Our Story

The Cargill Ranch has been a family-owned and operated farm for over 115 years. Located in Northeast Texas, it is 15 miles east of Marshall and just two miles west of the Louisiana/Texas state line on I-20. 

In 1905, Gaines Elijah “Bud” Cargill purchased the beginning acreage of the farm. He was a master carpenter who decided to shift his efforts into agriculture by cotton farming. Right off the bat, Bud found success and won the distinction of producing the first cotton bale of the season in Harrison county three years in a row. He and his wife Atelia (“Telie”) raised three sons and three daughters who helped on the farm.

Telie was an early supporter of higher education. She graduated from college in 1899 from what was then Sam Houston State Teachers College. She succeeded in encouraging her three daughters to follow her lead. All three graduated from college and pursued educational careers. The three boys went into business using the strong work ethic they learned from Bud.

In 1944, their youngest son Oscar returned home from WWII to take over the family farm and to care for his aging parents. Oscar began supplementing the family cotton business with his first herd of Hereford cattle. The cattle soon became the primary income for the farm, converting it into a cattle ranch. Oscar moved off the property in the mid-1970s when he began leasing the land to cattle grazers on the families behalf. 

Growing up in Marshall, Jerry Cargill (the second youngest of Bud and Telie’s seven grandchildren) spent much time on his grandparents’ farm and continued hunting and fishing into adulthood on the land when it was inherited by his father and 5 siblings.  As he grew older Jerry noticed the leasee was over grazing the land and not maintaining fences to name a few problems.  Jerry asked his uncle if he could lease the property when that contract was up. 

This became possible in 1978, when Jerry leased the 600+ acres from his family and  began the process of upgrading the farm along with his partner Leon Stevens of Waskom, Texas.  Together they ran cattle until the 1990s as a serious weekend business.

Enjoying the cattle work, in 1992 Jerry began to envision a cattle business as an integral part of his retirement plan (next career).  The family farm was the perfect basis for a cattle business, and to that end, he and his wife Judy began working with his cousins to acquire their 86% of the property as all were pursuing other interests.  Jerry, Judy and Debbie (their daughter) formed JJ&D Investments to start Jerry’s retirement venture. 

In the early 2000s, with the land reassembled under Jerry, Judy and Debbie’s ownership, they started high-level improvements of all pastures – leveling, fencing and improving the quality and nutrition content of the grass, along with other property upgrades like advanced pen systems and current technology for herd management - to accommodate more animals.  They also began improving the genetic component of the cattle herd with registered Black Brangus bulls and cross-bread Angus, Charolais, and Hereford cattle.

In 2011, Jerry officially retired from a 47-year career at Glazer’s Wholesale Distributing Company.  Jerry began working for the company at age 21 as a sales Rep and steadily progressed through all facets of the business, culminating as the President and CEO for his last 12 years.

Bringing that wealth of business expertise to the ranch, Jerry wanted to hire a professional animal scientist onto his team.   

He was very fortunate to meet Hugh Young. Hugh is also Marshall-raised with an Associate’s Degree in Diesel Mechanics from Texas State Technical College, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal health from Texas A&M Commerce. 

After his graduation, Hugh worked for JBS/Five Rivers Cattle - one of the largest feeding lots in the country - as well other cattle ranches in South Texas. Hugh’s strength in communication, attention to detail, and deep understanding of cattle ranching has made him an integral part of this business effort. Hugh’s experience in animal health, feed consistency, and minimizing operational downtime and his talent for leadership and innovation made him the perfect candidate for General Manager of all Operations at the Cargill Cattle Company.

Hugh and Jerry are currently working together to take the best genetics from their registered Black Brangus bulls and their Brangus/Angus/ Charolais/Hereford-crossed herd, combined with pasture-raised, grain-finished, growth-hormone-free and antibiotic-free beef to provide the healthiest and most delicious beef for your family and friends.

Thank you for your interest in our fine beef. Hope to see you at the Ranch soon!