And just like that, this is the last blog post for June 2019 as it will soon be in the rear view mirror like the first half of the year already is! Time flies when you’re having fun, or super busy, or sweating a lot…basically time just flies all the time! Believe it or not, we are beginning preparations for our August Board Meeting, are getting ready to close Round-Up registration and have already begun to think about plans for October Beef Month! It’ll all be here before we know it. Keep reading to learn about what all is happening and stay in touch with your state Cattlemen’s Association.
Disaster Relief Discussion in AL
After a long battle in D.C., the disaster bill was finally passed in early June with $3 billion available for agriculture. This bill encompasses the aid needed to help our folks who were severely impacted by Hurricane Michael along with many other natural weather disasters across the country in the last year. Recently, Commissioner Pate held a meeting of agriculture stakeholders to discuss how Alabama will handle the disaster money available. At this point, there are a few options on the table including the possibility of a state block grant. This would give the state some more control over how the money is distributed and with any luck expedite the process to get producers paid for damages sustained last fall. A follow up meeting will be held today (Wednesday) of industry stakeholders to further discuss compensation plans.
AJCA Round-Up Registration Ends FRIDAY
Santa’s checking his list and checking it twice…make sure your name is on it 
for a very merry Christmas in July!! The Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association is proud to host the 13th annual AJCA Round-Up at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery, AL. You don’t want to miss this event and all the competition it brings through cattle shows and 14 other contests! Registration closes THIS FRIDAY, June 28 at 11:55 p.m.
Bring your best Christmas spirit to Montgomery July 18-21.
Register Now>> www.BamaBeef.org/RoundUp
This year’s event will be like no other! We’ve got a great novice contest in the works, new faces on the judging platform, great prizes, AND some little elves mentioned that this year we are adding a dunking booth to the event! Bring your dollar bills and have a chance to soak some of the AJCA Directors while raising money for the juniors of Alabama.
Also, we’ve only received two director applications, which are also due this Friday! We have an open seat in each district, so in order to have a full board, WE NEED APPLICANTS! Here’s a quick link to the director app >> Click Here.
Don’t forget! You can sponsor the Round-Up easily online now by clicking here.
Franklin County Junior Cattlemen’s Field Day
This Saturday staffer Ali Cantrell will be traveling to Franklin County to participate in the 2nd annual Junior Cattlemen’s Summer Field Day. This field day will host almost 40 kids and will go over livestock judging, analyzing beef cuts as well as quality grades and hay sampling. Ali is excited to meet with these outstanding juniors to discuss beef cuts as well as beef nutrition!
Staff Position Opening
With the big changes made in the Southeastern Livestock Exposition (SLE), we’ve got a new position open within the ACA under the title “Director of Rodeo Programs.” The ACA is seeking to hire an individual full time that will dedicate the majority of their year planning and executing the annual SLE Rodeo while also serving in a field staff role within in the Cattlemen’s Association. To learn more about the opening or to apply, visit www.BamaBeef.org/Staff and scroll to the bottom of the page where you’ll find the job description!
ACA Sits on FHSHTE Council
This week, staffer Ali Cantrell was invited to sit on the Family Human Services, Hospitality and Tourism, and Education (FHSHTE) Advisory Council through the Alabama State Department of Education. The purpose of the State Advisory Council is to provide advice and counsel to the FHSHTE State Staff by making suggestions and recommendations for the improvement of the instructional program. This council enables the FHSHTE maintain successful and viable programs across the state. The advisory council will meet on July 10.
Summer Grilling Campaign
Our July grilling campaign kicks off next week! We will have commercial 
spots on iHeart media radio stations such as 97.7 the Kicker, 102.1 WDRM, 95 KSJ, 98 TXT, and WWMG. Everyone across the state will hear the wonderful sound of a sizzle and our classic tagline of Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner. Billboard signs in Birmingham are already displaying a savory and patriotic burger to encourage consumers to celebrate freedom by firing up the grill!
THE MOOSEUM- CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONs
Don’t forget! The MOOseum has shut its doors and going under construction as we renovate throughout parts of June, July and August! Doors closed last Thursday and won’t open again until mid-August! We’re excited to see this project coming quickly to a fruition and cannot wait to re-open our doors in August with a fresh, new look. You won’t believe what all we’ve got in store!!
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, Twitter or Instagram.
As you may have already seen on our social media, last week ACA Director of Field Services Morgan Pounds joined Extension Specialist Kent Stanford as the duo visited Sand Mountain Stockyard in Crossville. This week, the stockyard visits continue on as Morgan and staffer Kayla Greer head over to Livingston Stockyard and then Morgan will head south to Double A Auction in Brewton on Saturday! We’re hauling those big ole Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner signs with us, so look out for your favorite market on social media!
Chuck Bradley for being named Reserve World Champion at the Livestock Marketing Association’s (LMA) World Livestock Auctioneer Championship held in Dinuba, Calif. at Tulare County Stockyard two weekends ago. Chuck is a Rockford, Ala. native and was joined on his journey by Dallas County cattleman, market owner and LMA Past President Jerry Etheredge. Look out for more info in the July issue of the Alabama Cattleman magazine.
Hogs, goats, sheep…and of course, cattle…youth from across Alabama competed on Tuesday in the 4-H State Livestock Judging Contest in Auburn. ACA staffers Morgan Pounds and Ali Cantrell were at the event to show support of our youth industry partner, help out where needed and cheer on junior cattlemen in the contest! We’re always so impressed with the caliber in which our youth compete, and yesterday’s event was absolutely no exception. Great job to all who came out, competed and/or placed!
This article was funded by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Progam. Paid for by Alabama beef farmers and ranchers.
The membership count of the day is 8,361 members and counting! It’s a big week in the membership office…Don’t forget that the “Over the Top” deadline is THIS SATURDAY! To qualify four your red coat, your county has to go Over the Top by having membership input in i4a or by having names AND money into the office by June 15. Got questions about our “Over the Top” program? Give Jessica a call at (334) 265-1867.
ACA Director of Field Services Morgan Pounds is in Sand Mountain today as she visits with the owners and presents them with their new Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner signage for use at the facility. She enjoyed watching the sale and lunch with market owner John Hamilton (pictured) and Regional Extension Agent Kent Stanford. We appreciate the market for being such a generous host and look forward to getting around to all of Alabama’s livestock markets.
Those iconic corduroy jackets have painted Downtown Montgomery as thousands of young students in agriculture are in town for the annual Alabama FFA Convention! We’re proud to be involved with this outstanding association in a number of ways this week as today we host the FFA Wall of Honor Luncheon, man a booth representing the AJCA at the Trade Show and tomorrow President Chris Langley will have the honor of presenting the Livestock and Meats Evaluation CDE awards to outstanding FFA chapters who competed in these events. The MOOseum is also open for tours, and the opportunity to tour the entire ACA building is on the table for any teacher who stops by with a group. If you’ve got children or students in town, make sure to tell them to stop by and see us!
passage and is on its way to the desk of President Trump for consideration. The ACA would like to the thank the Alabama delegation for its continuous efforts to see this bill through.