Bama Beef Blog Weekly Update: June 3, 2020

What. A. Year.

2020 will certainly go down in history as an unforgettable year, although we may all would like to forget it by the time it is said and done! Nevertheless, despite the many issues our nation and world faces, America’s cattlemen are still raising cattle. We’ll continue to work on our behalf, if you continue to work to feed the world. Keep reading for this week’s update about all that’s happening in Montgomery.


 

Marketing Meat Direct to Consumers: A Three-Part Webinar Series

Screenshot 2020-05-20 14.48.00In response to growing demand for local meat products, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program have partnered with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Sweet Grown Alabama to host a three-part webinar series to educate Alabama farmers on the steps required to raise, harvest and market their products in a way that complies with state and national regulation, ensuring a safe and wholesome product for consumers to enjoy.

 

Monday’s webinar was a hit with around 60 virtual attendees. Great questions were asked, and Extension’s Alex Tigue did an excellent job educating on “Creating the Product Consumers Want.” If you missed out, don’t worry. You can view the recorded session on our website at www.BamaBeef.org/BamaBeef.

If you are interested in learning from this series, please pre-register for this virtual event by CLICKING HERE. Webinar access information will be provided following your submission and will be sent via the email address provided in the form.

Today and Friday’s webinar will occur as follows:

  • June 3, 2020 | 12:00 P.M.
    The Processing Process
    – Choosing a Processor
    – Dry Aging vs Wet Aging
    – The Math: Dressing Percentages and Carcass Yields
  • June 5, 2020 | 12:00 P.M.
    Getting Your Product to Market, and Getting Paid for It
    – Where to Sell Your Product
    – How to Price Your Product
    – How to Advertise
    – The Ins-and-Outs of Farmers’ Markets
    – Intro to Sweet Grown Alabama

If you have any questions, please contact Ali Cantrell at the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association at (334) 265-1867.

 

 

Bama Beef Directory

In line with the above webinar series and also in response to growing demand for local beef products, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association is in the process of creating a digital portal to directly connect consumers looking to purchase beef with those who produce it. We are now accepting submissions to be included in this directory. If you are an Alabama beef producer who sells freezer beef, please add your operation to the listing by completing our form available also at www.BamaBeef.org/BamaBeef. Or you can call our office to relay the information. Just ask to speak with Ali Cantrell or Kayla Greer.

 

 

New YCLP Council Holds First Meeting

Staffer Morgan Pounds welcomes the YCLP Council to the building young-cattlemen-logo_websizedtomorrow for their first meeting. The YCLP Council is comprised of alumni from various classes. Throughout this groups two year term they will plan a YCLP alumni event, aid in planning current class tours, stay connected with past YCLP classes, and be advocates for the beef industry. We are excited to start the YCLP Council and have this group of passionate young cattlemen.

 

YCLP Council Members 2020-2022

  • YCLP Class 1 – Caleb Beason Franklin County
  • YCLP Class 2 – Bradfield Evans Lowndes County
  • YCLP Class 3 – Nic Cornelison Jackson County
  • YCLP Class 5 – William Morgan Crenshaw County
  • YCLP Class 6 – Travis Tucker Blount County

 

 

Hitting the Roads…Finally!!

Staffers Morgan Pounds and Ali Cantrell hit the roads this weekend. They are excited to get out and about again and see our cattlemen!! On Saturday, the duo will head to Fayette County to Vista Farms for the Alabama Angus Field Day. Be sure to stop by our booth and say hello! When they leave Fayette, they’ll head east to attend the Cullman County Cattlemen’s Meeting . This meeting will be at Stonebridge Farms and start at 6pm and will have Pro Rodeo Announcer, Adam Gibbs, as a guest auctioneer for the event.

 

 

Membership Update

As of today, the ACA is proud to represent 8,307 members statewide. Our goal is 10,000 and now county presidents have the chance to help us get there while also earning your iconic red coat as the new Over the Top deadline has been extended to July 31. Get out and recruit/renew!

 

 

ACA Now Offers Blue BEEF Tags

100085826_1953128378156489_312650877296967680_nIf you thought our iconic red BEEF tags were popular, let us intprudce you to their Auburn-oriented counterpart. In response to a few requests for blue and white tags, we decided to order a test batch and WOW. They are flying out the door. In the course of one week we’ve sold over 100 of the blue tags through our online store!! Folks are also buying up the red tags, hats and T-shirts while they are there. Don’t miss out on your blue tag >> www.BamaBeef.org/Store 

 

 

14th annual AJCA Round-Up

Registration is now open for the 14th annual Alabama Junior AJCA RoundUp LogoCattlemen’s Association Round-Up. Happening July 16-19 at the Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery, this annual junior event is full steam ahead. The agenda might look a little different this year as the public speaking and career development contests were moved to the convention, and a showmanship clinic and a Bred & Owned show were added to the events lineup. A full schedule and the rules packet are available on the website, along with registration. Check it out >> www.BamaBeef.org/RoundUp.

 

 

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.

 

 

Fire Up the Grill…It’s Summertime!

By Elesha Ergle, RDN

 

The summer sun is starting to make its debut, so let the summer fun begin! Grilling is a staple for summertime activities and is a great way to stay involved with your outdoor guests while preparing a delicious meal. If you have no idea where to begin with grilling, get started with some grill basics. Choose what works best for you and your surroundings. Whether gas or charcoal, you can find the option that is best suited for your grilling needs. For detailed information on different types of grills and their uses, check out this video from Home Depot. No matter the type of grill you decide on, beef can bring you versatile recipes to please any tastes. Beef It’s What’s For Dinner has grilling basics as well as a ton of recipes.

