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.