Sustainability should be a top priority in landscaping and lawn care because this industry uses huge amounts of water, chemicals, fuel, and other resources that directly affect the environment. In central Texas, where I live, we deal with frequent droughts and water restrictions almost every summer. I see many homes and businesses have landscapes that waste enormous amounts of water. Yards full of thirsty St. Augustine grass or non-native plants get over-watered just to stay green, even when we’re under Stage 2 or Stage 3 restrictions. Poor design choices, like installing the wrong grass types or high-water-use shrubs in full sun, lead to runoff, higher utility bills, and strain on our already limited water supply. If the landscaping field doesn’t make sustainability a focus, we’re contributing to bigger problems like aquifer depletion and higher energy use for pumping and treating water. Beyond water, traditional practices often rely heavily on chemical herbicides and insecticides to control weeds and pests. These products can harm beneficial insects, pollute groundwater, and affect local wildlife. Fuel-powered mowers, blowers, and trimmers also burn gasoline and release emissions that add to air pollution. In a state like Texas with growing populations and more development, the landscaping industry has a real responsibility to shift toward greener methods that protect natural resources while still delivering beautiful, functional outdoor spaces. I see myself helping reduce environmental impact by building my business, W – Lawn & Landscape, around sustainable practices as I grow it professionally. Right now, I already push xeriscaping whenever a customer is open to it. Xeriscaping replaces large turf areas and high-maintenance plants with drought-tolerant natives, gravel, mulch, and hardscaping that need far less water once established. I’ve converted several yards this way, and clients love how low-maintenance and attractive the results are—plus their water bills drop noticeably. In the future, after earning my Landscape Management degree from Oklahoma State University, I plan to make xeriscaping and water-wise design a bigger part of my services. I want to educate homeowners and commercial clients about choosing the right plants for our climate, installing efficient irrigation systems like drip lines or smart controllers, and grouping plants by water needs to cut waste. I also plan to phase in more eco-friendly products and equipment. I’m already considering low-toxicity or organic herbicides and insecticides that target pests without broad harm to the environment. On the equipment side, efficient, well-maintained mowers and tools reduce fuel use, and I see electric or hybrid options becoming more practical as battery technology improves. My goal is to lower emissions from my crew’s daily work while keeping jobs high-quality and on time. Long-term, I want W – Lawn & Landscape to be known in central Texas as the go-to company for sustainable landscapes. I’ll offer consultations that focus on water conservation, native plant installations, and reduced chemical use. By showing real examples—before-and-after photos, water savings data, and happy clients—I hope to influence more people to make better choices. A successful career for me means not just growing a profitable business, but leaving properties healthier for the environment and helping our community use less water and fewer harmful chemicals. With the knowledge I gain at OSU, I can lead by example and make sustainability the standard in local landscaping.

I’m planning to study Landscape Management at Oklahoma State University. It’s the perfect program for me because it combines everything I already love: plant health, turf care, landscape design, irrigation, construction, and the business side of running outdoor services. I looked at schools all over Texas, but none of them offered the mix of hands-on horticulture and real-world business training. I want to go deeper into the science behind great lawns and landscapes so I can take my work to the next level. I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur because I like controlling my own destiny and building something of my own. My parents encouraged me to be independent from a young age. Dad taught me to work hard and do things the right way. Mom coached me to speak up, make connections, and handle tough talks. That foundation made it easy for me to start small and grow. I actually began mowing lawns when I was 10. I started with our yard in Houston, then added neighbors’ yards too. I started over after we moved to the hill country, picking up more customers in surrounding neighborhoods. At 17, I officially started my company, W – Lawn & Landscape, LLC. Now I handle residential yards and commercial properties across a 30-mile area. I’ve got four employees, rent equipment for big jobs like tree removal and xeriscaping, and I’ve built good relationships with other pros in the field. I love waking up early, getting outside, and making yards look great! I believe I’ll be successful in business when others aren’t because lawn care and landscaping are my true passion. I'm OK being told, no. I learn and keep moving forward. I’m not just doing it for money. I genuinely lose track of time when I’m striping a lawn, spreading fresh mulch, or finishing a landscape bed just right. There's nothing prettier than a well striped lawn with clean edges and crisp landscaping. Customers notice and they keep coming back, plus they refer me to friends. I pay my crew well, teach them real skills, and treat them like part of the team. I also learned heavy equipment and maintenance working on my grandfather’s ranch, so I can handle bigger projects myself and keep costs down. The industry is growing fast here with all the new homes and businesses, and I’m already established with a solid reputation. To me, a successful life means having freedom, doing work I love, and making a real difference. It looks like running a strong company that provides good jobs, provides opportunities for teens, keeps communities looking clean and beautiful, and lets me work outdoors every day. Success is waking up excited for the day, helping people enjoy their properties, seeing my employees grow, and building something that lasts. With what I learn at OSU, I intend to grow W – Lawn & Landscape into a dominate lawn care and landscaping company.

The biggest way I give back to my community is by creating good jobs for other teenagers right here in the Texas hill country. Through my business, W – Lawn & Landscape, I’ve hired four high-school guys who work with me on lawns, landscaping, and bigger commercial jobs. Most kids our age end up flipping burgers, bagging groceries, or working fast food for minimum wage. The guys who work for me make way more than that—sometimes double what they could get anywhere else around here. That extra money helps them buy their own car, save for college, pay for gas, or just have some spending cash without stressing their parents. One of my workers is saving up to buy his first truck. Another one is putting money away before he joins the Navy this summer. Seeing that happen makes me feel like I’m really making a difference. I don’t just hand them a paycheck and call it good. I teach them real skills they can use forever. They learn how to run a zero-turn mower without tearing up yards, how to back up a trailer safely, how to edge beds so they look sharp, how to talk to customers politely, and how to take pride in doing a job right the first time. A lot of them had never even touched real landscaping equipment before. Now they’re confident and know they could get hired anywhere in the green industry if they wanted to. Besides the money and the skills, the job gives them responsibility and a sense of belonging. We show up early together, work hard as a team, joke around, and feel good when a customer tells us their yard looks better than ever. It’s not just work—it’s a place where they’re trusted and valued. That matters a lot when you’re 16 or 17. On top of the jobs, the work we do helps the whole community look better. We keep dozens of residential yards and several commercial properties neat, mulched, trimmed, and safe. Homeowners love it, businesses get more customers, and the neighborhood just feels cleaner and more inviting. But honestly, the part I’m most proud of is giving local teens a solid start with good pay, real skills, and a chance to build some confidence. I love getting up early and heading out with the crew. Watching them grow from nervous first-timers to guys who can handle big jobs on their own is the best part. As I get ready to study Landscape Management at Oklahoma State, my plan is to keep growing the business so I can hire even more kids and keep giving back the same way—by creating opportunities right here at home.