 

Burgers Galore
If perfecting an excellent burger is your goal, Food Network has a great informational video with beef buying, seasoning, and handling information, as well as grilling tips. If you are comfortable with your grilling skills, these Maple Bacon Beer Burgers are sure to be a favorite. Smash burgers are a diner favorite and make a great addition to your summertime grilling scene. Get your grill and griddle ready for these BBQ Smash Burgers, they will be a hit at your next gathering.

 

Steak Out
Grilling the perfect steak is something that most steak lovers desire, but remember- practice makes perfect. First choose the cut that best suits you. Some people only want a ribeye, where others may prefer a filet. Choose your cut and spend your time perfecting the one that you enjoy most. Sous vide has become a common-place household item and makes steak grilling even easier, especially for leaner cuts of beef such as sirloin or strip steaks. Grill master Bobby Flay has some great resources for grilling the perfect steaks such as this Perfectly Grilled Strip Steak.

 

Gas or charcoal, burgers or steaks, no matter what your taste buds crave, give into grilling and enjoy the wonderful taste of beef outdoors! Beef is an excellent source of protein, zinc, and iron with recipes for any meal, any occasion. For more recipes and more information on beef from pasture to plate, visit Beef It’s What’s For Dinner.

 

Happy Grilling! 

 

Our Favorite Summer Grilling Links

 

State Checkoff color_nobackgroundThis article was funded by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Progam. Paid for by Alabama beef farmers and ranchers.

Bama Beef Blog Weekly Update: May 27, 2020

Summer heat and showers have flooded the state, and we are grateful as the combo of the two produce what a cattleman needs most— grass! While you work to bale hay, keep water troughs full and manage summer grazing, your ACA staff is busy in the office in Montgomery seeing to the many elements that make the industry work. From managing calls to promoting summertime grilling and planning youth events to producing new merchandise, we can always find something to work on around here! Keep  reading to learn more about what’s happening at the ACA. 


 

Executive Committee Meets Virtually Thursday

ACA logo- meme size copyThe Executive Committee will meet tomorrow via Zoom tomorrow in place of the regularly schedule board of directors meeting. The group will receive updates of the association’s response efforts to COVID-19, upcoming checkoff funded projects and discuss cattle pricing proposals that are on the table in the industry. The ACA hopes to have an in person Board of Directors meeting in August.

For today’s membership update, to date, we are proud to have 8,190 members in the 2020 year. Let’s get to that big 10,000!!

 

 

USDA Announces Details of CFAP Program

On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) opened the application period for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Cattlemen are encouraged to visit their local FSA office quickly to submit application for this government funding. Forms are available at the link below, and word so far is that the application process is pretty streamlined!

 

Eligible Livestock for CFAP

CFAP assistance is available to livestock producers who have an ownership interest in eligible livestock that have suffered a five percent-or-greater price decline as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and face additional significant costs in marketing their inventories due to unexpected surplus and disrupted markets. The application period will open on Tuesday, May 26.

Cattle eligible for CFAP include:

  • Feeder Cattle (<600 lbs.)
  • Feeder Cattle (> 600 lbs.)
  • Slaughter Cattle: Fed Cattle
  • Slaughter Cattle: Mature Cattle

All Other Cattle (not including livestock used, or intended for, dairy production)

A single payment for livestock will be calculated using the sum of the producer’s number of livestock sold between January 15 and April 15, 2020, multiplied by the payment rates per head, and the highest inventory number of livestock between April 16 and May 14, 2020, multiplied by the payment rate per head.

Producers must provide the following information for CFAP:

Total sales of eligible livestock, by species and class, between January 15, 2020, to April 15, 2020, of owned inventory as of January 15, 2020, including any offspring from that inventory; and highest inventory of eligible livestock, by species and class, between April 16, 2020, and May 14, 2020.

Learn more at » https://www.farmers.gov/cfap/livestock

 

 

Marketing Meat Direct to Consumers: A Three-Part Webinar Series

Screenshot 2020-05-20 14.48.00In response to growing demand for local meat products, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program have partnered with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Sweet Grown Alabama to host a three-part webinar series to educate Alabama farmers on the steps required to raise, harvest and market their products in a way that complies with state and national regulation, ensuring a safe and wholesome product for consumers to enjoy.

If you are interested in learning from this series, please pre-register for this virtual event by CLICKING HERE. Webinar access information will be provided following your submission and will be sent via the email address provided in the form.

The webinar will occur as follows:

  • June 1, 2020 | 12:00 P.M.
    Creating the Product Consumers Expect
    – Carcass Goals
    – Nutritional Management of Cattle, Pigs & Small Ruminants
    – Other Management Considerations
  • June 3, 2020 | 12:00 P.M.
    The Processing Process
    – Choosing a Processor
    – Dry Aging vs Wet Aging
    – The Math: Dressing Percentages and Carcass Yields
  • June 5, 2020 | 12:00 P.M.
    Getting Your Product to Market, and Getting Paid for It
    – Where to Sell Your Product
    – How to Price Your Product
    – How to Advertise
    – The Ins-and-Outs of Farmers’ Markets
    – Intro to Sweet Grown Alabama

If you have any questions, please contact Ali Cantrell at the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association at (334) 265-1867.

