What’s Going On Wednesday: February 27, 2018

The waters are rising, the trees are blooming and the grass is turning greener and greener across Alabama. Yep, springtime is coming in hot! Calves are hitting the ground, the hay barn is getting low and cattlemen— while bogged down in knee-deep mud— are soon to catch a break from the rigorous feeding schedule that comes with wintertime.

Things are firing up here, as well, as we are on the downslope of county annual meeting season and, of course, the convention. But if what they say is true, “What goes up must come down,” in the association world, the opposite rings true. What goes down WILL go back up! Looking toward the spring months, we’ve got our eyes on beef promotion, the legislative session and many meetings and events to attend. Stay tuned and keep reading to learn more about what’s on the Cattlemen radar this week! 


 

Convention Wrap-Up

Convention_Logo-01Over 400 Alabama Cattlemen “beef’d up the ‘ham” with us at the 76th annual ACA Convention and Trade Show, and WHEW, what an event! Would would like to thank all in attendance, our vendors and all the many wonderful sponsors who helped make this year’s event a roaring success! We would also like to give a shoutout to our new state officer team consisting of Chris Langley, president, Chambers County; Larry Reeves, president-elect, Coffee County; Clay Kennamer, vice president, Jackson County, and LD Fitzpatrick, treasurer, Lowndes County. Also joining the state leader team are four new regional vice presidents including Donald Means (Greene County), Randy Slay (Fayette County), Jim Miller (Jefferson County) and Johnny Gibson (Choctaw County). We also tip our hat to newly-installed Honorary Lifetime Director Dr. Lisa Kriese-Anderson, outgoing RVPs Jay Buckley, Eugene Fernandes and Dr. Mike Wells. Our biggest applause, however, goes to Mr. Jack Batts for his year of outstanding leadership and devotion to our association!

 

Until next year, save the dates for the 77th annual Convention & Trade Show happening in Montgomery February 14-15. What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your true love than at the Bama Beef Meet?!

 

 

Torrential Rainfall Hits North Alabama

We received the updated rainfall totals on Monday following several days Unknown-2of heavy rainfall and know our northern-most counties experienced many consequences of this weather event. Please let us know if your county is in need of any assistance or if you have heard of any cattlemen in great need. Our friends at the Alabama Department of Ag reminded us that producers can visit their local USDA-FSA office about the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) for cattle mortality compensation and the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) for compensation on clean up once flood waters recede.

 

 

Gearing Up for our Watchdog Role

state-of-alabama-capitol-building_1000_668_imagesjais-wm.png_100_50_25_r_b_-15_-14Yesterday ACA Executive VP Erin Beasley attended a legislative seminar at the Capitol to preview the session which starts next week. Several speakers including Gov. Kay Ivey, leaders of the Senate and House, state superintendent and financial leaders were in attendance to address the pressing issues for the state. Next week the Ag Coalition will begin meeting each Tuesday at the Cattlemen’s building to discuss the interworkings of the session. The coalition is comprised of the Department of Ag & Industries, Alabama Farmers Federation, Alabama Poultry and Egg, Alabama Forestry Association and Alabama Agribusiness Council. Stay tuned as we welcome the start of the session!

 

 

FACS & Dietitians Conference Comes to the Capital

This Thursday, ACA Director of Education and Outreach Ali Cantrell will also be attending and setting up a  spice rub booth at the 2019 Annual Conference of Alabama Association of Family and Consumer Sciences in Montgomery. She will have brochures to share with FACS teachers about beef’s contribution to heart health, along with the new beef checkoff sponsored publication, Strength: The Field Manual.

 

Next week, Ali will also be attending the Alabama Dieticians Association Meeting in town to talk with registered dietitians about beef in a healthy lifestyle. NCBA and ACA will also be sponsoring the guest speaker, registered dietician, Judy Barbe, on that Thursday to talk about confident cooking techniques!

 

 

Membership Report

The membership count of the day is 6,005 members of the ACA…and ACA logo- meme size copy
counting as Membership and producer Contact Coordinator Jessica Kennedy and our county leaders are steady inserting renewals and new members or NEED to be! With that, we are at 59% of last year’s total with three-year members accounting for 33% of the membership. Firm membership deadlines are as follows and must be delivered (not postmarked) by the dates below:

  • Early Bird Drawing: March 31
  • “Over the Top” Red Coat: June 15
  • Top Hand Recruiting Club: Dec 31

We’re also proud to announce a new membership benefit. Thanks to our friends at Conestoga Steak House in Dothan, members can now get $2 off their meal (excluding alcoholic beverages)!

 

 

Beef Promo Firing Up

ACA’s Ali Cantrell  is preparing for several events coming up in the next couple of months to highlight beef as part of a healthy lifestyle. One big event to watch out for will be the Alabama Jr. & Sr. Beef Cook-off on April 6! County leaders, make sure that the winners from your county beef cook-off are registered to compete by March 15 through our website at www.BamaBeef.org/Cookoff.

 

 

ProStart Invitational Presentation

Speaking of cook-offs, Ali will also be presenting an award for the “Best Beef Entrée” at the Alabama ProStart Invitational in Huntsville on Monday. The ACA will be sponsoring this cook-off and will award $100 and a brand new beef cut chart to the classroom of the student with the best beef dish. We’re excited to be a part of this event!

