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History and Structure

This plaque, located in Demopolis, Alabama, serves as the historical marker for the founding place of the Alabama Cattlemen's Association.

ACA History

The late 1930’s brought about the existence of an organization known as the Alabama Livestock Growers Association (ALGA), formed to protect the cattle industry in Alabama. ALGA had become largely inactive by 1943, and it was then that Tennessee Coal, Iron, and Railway Company (T.C.I.) Agent Luther Fuller contacted ALGA President U.C. Jenkins and Secretary K.G. Baker about reorganizing the organization into a “working” cattlemen’s association for the benefit of all cattlemen in Alabama.

Jenkins and Baker were keen to the idea, and along with Fuller, they invited 332 current ALGA members, county extension agents and extension personnel to a meeting to be held in Demopolis, Alabama. This letter called for all interested cattlemen to meet January 4th, 1944 at the Demopolis Inn to consider forming a cattlemen’s association.
With 60 cattlemen in attendance, a consensus was reached that the ALGA would be best laid aside for the benefit of starting a new organization with a new name. State Senator R.J. (Bob) Lowe of Huntsville made the motion to organize the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association with a second from Luther Fuller and the motion passed with unanimous approval.

In ACA’s first year, the statewide membership included only 40 members but that number was sure to rise. Over the years, dedicated leaders helped ACA to grow its ranks to its highest point of 18,620 members in 1974, the largest cattlemen’s association in the nation. Because ACA’s strength lies in its network of county chapters and volunteer leaders, it is sure to continue as a voice for cattlemen in Alabama for years to come.

ACA STRUCTURE

The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Board of Directors is responsible for the association’s membership and beef checkoff programs of work. This board is a large body made up of the state’s 67 county chapter presidents, the past presidents of the association and the association’s lifetime directors. The board also includes 12 regional vice presidents, four of which are appointed each year to serve a three-year term. The board also includes the association’s state officers which are president, president-elect, vice president, treasurer and executive vice president. The association’s Executive Committee includes the state officers, the four outgoing regional vice presidents, the two immediate past presidents and three former state presidents.

Individuals join the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association by joining their county cattlemen’s chapter. Those living outside Alabama or wishing not to join a county chapter can simply join as state members. County chapters retain 1/3 of dues revenue for in-county use and the remainder is used as the state level for member services and a $2 PAC contribution. Cattle ownership is not required to join the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association.

This simple and straight-forward approach to the organization’s structure has been the strength of the association over the years with many county chapters going above and beyond in their local communities through volunteer work and community service. Some of ACA’s county chapters have recorded over 800 members with many chapters currently posting membership rolls over the 400 mark.

The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association also serves as the qualified State Beef Council in Alabama with representation on the NCBA Federation of State Beef Councils. Each year, the ACA Board of Directors approves in-state budgets for the National and State Beef Checkoff programs.