 

 

Bama Beef Directory

In line with the above webinar series and also in response to growing demand for local beef products, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association is in the process of creating a digital portal to directly connect consumers looking to purchase beef with those who produce it. We are now accepting submissions to be included in this directory. If you are an Alabama beef producer who sells freezer beef, please add your operation to the listing by completing our form available also at www.BamaBeef.org/BamaBeef. Or you can call our office to relay the information. Just ask to speak with Ali Cantrell or Kayla Greer.

 

 

Pike County Cattlemen’s Memorial Day Blowout

ACA Director of Field Services Morgan Pounds and several of the AJCA Directors spent the weekend in Pike County at a jackpot show that welcomed over 250 exhibitors. Great work to the county chapter for putting on a great event for youth who were itching to get back in the show ring. Thanks to all who made it happen!

 

 

ACA Now Offers Blue BEEF Tags

100085826_1953128378156489_312650877296967680_nIf you thought our iconic red BEEF tags were popular, let us intprudce you to their Auburn-oriented counterpart. In response to a few requests for blue and white tags, we decided to order a test batch and WOW. They are flying out the door. In the course of one week we’ve sold over 100 of the blue tags through our online store!! Folks are also buying up the red tags, hats and T-shirts while they are there. Don’t miss out on your blue tag >> www.BamaBeef.org/Store 

 

 

14th annual AJCA Round-Up

Registration is now open for the 14th annual Alabama Junior AJCA RoundUp LogoCattlemen’s Association Round-Up. Happening July 16-19 at the Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery, this annual junior event is full steam ahead. The agenda might look a little different this year as the public speaking and career development contests were moved to the convention, and a showmanship clinic and a Bred & Owned show were added to the events lineup. A full schedule and the rules packet are available on the website, along with registration. Check it out >> www.BamaBeef.org/RoundUp.

 

 

2020 SLE Rodeo Cancelled, Looking Forward to 2021

sle-logo

Just in case you missed the news last week…On March 13, 2020 the Southeastern Livestock Exposition (SLE) announced the postponement of the 63rd annual SLE Rodeo and Livestock Week amid growing concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. SLE leadership has been monitoring conditions related to COVID-19 and the sport of rodeo both locally and nationally over the course of two months and in doing so, has made the decision to cancel the 2020 rodeo and related events.

 

Tickets will be refunded through the agency in which they were purchased. If tickets were purchased through the Garrett Coliseum Box Office, contact (334) 356-6866 to request a full refund. Tickets purchased with a credit card through the SLE Rodeo Headquarters will be refunded automatically. For tickets purchased through Ticketmaster, rodeo patrons will receive an automatic refund of the ticket order amount to the method of payment used for purchase within 30 days.

 

Information on the 2021 SLE Rodeo and Livestock Week will be made available in coming months. Please monitor announcements and updates at www.SLERodeo.com or on our Facebook page.

 

 

 

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.

Bama Beef Blog Weekly Update: May 20, 2020

It has been quite the week here at ACA. With the roll out of CFAP, a magazine deadline, the upcoming Pike County Show and several Foundation projects (including Jackson, Coffee and Pike counties), there’s much going on! We’ve got news all around to bring your way as we head into the holiday weekend and official kickoff of summer grilling season. Speaking of grilling, we were supposed to be launching a nationwide summer grilling campaign today…but COVID-19 has forced us to delay until June 10. Don’t worry, we are still going to be promoting firing up the grill with beef until then. Keep reading to learn more about what’s happening— and what has happened— since our last update!


 

2020 SLE Rodeo Cancelled, Looking Forward to 2021

sle-logo

On March 13, 2020 the Southeastern Livestock Exposition (SLE) announced the postponement of the 63rdannual SLE Rodeo and Livestock Week amid growing concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. SLE leadership has been monitoring conditions related to COVID-19 and the sport of rodeo both locally and nationally over the course of two months and in doing so, has made the decision to cancel the 2020 rodeo and related events.

 

Tickets will be refunded through the agency in which they were purchased. If tickets were purchased through the Garrett Coliseum Box Office, contact (334) 356-6866 to request a full refund. Tickets purchased with a credit card through the SLE Rodeo Headquarters will be refunded automatically. For tickets purchased through Ticketmaster, rodeo patrons will receive an automatic refund of the ticket order amount to the method of payment used for purchase within 30 days.

 

Information on the 2021 SLE Rodeo and Livestock Week will be made available in coming months. Please monitor announcements and updates at www.SLERodeo.com or on our Facebook page.

 

 

 

USDA Announces Details of CFAP Program

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Below is a high-level summary of the program and additional details can be found in the attached rule and at https://www.farmers.gov/cfap/livestock.

 

Eligible Livestock for CFAP

CFAP assistance is available to livestock producers who have an ownership interest in eligible livestock that have suffered a five percent-or-greater price decline as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and face additional significant costs in marketing their inventories due to unexpected surplus and disrupted markets. The application period will open on Tuesday, May 26.

Cattle eligible for CFAP include:

  • Feeder Cattle (<600 lbs.)
  • Feeder Cattle (> 600 lbs.)
  • Slaughter Cattle: Fed Cattle
  • Slaughter Cattle: Mature Cattle

All Other Cattle (not including livestock used, or intended for, dairy production)

A single payment for livestock will be calculated using the sum of the producer’s number of livestock sold between January 15 and April 15, 2020, multiplied by the payment rates per head, and the highest inventory number of livestock between April 16 and May 14, 2020, multiplied by the payment rate per head.