 

 

Save the Dates: 2019 AJCA Round-Up

AJCA RoundUp LogoDeck the barns with boughs of shavings fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la. Yep that’s right! This year at the 13th annual Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association Round-Up, we’re bringing the heat to Christmas in July! We’ll return to the Teague for three jammed-packed days on July 18-21 as we take on the show ring and all our many other career development and beef educational contests! Save the dates for the most wonderful (and hot!) time of year- July 18-21 at the Garrett Coliseum Livestock Barns in Montgomery.

 

 

SLE RODEO- COMING TO TOWN!

The 62nd annual SLE Rodeo will come bucking back to town March 14-16 sle-logofor the best show on dirt east of the Mississippi! Ticket sales are now available, so give Kara Coplin a call at 888-2RODEO2. To learn more about this year’s SLE Rodeo & Livestock Week, visit www.SLERodeo.com.

 

*NOTICE* Cowgirls, take note of the new “Clear Bag Policy” at the Garrett Coliseum. Regular purses are no longer allowed for security reasons, so grab those clear stadium bags before heading to this year’s show!


 

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 FacebookTwitter or Instagram.

Beef for Heart Health Month

By Elesha Eagle, RDN

 

Beef, beef, good for your heart…the more you eat it, the more you…ok, that’s not how that goes, but the fact is, beef really IS good for your heart!  In 2012, the checkoff-funded Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet Study (BOLD) was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.  The study found that participants consuming lean beef daily as a part of their heart-healthy diet experienced a 10% decline in LDL (bad) cholesterol.  So let’s get going with some heart healthy recipes that are great all year long, not just during American Heart Month!

 

The term “lean beef” means that a 3-ounce cooked portion provides less than 10 grams of total fat, 4.5 grams or less of saturated fat and less than 95 mg of cholesterol.  Look for cuts of beef with the term “round” or “loin” as an indication that the cut of beef is considered lean.  Lean ground beef can be purchased that is 95% lean and 5% fat, and is a tasty and healthy option for all your favorite recipes that call for ground beef.

 

I Heart You

Show your Valentine how much you care by preparing them a tasty, beefy, heart-healthy meal.  Grill up some delicious sirloins such as these Balsamic Marinated Beef Top Sirloin Steaks with Asparagus. If you already have your main dish in mind, spice it up with some Spicy Korean Beef and Cucumber Appetizers.  This recipe is certified by the American Heart Association as a heart healthy recipe.

 

Every Day Lean

Most days are busy and we all need some healthy go-to recipes that will satisfy everyone in the household. Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner has an entire page of American Heart Association-approved recipes that are sure to please any tastes.  These Beefy Sweet and Sloppy Joes are sure to be a new favorite to add to your list, and you will feel good about giving it to your whole family.  Chili is another good option to satisfy everyone in the family and this Beef Chili Recipe will make your evenings healthy and easy.

 

Be sure to check out Beef It’s What’s for Dinner for more recipes, tips, and to learn more about beef from pasture to plate. For more information on heart health and American Heart Month, visit the American Heart Association’s website at www.heart.org.

 

Happy Valentine’s Day and American Heart Month!

What’s Going On Wednesday- February 6, 2019

Hmmm…what’s going on around the ACA? Oh, not much.

WRONG! We’re in high gear this week in downtown Montgomery as we prepare to head to the ‘Ham for the 76th annual ACA Convention & Trade Show next Friday and Saturday. All our work these days seems to revolve around the show, but there’s a lot of other happenings going around here at the ACA. Keep reading to learn more!


 

76TH ANNUAL ACA CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW

Convention_Logo-01We’re beefin’ up the ‘Ham…Birmingham, that is! Join us at the 2019 ACA Convention & Trade Show at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) February 15-16, 2019. There are endless activities, learning opportunities and networking experiences awaiting your registration including dynamic and educational Cattlemen’s Colleges, a trade show with the industry’s elite equipment, tool and nutritional names, a menu of delicious beef meals and fun for the whole family at Friday evening’s Boots & BBQ event and Saturday’s Awards Banquet! If you missed online registration and plan to register on-sight the day of the event, please note that meal tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis. To secure meal tickets ahead of time, you have until THIS THURSDAY to call our office at (334) 265-1867 and speak to Jessica Kennedy. 

 

We look forward to the 76th annual ACA Convention and Trade Show, and you should too! Keep reading to learn more about events for the younger buckaroos.

 

 

Junior Cattlemen Events at #BamaBeefMeet

The AJCA will be hosting a mini cattlemen’s college for youth attending convention this year. This fun and educating session will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 16. Bring your junior cattlemen to the BJCC so they can enjoy fun leadership activities, a scavenger hunt in the trade show, a calving demonstration led by Dr. Soren Rodning and round of beef trivia. Our Director of Education and Outreach Ali Cantrell and ACA Intern Stephanie Fuller will be hosting this event and look forward to having as many youth in attendance as possible. Please have your kids meet in front of the Registration desk at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday to join in on the fun!

