Hot, to cold, rain to dry…one thing is for sure, the only thing about the weather that’s consistent is the pollen count. But hey, pollen means spring. Spring means calving and green grass, and green grass means a muddy winter of feeding is almost behind us! Hang in there, cattlemen. Brighter, hotter days are surely ahead!
While we wait for them, though, let’s get an update from the state Cattlemen’s Association this week. It’s rodeo time, and we’re gearing up for a big weekend at the Garrett Coliseum. Buckin’ broncos, barrels, show calves and scholarships, we’re looking at a jam-packed weekend with the SLE Rodeo and Junior Beef Expo ahead. Keep reading to learn more about what’s happening this week in Montgomery!
Special Session Comes to a Close
The special session ended yesterday afternoon after the Senate passed the
Gas Tax (28 yes to 6 no) with no amendments to the House version. Gov. Ivey signed the bill into law a few hours later and ended a week and half of buzz around town. Legislators will come back for their second day of the regular session next Tuesday, March 19 to resume work on the rest of the issues in front of them.
Saddle Up!
It’s here! Rodeo week is upon us, and we’re excited for the round-up of 
events ahead. As you read this, the barns at Garrett Coliseum are filling up with superior show stock as junior cattlemen, 4-H and FFA students from across Alabama are gearing up for a weekend of exhibition in the Junior Beef Expo. We’d like to wish all those young people good luck and a safe, successful weekend!
Back in the Coliseum, we’re excited to be a sponsor of the 62nd annual show! There’s bucking broncos, barrel riding, bull fighting and trick riding to be seen, and you don’t want to miss it! Kicking off the fun is a parade through Downtown Montgomery on Thursday followed by a 7 p.m. show where kids 12u enter FREE! On Friday night, we invite everyone out but especially retired and active military and first responders as we’re offering a BOGO deal on tickets. Don’t forget you’re I.D.! Then on Saturday, at 2 p.m., we’ll bring all the rodeo action at the matinee performance followed with MORE fun that night a 7 p.m. You’re not going to want to miss Roman Rider Dusti Crane Dickerson, Rodeo Clown and Professional Barrelman Rockin’ Robbie Hodges, the elite stock of Frontier Rodeo Company and all those cowboys looking to make it to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
To purchase tickets, call 888-2RODEO2, visit SLERodeo.com, stop by the ACA or visit the Garrett Coliseum Box Office.
And don’t forget to bring your youngins to the stick horse rodeo each night at 5:30 p.m. and the Western Festival on Saturday from 10-noon. Both events are FREE and open to the public!
High School Beef Cook-off
This week is the last week to get registered for the Alabama Jr. & Sr. High School Beef Cook-off happening April 6 in Montgomery. If your county hosted a beef cook off this year, please be sure your winners get registered by THIS Friday, March 15! They can do so online at www.BamaBeef.org./Cookoff.
Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarship Banquet
You may have noticed something different at the annual Awards Banquet if you joined us in Birmingham for the 76th ACA Convention & Trade Show. The room wasn’t quite as full, and the program was a bit shorter, and that’s because the annual Foundation Scholarship portion of the evening has been moved to its own, private event! That’s right, we now are able to give these stellar recipients a special evening where they and the endowment families get to shine! So with that said, next Saturday the Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation will award $64,000 in scholarships to 74 deserving students at the 2019 ACA Scholarship Banquet. The banquet will be at the Wetumpka Civic Center at 5:30PM. Coverage of the banquet will be in the May magazine, so be on the lookout for your favorite scholar!
MEMBERSHIP REPORT
The membership count of the day is 6,514 members of the ACA…and 
counting as Membership and Producer Contact Coordinator Jessica Kennedy and our county leaders are steady inserting renewals and new members or NEED to be! Jessica is working to get all membership up-to-date so she can then begin sending out membership statements to all non-renewed members in April as well as county liability insurance information. Stay tuned for more!
CattleWomen’s 5K
The Alabama CattleWomen’s BeeFit 5k is April 13 in downtown Montgomery, and we’re excited to launch Alabama’s Team Beef at this event. If you are an avid runner and are interested in being a part of Team Beef, please contact Ali Cantrell at our office, and she will get you registered for the 5k and provide you with Team Beef apparel.
SAVE THE DATES: 2019 AJCA ROUND-UP
Deck the barns with boughs of shavings fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la. 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.
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