Producers must provide the following information for CFAP:

Total sales of eligible livestock, by species and class, between January 15, 2020, to April 15, 2020, of owned inventory as of January 15, 2020, including any offspring from that inventory; and highest inventory of eligible livestock, by species and class, between April 16, 2020, and May 14, 2020.

Learn more at » https://www.farmers.gov/cfap/livestock

 

 

 

Giving Back With a Virtual Cookoff

The weekend, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association will be partnering with the Montgomery Biscuits and Bama-Q to host a Virtual Burger Cook-off at the Biscuits stadium in Montgomery. This cook-off will raise awareness about the impacts of COVID-19 and host as a fundraiser for local organizations benefiting healthcare workers and restaurant workers. On May 22, Montgomery County Cattlemen will be cooking 150 ribeye steak sandwiches in the stadium to serve healthcare workers at Baptist Medical Center East and meet with media to talk about the cook-off on Saturday. Bama-Q will broadcast the burger cook-off live through multiple outlets (Facebook, fireTV, ROKU) on May 23 and viewers will be able to donate through an online donation platform directly to Biscuits Charitable Foundation. We are excited to be part of this event that features our favorite protein, beef, on the kickoff weekend for summer grilling!

 

 

 

Marketing Meat Direct to Consumers: A Three-Part Webinar Series

Screenshot 2020-05-20 14.48.00In response to growing demand for local meat products, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program have partnered with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Sweet Grown Alabama to host a three-part webinar series to educate Alabama farmers on the steps required to raise, harvest and market their products in a way that complies with state and national regulation, ensuring a safe and wholesome product for consumers to enjoy.

If you are interested in learning from this series, please pre-register for this virtual event by CLICKING HERE. Webinar access information will be provided following your submission and will be sent via the email address provided in the form.

The webinar will occur as follows:

  • June 1, 2020 | 12:00 P.M.
    Creating the Product Consumers Expect
    – Carcass Goals
    – Nutritional Management of Cattle, Pigs & Small Ruminants
    – Other Management Considerations
  • June 3, 2020 | 12:00 P.M.
    The Processing Process
    – Choosing a Processor
    – Dry Aging vs Wet Aging
    – The Math: Dressing Percentages and Carcass Yields
  • June 5, 2020 | 12:00 P.M.
    Getting Your Product to Market, and Getting Paid for It
    – Where to Sell Your Product
    – How to Price Your Product
    – How to Advertise
    – The Ins-and-Outs of Farmers’ Markets
    – Intro to Sweet Grown Alabama

If you have any questions, please contact Ali Cantrell at the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association at (334) 265-1867.

 

 

 

14th annual AJCA Round-Up

Registration is now open for the 14th annual Alabama Junior AJCA RoundUp LogoCattlemen’s Association Round-Up. Happening July 16-19 at the Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery, this annual junior event is full steam ahead. The agenda might look a little different this year as the public speaking and career development contests were moved to the convention, and a showmanship clinic and a Bred & Owned show were added to the events lineup. A full schedule and the rules packet are available on the website, along with registration. Check it out >> www.BamaBeef.org/RoundUp.

 

 

 

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.

Bama Beef Blog Weekly Update: May 13, 2020

It has been two months since we last updated about what is going on in the office, and to be honest…you probably already know. Coronavirus has shifted all our lives like we never could have anticipated. Although blog updates have been slow, the work continued and today we encourage you to saddle up for a long, all-encompassing update about the many things that have been happening while we have practiced social distancing and worked remotely for a stint of time. Here goes…get ready for a big read!


 

 

ACA Membership Update

We will start with our the most constant aspect of our ACA logo- meme size copyassociation…membership! We were thrilled with the continued support through membership we have received throughout the pandemic. We are just a handful of members away from 8,000 for the year, clocking in the day with 7,983 members. As a reminder, the Over the Top county membership deadline to qualify for your iconic red coat is June 30. Stay tuned for information about our May Board of Directors meeting coming soon.

 

 

FREE Webinars Available and Upcoming

While education may look drastically different today, the good news is that thanks to technology…it is still possible from the comfort and safety of our homes. While many great informational webinars have taken place to date, we want to draw your attention to a few that stand out.

  • The Intersection of the Cattle & Beef Industries
    • This twice-weekly, two-hour informational session is designed to provide an accurate science-and-evidence-based overview of the U.S. beef industry from conception to consumption for producers, consumers and decision makers.
  • Are Your Cattle Breed-Ready?
    • Sponsored by Multimin USA and the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, this informational webinar is targeted for cow/calf producers and will feature the knowledge of Multimin Technical Veterinarian Dr. Andy Bennett. There will be two convenient dates and times- May 18 at 7 p.m. and May 29 at 2 p.m. To register and get more information, contact Sheri Chapman at (334) 352-5062 or sheri@multiminusa.com.
  • USDA Agricultural Marketing Services Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Update
    • USDA announced the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA) will be hosting a webinar for farmers, ranchers and other producers interested in applying for direct payments through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) this Thursday, May 14, 2020, at 12 p.m. CST.  This webinar is an opportunity for producers to learn about the general application process and required documentation prior to the official beginning of signup. Producers interested in participating may register in advance for webinar HERE.

