1867-1885
First State Cattlemen’s Associations Formed.

1884
National Cattle Growers’ Association Formed at convention in Chicago. 19 directors, 6 committees.

“There is great work to be done, but it can only be accomplished by the united, earnest and persistent efforts of cattle owners of the whole country. If all work together; nothing can prevail against them; the only foes they need to dread are internal suspicions and dissensions.” D. W. Smith, President National Cattle Growers’ Association, 1884

1884
National Cattle and Horse Growers Association of United States formed.

1884
First National Convention of Cattlemen, held in St. Louis Missouri

1885
Two associations are consolidated into the Consolidated Cattle Growers Association of the United States

1887
After the worst ever recorded winter for cattlemen; the Consolidated Cattle Growers Association fades away

1898
National Livestock Growers Association Organized: “association of associations”-only associations/organizations were allowed membership

1901
American Cattle Growers Association is formed in Salt Lake City-the “rebels” from the National Livestock Growers Association-formed to represent only cattlemen.

1905
American Stock Growers Association formed-individuals were allowed membership

1906
American National Live Stock Association (ANLSA) formed from the National Livestock Growers Association & American Stock Growers Association-individuals allowed membership, as well as associations: “This step was taken with a view of getting the live stock producers united as much as possible. We are more anxious than ever to have individual support as well as support through the different associations.” President Murdo Mackenzie, 1906.

1906
First Federal Meat Inspection Act-welcomed by cattlemen-Association successfully lobbied for the inspectors to be paid by the federal government.

1916
First Market Committee appointed

1917
First Food Administrator appointed, Herbert C. Hoover

1918
Congress establishes daylight savings time to conserve electricity

1919
Institute of American Meat Packers, now AMI, organized

1921
Packers & Stockyards Act passed

1922
National Live Stock and Meat Board (the “Meat Board”) founded-made up of representatives from all areas of the industry and driving goal of promoting all red meats: beef, lamb and pork through research, education and information.

First voluntary deductions of five-cents per carload (25 head of cattle per car) were requested by the Meat Board.

1926
Federal meat grading introduced

1929
Agricultural Marketing Act passed which created the Federal Farm Board

1930
National Live Stock Marketing Association organized by the Farm Board

1931
Rate increased to 25-cents per car (or one-cent per head)

1934
Taylor Grazing Act passed; Grazing Service created

1940
National Advisory Board Council formed

1941-1946
War time price controls are placed on beef; a large “black market” emerges

1943
National Livestock Tax Committee formed from representatives of ANLSA, National Wool Growers and some state affiliates and breed organizations

1946
Corn Belt Livestock Feeders Association (CBLFA) from 8 state feeders associations

1949
National Advisory Board Council becomes part of the Department of the Interior

ANLSA declares this year the “Year of Public Relations”

1951
ANLSA changes name to American National Cattlemen’s Association (ANCA)

1952
American National CowBelles formed

First freezing of bull semen for AI

1953
“Great Cattle Bust”-drought, grasshoppers, fire-would continue until 1957

Rate increased to two-cents per head

1955
National Beef Council initiated (NBC)

1956
17 state beef councils had been formed in support of NBC

Soil Bank created: pays farmers to remove cropland from production

1957
Fact Finding Committee requested to investigate and report on the economic factors that influenced the marketing and production of livestock

1960
“Beef Production and Distribution” the final report to the Fact Finding Committee, was published

Na tional Livestock Feeders Association re-organized from Corn Belt Livestock Feeders Association (CBLFA)

1962
Rate increased to three-cents per head

National Farmers Organization (NFO) gained recognition

1963
Beef Industry Council (BIC) formed of state beef council, became part of the Meat Board

1964
Meat Import Act passed-formula limited imports to 6.7 percent of domestic production

1967
Boxed Beef Introduced

1968
Public Lands Council formed

Cattle-Fax created by ANCA

McDonalds introduces “Big Mac”

1970
C.W. (Bill) McMillan became the first full-time lobbyist for ANCA, and moved permanently to Washington , DC

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) established

YCC program started

1971
First Trade Show during the National Convention

1972
American Cattlemen’s Foundation (later re-named to National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF)) was founded

ANCA National Associate Program began (Allied Industry Program)

1973
Texas Cattle Feeders Association proposes Beef Checkoff. ANCA appoints task force to study proposal

1975
United States Meat Export Federation founded

ANCA & NLFA successfully lobby for the addition of the Prompt and Assured Payment amendment to the Packers and Stockyards Act

1976
Beef Research and Information Act passed by Congress

First beef referendum for checkoff receives a 56.6% “yes” vote, but fails due to lack of two-thirds majority

1977
National Livestock Feeders Association merges with ANCA to form the National Cattlemen’s Association (NCA)

Senate Select Committee publishes controversial “Dietary Goals for the US ” “Decrease consumption of meat and increase consumption of poultry and fish.”

1978
Second beef referendum fails with only 34.6% “yes” vote

NCA forms PAC (Political Action Committee)

1979
Meat Import Act of 1979 signed

1980
Start of the Young Cattlemen’s Council with yearly tours (YCC trip)

Ground broke for new NCA headquarters in Denver

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) formed

1983
Dairy PIC (Payment in Cash) program

1985
Beef Checkoff collections started

Beef Promotion and Research Act becomes law

Dairy Termination Program

1986
American National CattleWomen (ANCW) formed from American National Cowbelles

NCA sues USDA over Dairy Termination Program

1987
American Heart Association endorses beef as a healthy food

1988
Beef referendum passes on its third try with 79% “yes” vote

Japanese Beef Agreement signed

Repeal of the Heifer Tax

1991
Environmental Stewardship Award created

1994
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) goes into effect

1996
Pork and lamb segments of Meat board are spun off, leaving only the BIC.
Meat Board merges with NCA to form National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA)