Montana Stockgrowers Association

On April 3, 1885, in Miles City, Montana Territory, the Eastern Montana Livestock Association (founded in 1883) and the Montana Stockgrowers Association (founded in 1884) consolidated their operations under the name of the latter organization. This new Montana Stockgrowers Association was founded "to unite cattle and horse growers in Montana Territory; first, for the enforcement of livestock laws; second, for the protection against rustlers; third, to devise plans to protect the open range against fires; fourth, for the uniformity in just claims against railroads and other corporations; and fifth, to promote harmony in range work and roundups." The Association through the years fostered most of Montana's livestock laws, fought against freight rate hikes, and promoted land-use laws.

Montana organization of cattle and horse ranchers.

In 1884 the Montana Stockgrowers Association was founded. The following year the organization merged with the Eastern Montana Livestock Association (founded in 1883). The name of the new organization was the Montana Stockgrowers Association. The purposes of the association included enforcement of livestock laws, protection against rustlers and range fires, and planning joint roundups.

Cattlemen's organization in Montana.

The Montana Stockgrowers Association was founded in 1879 to protect the interests of Montana's cattle and horse industries. In 1885 it merged with the Eastern Montana Livestock Association. The aims of the new Association were to enforce livestock laws, fight rustlers, protect the range against wild fires, pursue claims against the railroads and others, and to organize roundups. The Association became one of the most powerful lobbying groups in Montana.