 

 

County Cattlemen’s Associations Give Back

Through a partnership with the Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation andChilton local sponsors, county chapters across Alabama have given back to the frontline workers of this pandemic in the best way they know how— with beef! Butler, Cherokee, Chilton, Clay, Colbert, Franklin, Houston, Jefferson, Lauderdale, Limestone, Madison, Montgomery and Shelby counties have already completed projects that provided beef meals to hospital staff, first responders, truck drivers, farm supply stores and other employees deemed “essential.” That’s not all as Jackson will complete this charitable project on Friday, followed by Coffee County on Saturday. If you are interested in doing this in your own county, contact our office at (334) 265-1867.

 

 

Summer Grilling Campaign Excitement!

We will be able to tell you more next week, but trust us when we say Screenshot 2020-05-13 11.45.58that our national office is getting ready to release an EXCELLENT summer grilling campaign, and we are excited to extend it here in our home state in a number of ways. ACA’s Ali Cantrell and Kayla Greer have been busy planning this campaign to best implement it in Alabama under the current circumstances. Given that many events are cancelled, digital is the main route for this promotion. That includes billboards, display and social ads through AL.com, radio commercials in Mobile, and all of our summertime consumer-facing assets will also claim this promotion’s battle cry. If baseball kicks back into play, it will also be seen at the Montgomery Biscuits and Birmingham Barons stadiums.

 

We look forward to the chance to unveil it to you all next week on May 20 following the national launch, just in time for Memorial Day Weekend. We have to keep it under wraps until then…but it lacks nothing in patriotism and style!

 

 

14th annual AJCA Round-Up

Registration is now open for the 14th annual Alabama Junior AJCA RoundUp LogoCattlemen’s Association Round-Up. Happening July 16-19 at the Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery, this annual junior event is full steam ahead. The agenda might look a little different this year as the public speaking and career development contests were moved to the convention, and a showmanship clinic and a Bred & Owned show were added to the events lineup. A full schedule and the rules packet are available on the website, along with registration. Check it out >> www.BamaBeef.org/RoundUp.

 

 

Representing Cattlemen in the News

There are two things that are in no short supply around our office…hand sanitizer and news media interview requests. Given the current state of the cattle markets and the kink in the supply chain due to packing plant shut downs, the news has been knocking on our doors regularly. ACA Executive VP Erin Beasley has been fielding these calls and questions. Check out her latest interview with WSFA (Montgomery) HERE and read this article written by Tuscaloosa-based and James Beard awarding-winning dietician Dr. Carolyn Williams, RD about what you really need to know about the meat “shortage.” We will continue to monitor local news outlets across Alabama to ensure the right information is being shared. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

 

 

SLE Rodeo Update

sle-logoThe Southeastern Livestock Exposition Board of Directors will hold a tele-meeting tomorrow to discuss the plans for the 2020 rodeo. A statement will be release on or by Friday afternoon regarding this year’s events. Stay tuned to Facebook for updates.

 

 

Giving Back With a Virtual Cookoff

On Memorial Day weekend, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association will be partnering with the Montgomery Biscuits and Bama-Q to host a “Virtual” Burger Cook-off at the Biscuits stadium in Montgomery. This cook-off will raise awareness about the impacts of COVID-19 and host as a fundraiser for local organizations benefiting healthcare workers, restaurant workers and first responders. On May 22, local cattlemen will be cooking ribeye steak sandwiches in the stadium to serve healthcare workers at Baptist South Medical Center and meet with media to talk about the cook-off on Saturday. Bama-Q will broadcast the burger cook-off live through multiple outlets (Facebook, fireTV, ROKU) on May 23 and viewers will be able to donate through an online donation platform directly to Biscuits Charitable Foundation. We are excited to be part of this event that features our favorite protein, beef, on the kickoff weekend for summer grilling!

 

 

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 Up Your Quarantine Kitchen

By Elesha Ergle, RDN

 

 

April has brought about a new normal for our country, and I read something on social media the other day about us now realizing why our grandparents (or great-grandparents) washed their Ziploc bags, kept all their bacon grease and washed out all their butter tubs. We are in a time of cutting back on food waste and learning to live off the things that we are able to get at the stores. Beef is an excellent source of protein, vitamins and minerals and is a versatile item to keep on hand for many meals or snacks. From Breakfast Tacos to Chocolate Beefy Brownies, beef is the staple you can always count on.

 

 

Beefy Substitutes

If you are missing some of your restaurant favorites, Beef It’s What’s for Dinner has a great collection of recipes to make your favorite recipe but substituting beef in place of another protein. Love Peking Duck? Give Peking Chuck a try! If it’s calamari you’re craving, go for this recipe for Cowlamari.

 

 

So Long, Leftovers

If you have cooked a big meal and have leftovers, never fear! Go to the So Long Leftovers recipe collection. You can turn that leftover pot roast or steak in to Sushi-Style Beef Rolls.  Use leftover steak to top a great lunch time salad. Add your leftover ground beef, from tacos or sloppy joes, to your morning eggs for a protein-filled breakfast. If you have purchased frozen ground beef in bulk, you can cook it all in your instant pot and the add seasonings as desired for the meal. Use for gravy and biscuits, spaghetti, lasagna, quesadillas, or for those delicious Beefy Brownies I mentioned.

