The Kentucky Beef Cattle Association, which is now the Kentucky Cattlemen's Association, came into existence in 1973 when two parent groups joined together. The parent groups were the Kentucky Cattlemen's Association and the Kentucky Feeder Calf Association. These two groups had been active for a long time, but realized the need for one voice speaking for the beef industry in Kentucky. Several attempts were made prior to 1973 to form a Kentucky Beef Cattle Association (KBCA), but failed because they were based on creating a new organization. The final result was only successful after these two groups agreed to merge.
One of the main factors in the creation of the KBCA was a man named Smith T. Powell from Lincoln County. He traveled the state talking to groups about the need for a beef industry organization. If anyone is the Father of KBCA, he is generally credited with that title. Smith T. went on to later serve as President and the first Executive Secretary.
Arranging the details of joining these two organizations took a year, with the new organization being born in 1973. The new organization was an umbrella under which the two parent associations operated, in addition to representing the entire industry.
The new organization's membership was based on associations that sponsored sales of feeder cattle and breeding stock. These organizations elected representatives annually to be on the Board of Directors. Individuals could join, but their representatives came from 10 Directors-At-Large, elected each year at the annual membership meeting.
The structure of the organization, in addition to a Board of Directors, was composed of divisions, officers, advisors, and committees. The divisions basically represented the two organizations, with a third being responsible for promoting the entire industry. These divisions were 1) cooperative cattle marketing, 2) herd improvement, and 3) promotion and public relations. Each division had their own set of officers, budget and control over their activities.
The heads of each division also served as a vice-president of the association. The other officers were President and Secretary-Treasurer. The immediate past president served on the Board of Directors.
The first KBCA activities mainly emphasized the activities that the parent organizations had begun, such as feeder calf sales and bull tests. The feeder calf division's sales were very successful. In 1979, over 60,000 head were cosigned to the feeder calf sales. The height of the sales was in 1981 when 87,000 head of cattle were sold. With encouragement from the University of Kentucky, a preconditioning program was adopted in 1979 and CPH sales began.
The Central and On-Farm Performance Test were introduced by the Kentucky Cattlemen's Association, and continued under KBCA's supervision. The number of bulls on Central Test increased over the years from 34 in 1976 to 136 in 1980. With the popularity of the Central Winter Test increasing, a summer test was added in 1979 and ran for several years. As a testing participant, the KBCA was involved in the establishment of the Eden Shale testing station in 1975. Along with the central test, the on-farm performance test sale was picking up steam in the late 1970's. A second on-farm test was added in the late 70's, which held its sale in South Central Kentucky.
Due to the lack of funds, other activities were fairly limited until the Kentucky producers passed a $.10 checkoff in September 1976. The passage of a checkoff was the result of the hard work of Smith T. Powell and others like him who traveled the state, explaining the need for a checkoff. This checkoff was to be used for in-state promotion, and to support the Beef Industry Council and the National Cattlemen's Association. Since this was a state checkoff, the usage of the funds was determined by KBCA. The $.10 checkoff was increased to $.25 in 1986.
Promotion initially focused strictly on raising better beef cattle. We brought in buyers from Canada and other places. We offered tours of other states and we exhibited at the North American, explained Bob Brewer of Lexington, one of the early members.
As time progressed, KBCA programs have changed and developed. A few are listed below.
MEMBERSHIP: The first membership dues were $5, although they dropped to $2 in 1978. The membership totaled over 1000 in 1978. The dues returned to $5 in 1983 and remained at $5 until 1990 when dues increased to $15. Dues increased to $20 when we unified in 1992. Membership has continued to grow with approximately 9,237 members in 2008.
COMMUNICATIONS: KBCA's communication vehicle has undergone many changes. The first publication was the Kentucky Cattleman, which began as an insert in the Livestock Breeders Journal (LBJ). As time passed, the Kentucky Cattleman separated from LBJ and was published four times a year. In 1981, KBCA's magazine became the Kentucky Beef Producer, which was also an 8 ½ x 11 slick publication like the previous one, but it focused more on industry-wide issues. This created a need for a membership publication and newsletter, which is a monthly newspaper now titled Cow Country News.
LOCATION: The KBCA has not been static in location either. During the first years, the University of Kentucky allowed the KBCA to have space in the E.S. Goodbarn. However, space grew limited as the KBCA grew. In 1977, KBCA moved to Louisville near the 
fairgrounds. In 1981, the directors decided to return the office to Lexington to a suite on Waller Avenue. Yet, as the organization grew, space became a problem and the building was moved to an office on Red Mile Road in Lexington. The current organization is now off of Pasadena Drive, in Lexington.
In June 1992, the membership of the Kentucky Beef Cattle Association voted to restructure its organization, and to change its name to the Kentucky Cattlemen's Association. These actions were due to KBCA's growth outstripping its structure, and the reinforcement of the audience the KBCA was serving: the cattlemen and county groups. The new structure simplified the board structure, creating only one Board of Directors. Counties were represented based on the delegate system. These delegates served as the connection to the counties and elected regional representatives to represent them on the Board. Committees were linked directly to the Board by having their chairman serve on the Board. In addition, the officers were expanded to include Regional Vice Presidents and Program Vice Presidents (Association and Council).