- Home
- Company
- News & Media
- Bobcat Stories
- Houston-Based Sweetwater Farms HTX Combines Agriculture with Education
Houston-Based Sweetwater Farms HTX Combines Agriculture With Education
Published on August 23, 2024
With the help of volunteers, friends and a brand-new Bobcat® compact tractor, Chaz Daughtry is taking the Houston agriculture scene by storm.
Chaz Daughtry grew up around ambitious, generous people. His mother founded several successful nonprofits and demonstrated the power of kindness, so it was no surprise when Chaz decided to follow in her footsteps. Holding degrees in agriculture and economics from Texas A&M University, Chaz took his passions and turned them into a career.
From Urban Garden to Urban Farm
Chaz founded Sweetwater Farms HTX in 2014 in an effort to help residents in the community by providing fresh produce. The farm works hand in hand with the Texas Women’s Empowerment Foundation (TWEF), which was founded by his mother Deavra Daughtry in 2002.
“TWEF started an urban garden to get produce to people,” Chaz says. “We are located in a food desert, which means that people don’t have easy access to fresh produce or grocery stores.”
Community members loved the garden and the access to fresh food so much that Chaz decided to expand it into an official farm. Sweetwater Farms HTX was formed and has been one of the only farms in “the loop” of Houston ever since.
A Positive Community Influence
Sweetwater Farms HTX promotes STEM and agriculture to local youth by providing opportunities to help on the farm. They grow seasonal vegetables like collard greens, okra, peppers and more. The experience introduces them to the farming process and familiarizes them with an industry they may not have previously known much about.
“I want to show kids the opportunities in agriculture,” Chaz says. “It’s not just getting your hands in the dirt, it’s also things like science and technology.”
It’s also important to Chaz to show kids that farming can be “cool.”
“I grew up loving horses and agriculture, and people thought I was the weird kid,” he says. “I want to show kids that you can wear skinny jeans and still farm. You can drive a tractor in Nikes.”
The farm, which sits on 6 acres of land, offers employment opportunities to students. This presents a way for them to get involved in the community and also make money.
The farm brings produce to the farmer’s market and sells ingredients to local restaurants. This introduces the student employees to another opportunity to see how their work can affect the community.
“We’ll have the kids deliver the okra, for example, to a restaurant,” Chaz says. “And then some restaurants have private events where we get to taste the freshness of our food. It’s cool to see the kids experience that.”
Boosted by a Bobcat Compact Tractor
When the farm started to grow, Chaz decided it was time to invest in a larger piece of equipment. After doing plenty of research, he landed on a Bobcat CT2025. This compact tractor is common on small farms, ranches and acreages. It has plenty of the features that Chaz was looking for when he made his selection.
“I researched for almost two years,” Chaz says. “I visited tons of dealerships and the closer I got to making the purchase, Bobcat took the best care of me. My grandfather knew about Bobcat skid-steer loaders, so I knew it was a good company.”
Besides the tractor being easy to operate, Chaz says that one of the other key factors in making his decision was the company’s dedication to innovation.
“Bobcat is committed to putting research and development into agriculture and tractors,” he says. “Tractors are new to Bobcat, so I thought it was a nice fit that we both have opportunity to grow together in the agriculture industry.”
Chaz uses the compact tractor to accomplish many tasks on the farm. From tilling the ground to laying soil and compost, it comes in handy for just about any project.
“I would have had to hire someone to keep coming out to cut the undeveloped acres on our lot,” Chaz says. “Now I can do that myself. The same goes for cutting logs and laying wood chips. I use it for everything.”
He purchased a front-end loader for the tractor, as well as a tiller and a rotary cutter attachment to make the most of his tractor.
Catching Up With Chaz
Bobcat recently caught up with Chaz to see how the farm is doing – and gave him the opportunity to use two new Bobcat machines. See how Sweetwater Farms has grown and watch Chaz work with the latest Bobcat compact tractor, the CT4045.
The Future of Sweetwater Farms HTX
Chaz has big plans for the future of the farm. He hopes to add a forklift attachment to his fleet, which would make the compact tractor even more versatile.
He hopes that the program will grow even more, providing more opportunities for the community.
“I see us being one of the biggest agriculture features in Houston,” Chaz says. “I want to grow all year-round and continue doing farmer’s markets and providing local, fresh ingredients to chefs.”
Most of all, Chaz says that he wants to continue being a positive influence on the youth of Houston.
“They help us, and we help them,” he says. “We’ll keep growing together.”
More Customer Stories
View All Customer Stories- Houston-Based Sweetwater Farms HTX Combines Agriculture with Education
Houston-Based Sweetwater Farms HTX Combines Agriculture with Education
With the help of volunteers, friends, and a brand-new Bobcat® compact tractor, Chaz Daughtry is taking the Houston agriculture scene by storm. - Bobcat Mowers Expands CLK Lawn Care and Landscaping Business
Bobcat Mowers Expands CLK Lawn Care and Landscaping Business
Cody Kuebler started CLK Lawn Care and Landscaping at the age of 11, he expanded his business with two Bobcat ZS4000 Mowers and now his team only uses Bobcat mowers. - Omaha Contractors Provide Tornado Relief with Bobcat Equipment
Omaha Contractors Provide Tornado Relief with Bobcat Equipment
Local contractors in Omaha, Nebraska, including Ideal Construction and Mitera Landscaping, rallied with Bobcat machines to aid in tornado cleanup and community support. - Bobcat Compact Tractor Provides Solace for Mobile Crisis Clinician
Bobcat Compact Tractor Provides Solace for Mobile Crisis Clinician
Therese Swift, a mobile crisis clinician, mitigates work stress by tending to her horses and mules, with her Bobcat CT4045 compact tractor aiding in the upkeep. - Shades of Green Nursery Unites Community with Bobcat Equipment
Shades of Green Nursery Unites Community with Bobcat Equipment
At Shades of Green Nursery, founder Julie Holland uses Bobcat equipment to unite the community in Celina, Texas with inclusive gardening practices that support the local ecosystem. - JJC Tree Services LLC Grows with Bobcat Equipment
JJC Tree Services LLC Grows with Bobcat Equipment
John Shreaves of JJC Tree Services LLC launched and grew his business with his Bobcat compact track loaders and attachments to help him accomplish more. - Bobcat and RADshare Partner for Youth BMX Opportunities
Bobcat and RADshare Partner for Youth BMX Opportunities
Bobcat Company is supporting co-founders Steve Crandall and Nate Hanger of RADshare with Bobcat Equipment to provide opportunities for the youth to dive into the world of BMX. - Julie Rummer – Bobcat $25k Backyard Makeover Winner
Julie Rummer – Bobcat $25k Backyard Makeover Winner
After a tragic accident Julie Rummer's backyard was inaccessible and now thanks to Bobcat’s backyard makeover contest, it is an oasis, reigniting her outdoor passion. - Bobcat Leasing Program Provides Reliability for GBH Enterprises
Bobcat Leasing Program Provides Reliability for GBH Enterprises
Reliability and appearances are important on high-profile jobs. That’s why GBH Enterprises chooses two-year leases to ensure a modern fleet for every project. - Bobcat Joystick Controls Enable Mario Coss’ Dream
Bobcat Joystick Controls Enable Mario Coss’ Dream
Bobcat machines with joystick controls enabled Mario Coss to fulfill his dream to be a business owner, even after a crash that changed his life in an instant.
What’s Your Bobcat Story?
Taking on big, ambitious challenges is what being One Tough Animal® is all about. Tell us how Bobcat empowers or inspires you to accomplish more. Whether it’s at work, at play or in life, share your story with us.
Share Your Story