In the 1700s, herdsmen around Herefordshire England discovered that these red bodied, white-faced cattle produced the tender and flavorful beef that was fit for the kings and queens. Later, in the 19th century, some progressive American farmers began importing these majestic Herefords to grow in the western frontier. Since 1817, generations of American families have been raising Hereford Cattle. In 1881, the American Hereford Association was formed to unite these local families in an effort to raise the highest quality cattle, producing the highest quality beef.