George Hug, a German immigrant, came to the United States in 1854.  Eventually, he purchased land in Osage County, Kansas, where he settled in 1868 and established a diversified cattle and farming operation.  The ranch is located 4 miles north of Scranton, 4 miles northwest of Carbondale, and 15 miles southwest of Topeka.

 

In 1896, George Hug and his son, Frank, purchased their first registered Hereford cattle.  A few years later, Frank would lead the operation.  Soon after, it became known as the Frank Hug & Sons ranch.  Top bulls and cows were purchased from the herds of Gudgell & Simpson and Mousel Bros.  In 1916, they purchased a son of Repeater 7th from Overton Harris & Sons.  This bull would become a foundation sire of the herd.  By the 1920's, the Hugs were marketing registered cattle themselves. 

 

Frank Hug passed in 1929, and his son, Frank E. Hug now managed of the herd.   Frank E. and his son, Robert, continued breeding registered Hereford cattle.  Robert also showed cattle at many fairs and stock shows, including the American Royal in Kansas City.  During the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, the Hug’s sold 25–30 bulls and about the same number of females annually.  Cattle were sold into eight states and Mexico.  For several years, one Texas rancher would ship his cows to the Kansas Flint Hills for the summer grazing season.  He would then buy or lease bulls from the Hug’s to breed his cows, and then ship the cattle back to Texas in the fall.

Frank E. and Robert also farmed a large number of acres at that time.  During the 1950's and 60's, they farmed 600 acres, using 2–row cultivators and 4–row planters.  In 1957, Robert Hug, and his wife, Ruth, assumed management of the herd.  They continued raising registered Herefords.  In 1985, Frank E. Hug passed at the age of 90.  Robert passed in 1999 at age 66.

 

Today, Bob & Tisha Hug and Ed & Gretta Hug are co–owners of the ranch.  These two brothers represent the 5th generation of this family to produce registered Hereford cattle.  Their children are the 6th generation to be involved in the cattle business on the same land.