HISTORY OF THE TENNESSEE CATTLEMEN'S

The Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association (TCA) was organized in 1985. It came about with the dissolution of the Tennessee Livestock Association (TLA) the same year.

Following the delegate vote to dissolve TLA and form the TCA and Tennessee Pork Producers Association (TPPA), a group of former members of the TLA that included cattle producers, businessmen, and market operators were appointed to work on developing the by-laws for TCA. The group included: Dr. Bob Coley, DVM, of New Market; Mr. Charles Whitehead, a cattle producer and businessman; Mr. Lewis Hooper, a purebred cattle breeder of Franklin; Mr. Donald Garten, a cattle producer and Tennessee Department of Agriculture Livestock Marketing Specialist of Burns; Mr. Neal Smith, a cattle producer of Jackson; Mr. Robert Wilson, a cattle producer and former president of TLA from Arlington; Mr. Fred Bradley, livestock market operator and cattle producers of Kingsport; Mr. LaFayette Williams, a cattle producer and businessman of Knoxville; Mr. L.H. “Dink” Newman, cattle producer and businessman of Hendersonville; Mr. Frank Ingraham, purebred cattle breeder and attorney of Franklin; Mr. William P. Tyrell, a former Extension Livestock Specialist and businessman of Knox County; Mr. Harry Bryan, Extension agent of Knox County; and Dr. Jim Neel, Extension Beef Cattle Specialist at the University of Tennessee.

The purpose of the association was presented as the following: to provide the cattle producers in the State of Tennessee with an organization through which they may function collectively to protect their interests and work toward the solution of cattle industry problems; and to build the necessary goodwill that will bring both government and public esteem and recognition to the industry.

Adequate operating capital was a challenge for the recently organized TCA. To raise financial resources, “charter memberships” were developed. The “charter member” drive was in effect for a year. Memberships were $100 and $10,000 was acquired in membership. Mr. Joe Houston, who was the first “full time” Executive Vice President of the TLA was the first “Charter Member.” Dr. Bob Coley was elected President and Charlie Whitehead was nice Vice President. Bill Tyrell assumed the role of Secretary-Treasurer for the group like the early years of the TLA.

Two of the TCA’s earliest accomplishments were helping to establish the Tennessee Beef Industry Council and creating the Tennessee Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Program. Soon after incorporating, the TCA, in cooperation with the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, Tennessee Beef Cattle Improvement Association, Tennessee Livestock Marketing Association, and Tennessee Dairy Group, played an important role in developing the Tennessee Beef Industry Council. During the early 90s, TCA cooperated with the University of Tennessee Extension to develop the Tennessee Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Program.

Much like the early days, TCA still works with industry partners to carry out programs and events to benefit the state’s cattle industry. TCA works with UT Extension on educational programs, developing guidelines for allocation of financial resources by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, supporting the Tennessee purebred cattle associations, working with the Tennessee Beef Industry Council in beef promotion activities, cooperating with the State Veterinarian in animal health issues, cooperating with the Farm Animal Care Coalition of Tennessee in animal welfare issues, working with the Tennessee Livestock Marketing Association, feeder cattle alliances in marketing cattle and representing the Tennessee industry with membership in the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. TCA is active in other endeavors that promote the general welfare of the state’s beef cattle industry and property owners. TCA places a great emphasis on youth programs and supporting the future generation of cattlemen and women.

The efforts of the early organizers of the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association have allowed TCA to become an influential and effective association on behalf of cattle producers in Tennessee.
Reference: The Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association History Book written by Dr. Jim Neel for the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association