Cattle Connect

The 2025 ACA Convention & Trade Show will be in Birmingham February 21-22. Co-hosts Kayla Greer and Erin Beasley chat about what you can expect at the 82nd annual event, including what's new! Learn more and register today at www.BamaBeef.org/Events. 

Give the gift of membership this holiday season! Whether it’s a friend, family member, neighbor— or someone who’s just plain hard to shop for— we’ve got just what you need! Our 2024 Christmas From Cowboys membership drive offers a one-year membership with all the benefits of being a member of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, wrapped up in a western-themed Christmas card. ACA President Dr. Terry Slaten joins Kayla Greer in studio to talk about the program, the inspiration behind it and all about our member benefits. Tune in and visit BamaBeef.org/Christmas to gift a membership this holiday season. 

Did you know you could qualify for up to a 75% rebate on herd health practices like corrals, feed bunks with heavy use pads and squeeze chutes? Thanks to Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee’s Conservation Incentive Program (CIP), you can! ASWCC Assistant Executive Director Ashley Henderson joins host Kayla Greer in the Cattle Connect studio to dive into those programs. Find your local office and apply for CIP practices today by visiting AlabamaSoilAndWater.gov. 

Dr. Kimberly Mullenix recently assumed the role as the Head of the Department of Animal Sciences at Auburn University behind the successful tenure of Dr. Wayne Greene. A former Beef Cattle Extension Specialist, Dr. Mullenix joins host Erin Beasley in studio to introduce herself and to share her vision for the department moving forward. 

Advertising beef to Alabama's consumers requires knowledge of market trends and buying power, and thanks to a recent trip out to Denver, ACA Director of Consumer Outreach Josie Jones is up for the challenge. Tune in to learn more about the many mechanics behind encouraging consumers to choose beef. #BeefItsWhatsForDinner

A new addition to Beef Month in recent years is a contest titled "Cattlemen of Beef Month." This friendly competition between county Cattlemen's Associations awards points based on beef promotional efforts hosted during October Beef Month, and it ends with one county earning the crown! In October 2023, the Elmore County Cattlemen's Association went above and beyond to design unique ways to promote beef and the western lifestyle across their home turf. Josie Jones sits down in studio with Chet and Carol Matthews, two of the masterminds behind the promotional efforts, to reflect on how Elmore County's cattlemen activated in order to earn the title "2023 Cattlemen of Beef Month."

This year, we are proud to celebrate 60 years of October Beef Month in Alabama! In honor of this milestone, we looked back over the past decade of Bama’s Best Beef, Bama’s Best Burger and Alabama’s Best Steak contest winners and finalists to design a roadmap we've titled "60 Savory Stops." Listen in as co-hosts Kayla Greer and Josie Jones talk about how this campaign came to life, and join in the celebration by visiting www.BamaBeef.org/60.

2024 marks 60 years since the very first October Beef Month in Alabama. To discuss the past six decades of beef promotion across the state, host Josie Jones is joined by previous Alabama Cattlemen’s Association employee Ed Whatley. Ed worked as both the ACA Field Representative and the Director of Retail and Foodservice Promotion during his many years at the association, and played a key role in getting beef “on the map” in Alabama. Listen to hear some of his favorite stories from his time in the industry and to learn more about how Alabama Beef Checkoff programming has both adapted and stayed true to its roots through the years. 

Regardless of your preferred breed, industry segment, or stance on grass-fed vs. grain-fed, we can all agree on one thing- beef production is important. Join host Josie Jones as she discusses the Three P's of Beef Production with Mason Hills Farm owner Joseph Mason. 

In honor of National Farm Safety Week, host Josie Jones sits down with Jackson Chance, RN, PM, to discuss farm-related accidents and safety. Currently an assistant fire chief, EMS director, and flight nurse covering rural Alabama communities, Jackson has participated first-hand in many of the facets of Alabama’s emergency medical response and care systems during his 10 years of experience. Listen in to learn what Alabama producers need to consider regarding agriculture occupational hazards as well as a few easy proactive steps they can take to be prepared to care for those they love most during a crisis.