Gameday. Cheer on your team with yummy steak nachos!
Here are a Few Handy Links You May Enjoy:
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