Story and photos compiled by: Wade Day, Public Affairs Specialist, San Angelo, TX

In the wide-open spaces of West Texas, Evridge Farms is a place where hard work, dreams, and family values come together. Located in Upton County, the operation is located between the communities of Midkiff and Rankin. An area known for oil and gas production, landowners John and Amanda Evridge aren't just growing crops and raising cattle, they are building a thriving business while caring for their family, the land, and their community. 

"Our goal here is to do the best we can with what we have," said Amanda. 

Their commitment to farming and ranching in an area that is challenging due to its arid conditions, is a testament to their conservation mindset. The Everidge’s have tackled challenges with a blend of practicality and innovation, creating a balance that leverages each person's strengths.  

"It's been a journey of truth," John said. "I had always envisioned it but never thought it would be this good."

The family hasn't had to walk the journey alone. They've worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for 30 years. As a result, the good things have led to great things.

Production and management

Today, Evridge Farms spans 3,000 acres. Their operation includes diversified crops and cattle production. What really sets them apart is their ongoing willingness to continue diversifying and trying new ideas. 

“Working with the Evridges has been unique from the standpoint of their willingness to adapt to new technology and innovative practices compared to what we historically work with,” said NRCS District Conservationist Russ Vanicek.

John's farming journey began when he was still in high school. He started leasing land at 16 years old, working to make it suitable for farming. By the time he was a junior, he was already making business decisions like signing his first note to buy more land. 

It wasn't easy, but his determination paid off. 

From the beginning, John recalls searching for ways to be more sustainable while maintaining their bottom line.

"We were always looking for different things to do. Niche markets," said John.
 
Starting as a cotton farm, they eventually transitioned to a more diversified operation. They began incorporating other products like small grains, rosemary, and cattle. As they diversified, Amanda stepped in to help, taking over other parts of the business such as marketing and researching new markets. Amanda and John became not just partners in marriage, but in business, complementing each other’s strengths to grow their operation.
 

The NRCS also became a resource that the Evridge’s leveraged for knowledge and assistance.

“If we didn’t have NRCS, we might be 10 years slower than where we are at,” said John. 

“I love working with John and Amanda,” said Mandy Stanford, NRCS Soil Conservation Technician. “They are among the first in the area to embrace innovation. They aren’t afraid to invest the effort or make a commitment to practices they believe will be more sustainable and more profitable. This family has done the work extremely successfully.”
 

Through NRCS programs, they have been able to implement conservation practices that benefit the land and their operation. The Evridge’s have utilized the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).

Through programs like EQIP and CSP, NRCS offers technical and financial assistance for working agriculture lands, working one-on-one with producers to develop a conservation plan. It helps farmers and ranchers maintain or improve production while conserving natural resources. 

EQIP provides financial and technical assistance to address natural resource concerns and to deliver environmental benefits, such as improved water and air quality, reduced soil erosion, and improve or created wildlife habitat. 

CSP helps agriculture producers develop a conservation plan that outlines and enhances existing efforts. By using new conservation practices or activities, CSP is designed to help farmers take their conservation activities to the next level.

Evridge Farms have used both programs to enhance their operation.

Efficient use of water is important where water is scarce. By installing drip irrigation, the Evridge’s have been able to improve water efficiency, ensuring their crops receive water precisely when and where it is needed. This practice also keeps the water underground, away from the heat and winds that would evaporate it quickly.

They’ve adopted no-till farming practices, minimizing soil disturbance and leaving residue on the field. This was a change from the conventional tillage they were accustomed to. 

“We’re just programmed to plow it and make it look pretty. Leaving everything out there is not in our blood, so it was a big change,” John shared. 

They have also worked to improve the condition of their pastureland.

Conservation practices such as brush management, reseeding, and grazing management have been beneficial. Their ability to implement these practices has improved their cattle's grazing conditions and overall health. 

“The terrain out here, the weather out here, is really tough," said Stanford. "Being able to remove the brush then gives the grass a chance to grow. And so, being able to use whatever practices we can to improve the conditions and make it sustainable on the land out here is vital.” 

Family dynamics and vision

Change is the only constant in nature. The same holds true with business as well.

“In a perfect world, how do we want this to look and what should we be doing with the land,” said Amanda.  
These are the questions that motivate change and affect daily work at Evridge Farms. 

While they are more than willing to try new things, there's also a limit. John and Amanda's dynamic is central to their farm's operations. While Amanda focuses on product quality and affordability for the end consumer, John oversees the business processes and expansion strategies. 

This can be seen in the cattle operation of Evridge Farms. While raising cattle is not uncommon in the area, the way they go about it is. 

The Evridges control every aspect of production for their cattle, from birth to sale of packaged meat. They even go to the extent of raising the grains that go into the feed rations. The feedlot where the animals are finished is onsite. They work with a processor that handles their animals, sends the packaged beef back to them, which they then market and ship themselves. The Evridges use Angus cows, incorporating Wagyu Akaushi bulls for its meat quality. Though some of the meat is available in local grocery stores, the majority of the meat is sold through their subscription service and online sales platform which allows their customers, extending as far as Canada, to enjoy their beef. They control the whole process.
 

"He’s really interested in what it costs to feed the cattle. What is the production cost of every single pound," said Amanda. “Because we’re raising Wagyu, we could bump our prices and shoot for that gourmet chef person. But my idealistic dream is that we’re feeding families and we’re feeding them high-quality stuff, so we keep the price points low. We have a lot of discussions on the price to produce versus what our market is."

As a mom of three, and as someone who is interested in nutrition, it's important to Amanda to provide high-quality food to families, even at the expense of making a larger profit.
 

Their two young sons are learning and helping, too. Yet another testament to the family's commitment to passing down their legacy of sustainable agriculture.

"Our kids get to see us build this place and care for the land," said Amanda. "It's our legacy."

Teaching others about agriculture is also important to the Evridges. 

They host field days for local schools and share their story on social media. They want people who aren’t involved with agriculture to understand what makes it special. They try and showcase all the different aspects of agriculture, exposing and educating them to their way of life. 

"The reason we have them out (kids), is they just don’t know enough about the world we live in,” said Amanda. “The world we grew up in is not the world we live in anymore. That's why it’s important to share the farm and ranch with the community. It’s our job."

Looking ahead

As Evridge Farms continues evolving and innovating, they're excited about what's next. 

They're committed to making it work, whether it's by expanding their product line or working towards organic certification. Their progress is driven by a steadfast commitment to the land, community and future generations of farmers.

Working together, watching their farm and family grow, has been an incredible experience according to John. The Evridges have accepted the challenges and lifestyle that comes with being involved in agriculture. It is what keeps them moving forward.

“Some days you don’t know what you’re gonna do or what you’re gonna change but putting that puzzle together to make it work—the challenge of it inspires me every day,” said John.

They also appreciate the partnership they have in the NRCS.

“What I have enjoyed about Russ and Mandi and NRCS in general is that they might not have all of the answers, we might not either but having somebody that you can discuss and that has been there and done that — we can put our heads together and come up with ideas,” said John. “NRCS has been kind of the bedrock of what’s made it all happen.”