 

 

One Pan Meals

Casseroles are a perfect way to cook a big meal and have leftovers. Casseroles are great because they can be eaten as leftovers for a couple of days, or portion up in aluminum foil, wrap tightly and put in zippered bags for freezer storage. With the leftovers in smaller portions, it is easy to remove one (or more) portions for reheating on another day. If you are unsure where to start, try this Spicy Mexican Beef Bake.

 

Use this time at home to hone your cooking craft and try some new recipes using ingredients you already have on hand. For more recipes and information on beef from pasture to plate, visit Beef It’s What’s for Dinner.

 

Enjoy the springtime weather, and stay safe everyone!

 

 

State Checkoff color_nobackgroundThis article was funded by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Progam. Paid for by Alabama beef farmers and ranchers.

Bama Beef Blog Update: March 11, 2020

Someone turned up the heat and the activity here in Montgomery as the temperatures turn springlike, and our calendars show all the signs of the rodeo coming to town. This week’s post may be short and sweet since staff is moving in all directions…but know our boots are always on the ground working for you!


 

SLE Rodeo in Town Next Week!

The rodeo may be in town next week, but the fun starts now! Today, staffers Msle-logoorgan Pounds, Ali Cantrell and Lauren Wilson welcomed bus loads of college and high school judging teams to the SLE Livestock Judging Contest. More than 150 youth gathered at the Garrett Coliseum to judge livestock classes and put to work their judging skills, sponsored by the SLE and executed but he hand of Extension’s Jason P’Poole. Thanks, Jason!

 

That’s not all the SLE fun happening this week, though, as ticket sales are keeping the phones off the hook, media interviews are happening across town and all the nuts and bolts of executing an event of the caliber are in motion.

 

We are in the single digits…just 8 days out from the first performance of 2020! Buck on over to www.SLERodeo.com/Tickets now to secure your seats at the greatest show on dirt! This year’s show is sure to please as we’re featuring freestyle bullfighting, the best stock in the PRCA, all kinds of children’s events and hometown rodeo clown, Trent McFarland! We’ve got some awesome ticket deals available for you to take advantage of, so don’t wait. Get on over to www.SLERodeo.com to learn more about all that SLE Livestock Week offers and to purchase your tickets today! And don’t forget- we offer group ticket sales to groups of 25+ members.

 

Our ticket sales guru, Sydney Dougherty, is the friendly voice you’ll hear when you call 888-2RODEO2 and now through rodeo time, you can find her here at the office selling tickets during the drive time, 5-7 p.m. and during the lunch hour. Can’t call her during your work day? No big deal— find her here when you have time!

 

 

2020 SPRING YOUTH PRODUCTION FIELD DAY

Information is now available on the 2020 Spring Youth Production Field Day AJCA-Black(2)being hosted on April 18 at Quail Valley Farms in Oneonta, AL (Blount County). Youth will enjoy a variety of educational topics from EPDs to cattle judging and from ultrasound scanning to a farm tour. Lunch will be provided at this FREE youth event, and it is brought to all youth of our state by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program. Registration for this event  is NOW OPEN. Learn more » www.BamaBeef.org/FieldDay

 

 

Consumers Hear about Beef

This week, we published a blog article written by checkoff-contracted Registered Dietitian Elesha Ergle on the portable nutrition of beef. Her post focused on the fact that families are on the move this time of year as the weather warms up, and highlighted the many ways beef can be a portable and nutritious meal. This post will also be used in a consumer e-newsletter, coming soon to an inbox near you!

 

 

ACA MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

As of today, the ACA is proud to represent 7,019 members in the 2020 year ACA logo- meme size copyand counting as county meetings are still happening, although the calendar is lightening up. Following the annual meetings, leaders, we as that you send in county leader contact information so we can update it on our website in our records!

A couple of deadlines to remember as we get deeper into the year:

  • Early Bird Membership Drawing: March 31, 2020
  • Over the Top Red Coat Deadline: June 30, 2020
  • Top Hand Recruiting Deadline: December 31, 2020

 

 

PROSTART INVITATIONAL

Earlier this week, staffer Ali Cantrell traveled to Orange Beach for the ProStart Invitational Cook-off. As a sponsor of this event, she was able to meet with potential culinary students to educate them about beef cooking techniques and the beef production system. She also presented the contestants with the Best Beef Dish Award!

 

Speaking of, beef Cook-offs are underway throughout Alabama! Ali is preparing for our Alabama Jr. & Sr. High School Beef Cook-off on April 4. If your county has hosted a local beef cook-off, be sure to get your winners registered on our website at www.bamabeef.org/events/2020/alabama-juniorsenior-high-school-cookoff and contact Ali Cantrell if you have any questions. THIS FRIDAY, March 13, is the last days for students to register for our state cook-off.

 

 

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.

Handheld Meals for Families On the Go

By Elesha Ergle, RDN

 

It is that time of the year when we aren’t quite ready for summer, although in Alabama it could go either way, and we are tired of the cold. Spring forward into March with some new and exciting beef recipes. Beef is an excellent source of protein and iron and is a versatile staple that can create a wide variety of recipes to satisfy any time of the year. With spring activities beginning, quick and easy recipes are the go-to for a lot of families. If you’re burned out on the same old things, give these tasty ideas a try!

