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Wyoming Stock Growers Association: The Cattlemen's Voice Since 1872

Formed in 1872 to protect cattle owners on the open range, the association still speaks for Wyoming ranch families.

What Is the Wyoming Stock Growers Association?

The Wyoming Stock Growers Association, usually shortened to WSGA, is the oldest livestock organization in Wyoming and one of the oldest in the nation. Its own history page says it was established on April 4, 1872, to advance and protect the interests of Wyoming's livestock producers, and that it was the first association formed in the Wyoming Territory. The same page calls it the second state cattlemen's organization created in the United States. The association's About page gives those basics and lists the group's headquarters at 113 East 20th Street in Cheyenne.

Trade writer Dennis Sun, in a 2022 anniversary column, says the group is believed to be the second-oldest state livestock organization in the country. That wording is slightly more cautious than the association's own, so it is fair to say that the 1872 date and the claim of being second oldest are widely repeated but rest mainly on the association's own account.

Why Wyoming Cattlemen Organized in 1872

Wyoming in the early 1870s was open range. There were no fences, herds from different owners mixed freely, and large roundups sorted the cattle each season. Ranches sat far apart, and the territory had few ways for an owner to protect an animal once it wandered off. According to the Cowboy State Daily anniversary column, cattlemen around Cheyenne and the nearby ranges began meeting to talk over shared problems, and theft was one of the main reasons.

The column describes the new association as a body set up to protect ranchers from rustlers, and says it quickly became the place cattlemen turned when they had trouble. Sources available for this profile do not name individual founders or the exact room where the first meeting took place, so this page does not guess at either.

How the Association Works Today

The modern WSGA describes its mission as serving the livestock business and families of Wyoming. Its stated scope is wide: economic, legislative, regulatory, judicial, environmental, custom and cultural interests. The association points out that cattle are the largest segment of Wyoming's agricultural production, which is why it focuses on that sector.

In practice the group lobbies at the state and federal level, works with government agencies on rules that affect ranchers, takes part in major litigation, and tries to present a positive public image of the cattle business. It also runs a membership program for producers and a separate Cattlemen's Club program, though the details of that program are not described on the pages reviewed here.

The Key to the Association's Staying Power

Plenty of nineteenth-century trade groups faded once the problem that created them was gone. The Wyoming Stock Growers Association did not, and the record points to a few concrete reasons.

Its history also carries a fair caution. An organization built by the owners of large herds on the open range spoke first for the people who held cattle and land, and the sources reviewed here do not describe how smaller producers or other range users saw it in the 1870s.

  • It was organized early, in 1872, before statehood, so Wyoming cattlemen had a common body while the industry was still forming.
  • It began with a problem every owner shared, the loss of cattle to theft on open range, which gave members a practical reason to join.
  • It kept its focus on one industry, livestock, rather than trying to represent every kind of business.
  • It changed its work as conditions changed, moving from range protection to lobbying, regulation and litigation.
  • It kept a permanent home base in Cheyenne, the territorial and later state capital, close to lawmakers and agencies.

Records and Research: Where the Story Is Kept

Historians who want the detailed record can turn to archives. A finding aid listed through Archives West describes Wyoming Stock Growers Association records spanning 1857 to 2022, and the collection is associated with the University of Wyoming's American Heritage Center. Researchers should check the Archives West finding aid for what the collection holds, such as minutes, correspondence and brand information, before planning a visit.

A book titled Cow Country Cavalcade, subtitled Eighty Years of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, is also listed online, showing that the group's history was being written well before its 150th year.

The 150th Anniversary

The association marked 150 years in 2022 with a celebration planned for Cheyenne from June 8 to 11. Anniversary coverage in the agricultural press treated it as a milestone for the state's ranching community, and it gave members a reason to look back at how a small group of cattle owners grew into a lasting institution. The general background on the group is also summarized on the Wikipedia article on the association, which is a useful starting point for further reading but should be checked against the primary sources above.

Learn More About Ranching in the West

For readers who want to see how cattle organizations fit into the wider ranching story, the ranching section of farm.FM collects stories on the people and places that built the beef business. A good companion read is a farm.FM story about Wyoming cattle country.

Anyone interested in joining or contacting the association can start with its Cheyenne headquarters and the membership page linked from its official site.

Timeline

  1. 1857Earliest date covered by the archived association records, which run to 2022
  2. 1872Association established on April 4 in Wyoming Territory
  3. 1872Described as the first association formed in the territory
  4. 2022150th anniversary celebration planned in Cheyenne, June 8-11
  5. TodayHeadquarters at 113 East 20th Street, Cheyenne, with work in lobbying, regulation and litigation

Frequently asked questions

When was the Wyoming Stock Growers Association founded?

The association says it was established on April 4, 1872, to advance and protect the interests of Wyoming's livestock producers. It describes itself as the first association formed in Wyoming Territory.

Why was the Wyoming Stock Growers Association created?

Cattlemen on the open range around Cheyenne met to deal with shared problems, and theft was one of the main reasons. The group was set up to protect ranchers from rustlers and give owners a common voice.

What does the Wyoming Stock Growers Association do today?

It lobbies at state and federal levels, works with agencies on regulations, takes part in key litigation and promotes a positive image of the cattle industry for Wyoming livestock families.

Where is the Wyoming Stock Growers Association located?

Its headquarters is at 113 East 20th Street in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Its historical records are described in an Archives West finding aid linked to the University of Wyoming.

Sources and further reading

Profiles are compiled from public sources and reviewed against them. See our editorial policy to suggest a correction.

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