Georgia Cattleman: Georgia Cattlemen's Association Magazine, History and Content
Profile updated November 2026
Georgia Cattleman magazine is the monthly member publication of the Georgia Cattlemen's Association (GCA), the statewide organization that works on legislation and education to improve profitability for Georgia beef producers. Its issues, posted online each month, carry association news and production advice to cattle families from the mountains of north Georgia to the coastal plain.
| Publisher | Georgia Cattlemen's Association (GCA) |
|---|---|
| Format | Monthly print magazine, issues posted on Issuu |
| Association focus | Legislation and education for Georgia beef producers |
| Sister organization | Georgia Cattlemen's Foundation |
| Association history book | Herds and Heritage: The History of Georgia's Cattle Industry |
| Archive | GCA records, 1984-1990, at the University of Georgia Libraries |
| Official website | Georgia Cattleman on Issuu |
History of Georgia Cattleman
Cattle became a major Georgia enterprise after the decline of cotton. A history commissioned by the association describes how, in west Georgia, grass and pine trees replaced cotton fields in the late 1940s and cattle production grew. Local groups such as the Coweta County Livestock Association, later the Coweta County Cattlemen's Association, built the county-level network the state association still relies on, and University of Georgia faculty such as professor Bob Long helped make the industry more progressive in the 1960s.
The Georgia Cattlemen's Foundation's history project committee, co-chaired by John Callaway, oversaw that book, Herds and Heritage: The History of Georgia's Cattle Industry, written by author Jackie Kennedy after three years of research and nearly 150 interviews. The University of Georgia Libraries hold GCA records from 1984 to 1990.
Georgia Cattleman Today
Georgia Cattleman appears monthly, with recent issues, including the October, November and December 2022 issues and the January through April 2023 issues, posted on the association's Issuu page. The magazine reports on the GCA's work at the State Capitol, where the association tracks bills through each 40-day legislative session, and on its annual convention, which has been held in Perry.
Former GCA president Kristy Arnold summed up the association's mission as uniting cattlemen and bringing life to the industry. Joe Garner, who joined at the local level in 2014, was profiled as state president in 2023.
What Georgia Cattleman Is Publishing Now
Legislative updates
Reports on bills at the Georgia State Capitol and on federal issues that affect cattle producers.
Production and marketing
Forage, herd health, genetics and marketing articles, including direct-to-consumer beef sales, a theme of a Georgia Grown convention.
Chapters and heritage
County association news, Hall of Fame honors, youth programs and stories of the state's cattle history.
Georgia Cattleman Editors and Staff
Association leaders named in published coverage include:
- Joe Garner - GCA President (profiled May 2023)
- Will Bentley - GCA Executive Vice President (as reported in 2018)
- Kristy Arnold - Former GCA President (2018)
- Jackie Kennedy - Author of Herds and Heritage, the GCA-commissioned history
Who Reads Georgia Cattleman
Readers are cow-calf producers, stockers, seedstock breeders and agribusiness people across Georgia. USDA NASS inventory statistics and the Census of Agriculture give the official picture of Georgia's herd, and USDA ERS data show cattle as the largest single source of U.S. animal receipts.
Georgia cattle producers can talk about grass, pine trees and the price of hay for hours, especially at a county meeting with a good supper. farm.FM adds farm satire, farm humor and ranch humor to that conversation, Peach State style. Its farm jokes are a fine dessert after the legislative report.
If the name is new to you, farm.FM is the nation's first satirical farm site, with Tractor Tunes country music for farmers on the side. One of its regular writers keeps a whole archive of stories like that.
Georgia Cattleman Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- Georgia Cattleman: April 2023 issue - a recent issue online.
- Times-Herald: Book chronicles Georgia's cattle history - the GCA-commissioned history.
- University of Georgia Libraries: GCA Records, 1984-1990 - the association's archive.
- USDA NASS Quick Stats - Georgia cattle inventory statistics.
- USDA NASS Census of Agriculture - Georgia farm and cattle operation data.
Georgia Cattleman FAQ
Who publishes Georgia Cattleman magazine?
The Georgia Cattlemen's Association.
How often is Georgia Cattleman published?
Monthly, with issues also posted online.
What does the Georgia Cattlemen's Association do?
It focuses on legislation and education to improve profitability for Georgia beef producers.
Is there a history of Georgia's cattle industry?
Yes. Herds and Heritage: The History of Georgia's Cattle Industry was commissioned by the association and written by Jackie Kennedy.
From county meetings to the State Capitol, Georgia Cattleman magazine keeps the state's beef producers informed and connected to their heritage.