 

Will Travel for Beef

Travel sports parents everywhere know that one of the keys to not losing your mind (or spending all your money) is to be prepared for the weekend’s upcoming events. A tried-and-true staple for our family is all beef hotdogs that we cook ahead and put in a thermos to keep warm. Add buns and condiments and the whole family can eat without breaking the bank. Make up a container of  Roast Beef and Veggie Wraps to add to your cooler and you will have a super satisfying  on-the-go meal. For those cooler times, make some meatballs with sauce such as these Four Way Mini-Meatballs and keep warm in an insulated container, grab some sweet rolls and have mini-meatball sliders to fill you up. Don’t forget about all the delicious flavors of beef jerky and beef sticks that you can always keep handy to grab at any time.

 

Late Night Dinners

Homework, sports, jobs…how do you keep your family fed without running through the drive-thru every night?  Plan ahead for the week by cooking up large batches of easy, reheatable foods such as a roast to make roast beef sliders, tacos, or quesadillas. Cook a large batch of ground beef that can be quickly seasoned for spaghetti or sloppy joes. Take advantage of your slow cooker and have these Tangy BBQ Sandwiches ready when you get home.

 

It is a busy time of the year! Take advantage of beef’s versatility, portability, and great protein to keep your family going. For more great recipes and information on beef from pasture to plate, visit Beef It’s What For Dinner.

 

Happy Spring from all of us at Alabama Cattlemen’s Association!

 

State Checkoff color_nobackgroundThis article was funded by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Progam. Paid for by Alabama beef farmers and ranchers.

Bama Beef Blog Update: March 4, 2020

Rain, rain go away. Come again another day!

Sheesh…don’t you know its true!? There’s one meme out there that says “Alabama is no longer a state. You can refer to it as Lake Alabama.” That’s about right as we continue on with another stretch of rain and flooding… Not to worry you, but we saw two of each kind of animal lining up earlier today….

While you fight the rain, mud and flooding, we are canoeing our way to the office each day to get all the many projects and programs we’ve got lined up as we head into the spring months! Avoid the wet weather and keep reading about all that’s going on at the ACA. 


 

 

SADDLE UP FOR THE SLE RODEO

We are just 15 days out from the first performance of 2020! Buck on oversle-logo to www.SLERodeo.com/Tickets now to secure your seats at the greatest show on dirt! This year’s show is sure to please as we’re featuring freestyle bullfighting, the best stock in the PRCA, all kinds of children’s events and hometown rodeo clown, Trent McFarland! We’ve got some awesome ticket deals available for you to take advantage of, so don’t wait. Get on over to www.SLERodeo.com to learn more about all that SLE Livestock Week offers and to purchase your tickets today! And don’t forget- we offer group ticket sales to groups of 25+ members.

 

Our ticket sales guru, Sydney Dougherty, is the friendly voice you’ll hear when you call 888-2RODEO2 and now through rodeo time, you can find her here at the office selling tickets during the drive time, 5-7 p.m. and during the lunch hour. Can’t call her during your work day? No big deal— find her here when you have time!

 

Last week’s SLE Rodeo Media Kickoff Luncheon was a success! We welcomed in around 20 groups of media and hit them up with all the details about the rodeo coming to town! Speaking of media, we are at full launch with advertising and marketing with the rodeo. With Super Tuesday behind us, folks can kick the election ads and check out our rodeo pieces! We’ve heard lots of compliments from billboards to radio commercials— and matched with a full-on social media marketing plan, our website has received over 6,500 visits in the past month alone. That’s great news for us and for our many sponsors, who are now featured on our homepage. Be listening and watching out as our media interview calendar for radio and tv is filling up fast! 

 

Sponsors continue to roll in, and we are down to the nuts and bolts of executing this year’s event. If you’d like to take part in our Wrangler voucher program— where if you spend $70+ on Wrangler jeans, you can get a ticket to the show— you can find those vouchers available at Sikes & Kohns, Camo Country and Bridges Western Wear.

 

 

Beef’s Seat at the Sustainability Panel

This week, ACA Director of Education & Outreach Ali Cantrell and checkoff-contracted registered dietitian Elesha Ergl  attended the Nutrition and Dietetic Educators and Preceptors Central Region Spring Meeting in Birmingham. Nutritionists from all over the United States and locally in Alabama attended this meeting hosted by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Ali and Elesha had the opportunity to sit in on a panel to discuss sustainability in the foodservice system, specifically the beef production system. They were able to teach the attendees how producers practice sustainability techniques to ensure that they are productive stewards of the land.

2020 SPRING YOUTH PRODUCTION FIELD DAY

Information is now available on the 2020 Spring Youth Production Field Day AJCA-Black(2)being hosted on April 18 at Quail Valley Farms in Oneonta, AL (Blount County). Youth will enjoy a variety of educational topics from EPDs to cattle judging and from ultrasound scanning to a farm tour. Lunch will be provided at this FREE youth event, and it is brought to all youth of our state by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program. Registration for this event  is NOW OPEN. Learn more » www.BamaBeef.org/FieldDay

 

 

ACA MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

As of today, the ACA is proud to represent 6,894 members in the 2020 year ACA logo- meme size copyand counting as county meetings are still happening, although the calendar is lightening up. That puts us at over 70% for the year, but we aren’t stopping until we reach 10,000!! Following the annual meetings, leaders, we as that you send in county leader contact information so we can update it on our website in our records!

