Cattle Connect

Grassroots advocates are the lifeblood of the ACA, and our Connect to the Cattlemen series is here to highlight their efforts! From a countywide rodeo, to the culinary classroom, cattlemen in Shelby County have gotten creative on how to highlight cattle production and promote beef in the Birmingham Metro area! In this episode, host Michael Smith sits down with Shelby County Cattleman Rickey Colquitt to discuss how a steak tasting i...

Beef promotion is a year-round priority for ACA staff, but between industry programs and grilling season, the summer months are particularly impactful! 

While leadership development events like the Young Cattlemen's Leadership Program Class XII sessions and the 19th Annual Alabama Junior Cattlemen's Association Round-Up focused on the future of agriculture, digital marketing strategies and in-person outreach at consumer and influen...

Bailey Watson has joined the herd at the Alabama Cattlemen's Association as the new Manager of Youth Programs and Marketing. Bailey joined host Kayla Greer in studio to share her background growing up on cow‑calf operation in Virginia, her degrees in animal sciences (Virginia Tech) and agricultural communications (University of Tennessee), and her experience working with youth livestock programs.

Bailey describes her Alabama Beef C...

Discover the core challenges and promising opportunities facing the state's agricultural industry, including insights on land loss, labor shortages, and the potential for growth through food processing and workforce training. Featuring expert perspectives and research conducted by Dr. Mykel Taylor and Dr. Kelli Russell from Auburn University's Department of Ag Economics & Rural Sociology, this episode reveals the interconnected...

As temperatures soar to record heat, planning for the colder months may seem premature, but this episode of Cattle Connect uncovers why now is the perfect time to strategize for winter success. Host Kayla Greer sits in studio with Regional Extension Agent Josh Elmore as he shares his expertise on choosing the right forages, managing grazing to maximize regrowth, and the importance of soil testing for optimal pasture performance. Jo...

Host Kayla Greer dives into a critical topic for today’s tech-savvy farmers: cybersecurity in agriculture. Joining her is Amanda Senn, Director of the Alabama Securities Commission, who shares expert insight on how digital threats are shaping the future of farming.

From mobile devices in the field to desktops in the office, your farm’s data is a valuable asset—and a potential target. Amanda unpacks the risks and delivers practical,...

Alabama cattle producers are known for showing up and showing out when it comes to education about the beef industry! Host Josie Jones is joined in studio by Geneva County producer Nikki Dyess to discuss Geneva County's impressive October Beef Month win - The Heart of Beef Month award - and the youth education initiatives through local schools to enhance food literacy and appreciation for beef production among students that got the...

In this episode of the Cattle Connect podcast, the 'Marketing Your Farm' series continues by exploring the logistics of selling beef at local markets. Host Josie Jones is joined by guest, Don Wombles from the Department of Agriculture and the Farmers Market Authority, to share valuable insights into the rules and requirements for farmers looking to market their beef directly to consumers.

The conversation includes essential license...

What do networking opportunities, forage research projects, carcass fabrication demonstrations, and youth livestock shows have in common? The Alabama Beef Checkoff Program! Hear from 2025 Alabama Beef Checkoff Council Chairman Steven Smith on this year’s priorities for Beef Checkoff programming, while host Josie Jones gives an overview of the history of Beef Checkoff Programs across the US and the important role they play in a sust...

“I believe in the future of agriculture.” These first seven words of the FFA creed only begin to tell the story of The National FFA Organization and the effect it has on today’s youth and tomorrow’s leaders. Hot on the heels of Alabama’s 97th Annual FFA State Convention, Josie sat down with Mackenzie Smith - 2024-2025 Alabama FFA State Treasurer, AJCA member and Marshall County cattle showman - to discuss this great organization an...

Grassroots advocates are the lifeblood of the ACA, and our Connect to the Cattlemen series is here to highlight their efforts! From steak sandwich sales, to beef donations and youth events, to scholarship presentations, county Cattlemen’s chapters often get creative on how to engage in the local community. In Franklin County, this means taking to social media video production, highlighting those in the community and tying it all ba...

The New World Screwworm (NWS)— a parasitic pest eradicated from the U.S. in 1966— is climbing north from Panama, and getting a little too close to the homeland. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins closed the U.S./Mexican border for live imports of cattle, equine and bison for a second time this year as eradication protocols ramp up in Central and South America. Alabama State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier with the Alabama Depart...

Alabama’s agricultural and forestry industries significantly contribute to the state’s economy. The Agriculture & Forestry Grow Alabama: An Economic Contribution Study revealed that in 2022, the economic contribution of Alabama’s food, fiber, forestry, and green industries was $77.3 billion and 273,271 jobs, which accounted for 10% of Alabama’s workforce. 

Learn more about how this study came to light and about the role of the ...

Building a high-quality, healthy cattle herd depends on producers utilizing quality genetics and good herd management practices on their farms. Listen as host Reid McGuire sits down with Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine Associate Clinical Professor of Theriogeneology Dr. Chance Armstrong to discuss the important role bull development plays in the longevity of Alabama operations, and some additional things producers ...

What do Facebook and rural Alabama communities have in common? The ability to support growth of local small businesses from the ground up! For this week’s episode of the Marketing Your Farm series, Join host Josie as she visits with cattle producer, business owner and social media influencer Karah Skinner from Rock House Farms. Learn how the Skinner family has taken the first-generation farm they started ten years ago as a way to f...