 

 

2019 Alabama BEEF PAC Auction

Beef Pac Logo envelopeThis year’s auction is shaping up to be the best yet! With tons of unique, handcrafted or collectors items, you’ll want to bring your wallet this year. Remember, all contributions benefit the Alabama BEEF Political Action Committee. Check out this list of items!

  • Truck and Trailer Kids Toy donated by Happy Toy Company (valued at $500)
  • One Full Registration to 2020 NCBA Annual Convention and Trade Show in San Antonio, TX donated by NCBA (value $800)
  • Bull credit donated by CK Cattle (value $500)
  • One pair of Stetson boots (your choice based on availability) donated by Stetson Boots (value $400)
  • Firepit built by Limestone Co. FFA and donated by ACA (value $300)
  • Cattle Ranching-Themed Chest of Drawers made and donated by the Lauderdale County Alabama Junior Cattlemen
  • Heifer credit donated by Collins Farm (value $500)
  • Custom-made western spurs by Tommy Sprayberry donated by Cantrell Cattle Co. (value $800)
  • Winchester Buffalo Bill Commemorative Rifle donated by Alabama Ag Credit ($1500)
  • 2-night stay at the Lodge at Gulf Shores donated by The Lodge (value $500)
  • Bull credit donated by Lake Majestic Farms (value $500)
  • July Cover of the Alabama Cattleman magazine (value $1000)
  • Handmade Signature PRAY Pottery Hush Puppy Batter Bowl donated by Andrew and Melissa Hale (value $65)
  • Handmade Signature PRAY Pottery Red & Turquoise Bowl donated by Andrew and Melissa Hale (value $65)
  • $500 bull credit Meadows Creek Farm
  • Gobbler Hunt in Levy County, Florida donated by Alabama Beef PAC (Minimum Bid- $4,000)

 

 

Congrats, Clay County!

The 2018 Clay County Cattlemen’s Association Rodeo recently earned kudos from the Frontier Classic Rodeo Company, the event’s stock contractor. The 2018 show earned the title of “Best New Rodeo of the Year” at the Southeastern Professional Rodeo Association Finals this weekend in Philadelphia, MS. Clay County President and Regional Vice President Jim Jordan was present in his red coat to accept the award on the chapter’s behalf. Congratulations on this award and an outstanding event!

 

 

Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program Class VI

We are proud that at our upcoming convention, we will graduate over 20 young-cattlemen-logo_websizedyoung leaders from the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program Class V. With their graduation comes a new season for the program beginning in May- Class VI. Applications for YCLP Class VI will be accepted until February 28, 2019. If you are or know a young person eager to expand their knowledge and networking in Alabama’s beef cattle industry, please submit a nomination to Ali Cantrell by email or mail. Applications are available online, just click here!

 

 

2019 ACF Scholarship Banquet

Alabama Cattlemen's Foundation logo_nobackgroundNew this year- the annual Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation scholarship banquet will not be held in conjunction with the ACA Convention & Trade Show Awards Banquet. Insead, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation looks forward to awarding over $70,000 in scholarships on Saturday, March 23 at the 2019 Scholarship Banquet held at the Wetumpka Civic Center located in Central Alabama’s River Region. Scholarship recipients should RSVP to Jessica Kennedy.

 

 

COUNTY ANNUAL MEETING SEASON

We’ve enjoyed seeing the highlightACA logo- meme size copy love to see the hard work of counties executed in their annual meeting. We look forward to more still to come, which can be found on the Bama Beef Events Calendar. As a reminder, leading up to your county’s annual meeting, please contact Jessica Kennedy in our office to infor her of the date, time and location and to request a speaker! Remember, the earlier you get those dates to us, the earlier we can get them on our website and in the magazine!! Following the meeting, send Jessica any officer updates in order to update our system with corrected contact information for 2019. RVPs, we encourage you to reach out to your counties to let them know you plan to attend their meetings! That way, they can account for your meal.

 

We encourage county secretaries to tackle the i4a membership software to input new and renewed members for your meetings! Refresher videos on how to use the software are available! Just contact Jessica. As you’re collecting membership information to put into the system at your meetings, remember how important phone numbers and email addresses are! It is essential to county leaders and to us here at the state to be able to contact our members when needed. It helps everyone in the long run.

 

A few other membership reminders to note:

  • The three-year member dues have changed to $120 with $82 coming back to the state office.
  • Early Bird drawing deadline is March 31.
  • Other membership deadlines will be announced at the Convention board meeting with a follow-up email from Jessica with details highlighted.

 

 

SLE RODEO- COMING TO TOWN!

The 62nd annual SLE Rodeo will come bucking back to town March 14-16 sle-logofor the best show on dirt east of the Mississippi! Ticket sales are now available, so give Kara Coplin a call at 888-2RODEO2. To learn more about this year’s SLE Rodeo & Livestock Week, visit www.SLERodeo.com.

 

*NOTICE* Cowgirls, take note of the new “Clear Bag Policy” at the Garrett Coliseum. Regular purses are no longer allowed for security reasons, so grab those clear stadium bags before heading to this year’s show!


 

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 FacebookTwitter or Instagram.