A couple of deadlines to remember as we get deeper into the year:

  • Early Bird Membership Drawing: March 31, 2020
  • Over the Top Red Coat Deadline: June 30, 2020
  • Top Hand Recruiting Deadline: December 31, 2020

 

 

ProStart Invitational

Next week, staffer Ali Cantrell will be traveling to Orange Beach for the ProStart Invitational Cook-off. As a sponsor of this event, we will be able to meet with potential culinary students to educate them about beef cooking techniques and the beef production system. We also be presenting the contestants with the Best Beef Dish Award!

 

Speaking of, beef Cook-offs are underway throughout Alabama! Ali is preparing for our Alabama Jr. & Sr. High School Beef Cook-off on April 4. If your county has hosted a local beef cook-off, be sure to get your winners registered on our website at www.bamabeef.org/events/2020/alabama-juniorsenior-high-school-cookoff and contact Ali Cantrell if you have any questions.

 

 

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.

Bama Beef Blog Update: February 26, 2020

As usual, it’s a busy week here in Montgomery! You ACA staff is moving in all directions as we prepare for spring events, beef promotions, a busy legislative season and, of course…the SLE Rodeo. We’ve got boots on the ground and are excited for all that’s to come on our hectic spring calendar. Keep reading to learn more about what’s going on with your Alabama Cattlemen’s Association this week. 


 

Saddle Up for the SLE Rodeo

Tomorrow will host a day of big fun as we welcome media from across the sle-logostate and River Region in for our 2020 SLE Rodeo Media Luncheon! More than 120 SLE members and media personalities will join to learn about our upcoming events, and we will highlight them for the services they’re offering to help promote the rodeo! We look forward to this event each year.

 

Also, this week launched our radio campaigns, as staffer Lauren Wilson is out and about beginning to do interviews, and billboards across Alabama are beginning to light up with the news about the 2020 show! Sponsors continue to roll in, and we are down to the nuts and bolts of executing this year’s event. If you’d like to take part in our Wrangler voucher program— where if you spend $70+ on Wrangler jeans, you can get a ticket to the show— you can find those vouchers available at Sikes & Kohns, Camo Country and Bridges Western Wear.

 

Speaking of the rodeo, we are 22 days out from the first performance of 2020! Buck on over to www.SLERodeo.com/Tickets now to secure your seats at the greatest show on dirt! This year’s show is sure to please as we’re featuring freestyle bullfighting, the best stock in the PRCA, all kinds of children’s events and hometown rodeo clown, Trent McFarland! We’ve got some awesome ticket deals available for you to take advantage of, so don’t wait. Get on over to www.SLERodeo.com to learn more about all that SLE Livestock Week offers and to purchase your tickets today! And don’t forget- we offer group ticket sales to groups of 25+ members.

 

 

BCIA Meets at ACA

39211654_275617986551544_6739440034073542656_oThe Alabama Beef Cattle Improvement Association (BCIA) will host their annual meeting at ACA this Saturday. We are excited to host our friends of the BCIA. The event will feature an interactive discussion on “Replacement Heifer Marketing Options and Opportunities” with an Alabama BCIA producer panel moderated by Josh and Michelle Elmore, Alabama Cooperative Extension agents. The ins and outs of replacement heifer marketing, dos, don’ts, and things to be sure to consider from experienced beef cattle professionals and producers. Following lunch, Alabama BCIA Rresident Malcomb Peagues will preside over the BCIA Annual Meeting and Awards Presentations.  Visit this direct link to the BCIA website for the full event schedule:https://albcia.com/bcia-2020-annual-meeting You can register on site for $35.00 a person.

 

 

ALDA in Town

This week, ACA Director of Education & Outreach Ali Cantrell will be attending the Alabama Dietetics Association (ALDA) Annual Meeting in Montgomery. ACA will be sponsoring the speaker, Carolyn Williams PhD RD, for Friday morning. She will be speaking on The Anti-Inflammatory Diet and incorporating lean red meat into a healthy lifestyle.

 

 

2020 Spring Youth Production Field Day

Information is now available on the 2020 Spring Youth Production Field Day AJCA-Black(2)being hosted on April 18 at Quail Valley Farms in Oneonta, AL (Blount County). Youth will enjoy a variety of educational topics from EPDs to cattle judging and from ultrasound scanning to a farm tour. Lunch will be provided at this FREE youth event, and it is brought to all youth of our state by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program. Registration for this event will open this coming Monday, March 2. Learn more » www.BamaBeef.org/FieldDay

 

 

ACA MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

As of today, the ACA is proud to represent 6,678 members in the 2020 year ACA logo- meme size copyand counting as county meetings are still happening, although the calendar is lightening up. That puts us at 70% for the year, but we aren’t stopping until we reach 10,000!! This week, we are excited to see Walker County Cattlemen’s and Baldwin County Cattlemen’s host their annual meetings and for the Shelby County Cattlemen’s Association to put on their annual rodeo!

A couple of deadlines to remember as we get deeper into the year:

  • Early Bird Membership Drawing: March 31, 2020
  • Over the Top Red Coat Deadline: June 30, 2020
  • Top Hand Recruiting Deadline: December 31, 2020

 

 

COOKOFF SEASON

Beef Cook-offs are underway throughout Alabama! Now that convention is over, Staffer Ali Cantrell is preparing for our Alabama Jr. & Sr. High School Beef Cook-off on April 4. If your county has hosted a local beef cook-off, be sure to get your winners registered on our website at www.bamabeef.org/events/2020/alabama-juniorsenior-high-school-cookoff and contact Ali Cantrell if you have any questions.

 

 

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.