Joel Hudgins moved from Mississippi to Texas in 1839 when Texas was still a Republic.  It was not until 1845 that Texas achieved statehood.  Joel died in 1873, and left his four sons, one of which was Josiah Dawson (J.D.) Hudgins his land and cattle.  J.D. was 21 years old when his father died and it wasn’t until 1908 that he created a partnership with his four children – Eola, Ethel, Walter, and Lillian.  That partnership remained in effect until late 1962, when the family land and cattle were divided among the five grandchildren of J.D. Hudgins.  Also at that time, J.D. Hudgins, Inc. was created to provide record keeping, advertising, and marketing services for the ranch’s five family divisions. 

While the family had raised commercial cattle for many years, they became seriously involved in the Brahman business in about 1915 with the purchase of females which were direct descendants of cattle imported from India by the Pierce Ranch in 1906.  The ranch also bought more than 30 of the Brazilian bulls imported through Mexico in 1924.  The family was a founding member of the American Brahman Breeders Association when it was organized in 1924.  The now famous bull Manso was added to the herd in 1933.

Today about 1500 Brahman females graze on family land.  The ranch has shipped cattle to 35 states of the U.S. and 43 countries of the world.  Throughout 2008, the J.D. Hudgins organization will be commemorating 100 years in business. 

            We invite you to join us in Fort Worth, Texas, when we will be hosting an event on May 22, at the World Brahman Congress.  Please RSVP on your registration form when registering for the Congress.