In March 1868, a roomful of Denver-area cattlemen sat through a heated meeting about a fresh wave of rustling, then got the shock of their lives. The investigator they’d hired had traced the thefts and named names, including three of the association’s own officers seated on the platform. As the report was read aloud, the accused bolted.

It was a hard-earned lesson on the realities of the frontier, as Colorado’s grasslands were proving ideal for cattle, attracting stock growers from across the country. 

The confrontation was the first major test for what would become the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association nearly a century later.

BUILT IN THE CHAOS OF THE WEST

Rustlers weren’t the stock growers’ first headache. English and Spanish rangeland traditions collided in Colorado. Under English law, cattle owners were expected to fence livestock in. Under Spanish law, farmers were expected to fence crops to keep roaming stock out. 

Given Colorado’s terrain and the reality of free-ranging herds, the Spanish approach generally prevailed and largely remains in place today.

 By the 1860s, the region had attracted its share of crooks, thieves and desperados. Rustling became so rampant that, in 1867, Denver-area stockmen formed the Colorado Stock Growers Association and hired Denver City Marshal David J. Cook to investigate the thefts.

 Cook’s 1868 report nearly destroyed the group. Humiliated, the organization tried to bury the episode as deeply as possible. Many members quit in disgust. There is no record that any of the accused were prosecuted, though they did make restitution and plenty of cattle changed hands during that period.

FROM RUSTLERS TO RULES

Over the next four years, the association struggled to rebuild credibility. It adopted new articles of association and created stronger checks and balances. In 1872, influential ranchers helped revive the group and put it on firmer footing. Since then, it has remained a respected institution in Colorado.

 In 1949, the Colorado Stock Growers Association officially became the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association (CCA). 

The organization’s mission has evolved since the early days, when catching rustlers was a central focus. Today, the organization describes itself as the principal voice and advocate for Colorado beef production.

The CCA helped bring structure to a rapidly growing industry. One of its most lasting contributions was developing the first detailed brand registration and inspection program in the world, giving ranchers a clearer way to prove ownership and settle disputes. It also helped build a framework for how roundups would be handled, how stray cattle would be reported and establishing districts and a network of commissioners and inspectors to keep the process moving.

As the West modernized, the work expanded. The association helped codify recovery of damages for livestock killed by railroad companies and addressed fencing issues along rail lines. It also worked with other growers, including pig, sheep and horse producers, to reduce friction and manage grazing conflicts.

The association helped establish the State Veterinary Sanitary Board to address contagious disease, and it stayed active as laws shifted around public land use, fencing and homesteading. It also challenged stockyard and packing monopolies, supported federal oversight of the industry and advocated for water rights that benefited members. It prepared resolutions and bills for the Colorado Legislature to protect and promote Colorado’s cattle industry.

KEEPING RANCHING STRONG

Colorado is divided into regions, each with its own regional association. Those groups include the local Mesa County Cattlemen’s Association (MCCA). 

“We try to work with the Colorado State Cattleman’s Association as well as other industry trade groups to ensure the best situation for the agriculture sector on the Western Slope,” said MCCA Vice President Joe Kelleghan.

One major challenge today is keeping youth involved. To help engage young people, the association created the Catch a Heifer program.

“Members will donate heifers to the kids and act as mentors, helping them learn how to raise and show cattle,” said Kelleghan. “The kids will learn how to make a business plan if they want to continue to grow their cattle business.” 

The group’s annual banquet is its biggest fundraiser, supporting scholarships, sponsorships and a “hard luck fund” for members. This year’s banquet is Saturday, January 24 at Colorado Mesa University’s Meyer Ballroom.

“We have a live and silent auction, live music and dancing, cash games and prizes and of course an amazing prime rib dinner,” MCCA President Darby Savoca said. 

MCCA also hosts Meat In Day, a free community event held each March at the Mesa County Fairgrounds. 

“We cook and give away about 1,000 free hamburgers that are donated by local beef producers,” said Savoca. “We also have a variety of ag-related vendors, kids activities, a cash bar and live music. Basically, a big community BBQ!”

To learn more about MCCA, find Mesa County Cattleman’s Association on Facebook or contact Savoca at 970-314-1454 or [email protected].

If you’d like to learn more about the early days of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, read “Century in the Saddle: The 100 Year Story of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association.” 

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