Operation: Evans
Official Texas RecruitmentA personal message for Dathan & Brandy Evans
Y'all Belong in Texas.
This isn't a sales pitch. It's the truth. The homestead you've been dreaming about, the freedom you've been talking about, and the people who love you most are all in the same place. And that place ain't where you're at right now.
The Homestead You Can't Build Where You Are
You've talked about it. You've dreamed about it. You've watched the YouTube videos. But you can't do it there. You can do it here.
Land You Can Actually Afford
East Texas has acreage for $3,000-$8,000 per acre. Enough room for a garden, chickens, goats, a workshop, and still have space to breathe. Try doing that where you are without selling a kidney.
Year-Round Growing Season
Zone 8a/8b means you can grow food 9-10 months a year. Start seedlings in February, harvest tomatoes in June, plant fall crops in September. Your garden never really stops.
Livestock Freedom
Chickens, ducks, goats, pigs, cattle. No HOA telling you your rooster is too loud. No city ordinance limiting you to 3 hens. Get the animals. Build the barn. Live the life.
Water & Resources
East Texas gets 45+ inches of rain per year. Ponds, creeks, wells everywhere. Rainwater collection is legal and encouraged. You won't be fighting for water rights out here.
Right to Farm Laws
Texas has strong agricultural protections. If you're farming your land, the state has your back. No neighbor complaints shutting down your operation. This is farm country and proud of it.
Ag Exemptions = Dirt Cheap Taxes
Run a few head of cattle or keep bees on your acreage and your property taxes drop to almost nothing. A $200K property can have a tax bill under $500/year with an ag exemption. That's not a typo.
The Cold Hard Truth
| Category | Where You Are Now | East Texas |
|---|---|---|
| State Income Tax | Yep, they take it | 0%. Zero. Nada. |
| 5 Acres of Land | A dream or a fortune | $15K-$40K. That's it. |
| Backyard Chickens | Maybe 3 if you're lucky | As many as you want |
| Growing Season | Short and sad | 9-10 months of green |
| Cost of Living | Painful | 30-40% cheaper |
| People Who Love You | Far away | Right down the road |
| BBQ Quality | Questionable at best | World-class. Obviously. |
It's Not Just About Land
Here's everything else waiting for y'all in Texas.
Affordable Homes
A 3-bed house on acreage in East Texas costs what a condo goes for in most cities. Your dollar stretches further here. Way further.
Real Community
Small town Texas means neighbors who actually know your name, wave when they drive by, and show up with a casserole when things get hard.
Freedom & Independence
Fewer regulations, more personal liberty. Texas lets you live your life without the government breathing down your neck about every little thing.
The Food. My God, the Food.
Brisket that'll make you emotional. Tex-Mex that ruins every other Mexican restaurant for you forever. Kolaches on Saturday morning.
Outdoor Living
Fishing, hunting, hiking, bonfires under a sky full of stars. East Texas has lakes, forests, and enough wildlife to keep you busy every weekend.
Actual Sunshine
230+ sunny days a year. Vitamin D on demand. Your solar panels will actually work. And you'll stop being cold and miserable 6 months a year.
Yeah, But...
We already know your excuses. Here's why they don't hold up.
"But our jobs are here..."
Remote work exists. Texas has a booming job market. Cost of living is so much lower you could take a pay cut and still come out ahead. Plus, when you're homesteading, you need less income to begin with.
"It's such a big move..."
You know what's bigger? Spending the next 20 years wishing you'd done it. Every single person who's made this move says the same thing: "We should've done it sooner."
"We don't know anyone there..."
Excuse me? WE'RE here. Your people are here. And the homesteading community in East Texas is one of the most welcoming groups you'll ever meet. You'll have more friends in 6 months than you've made in 6 years.
"Isn't it hot?"
Yes. June through September is spicy. But you get used to it, and the other 8 months are absolutely gorgeous. Besides, you're homesteading — you'll be outside anyway. Just drink more sweet tea.
How This Could Actually Work
Come Visit
Fly down for a long weekend. We'll drive you around, show you land, eat BBQ, and let you feel the vibe. No pressure. Just vibes.
Find Your Land
5-10 acres with trees, water access, and a clear spot for a house. They're out here. We'll help you find the right one.
Make the Move
Start the homestead. Build the life. We'll be right down the road helping you put up fence posts and arguing about the best way to smoke a brisket.
Real Talk from People Who Love Y'all
Dathan and Brandy,
This page exists because we genuinely, deeply want y'all closer. Not in a "that'd be nice someday" kind of way. In a "we think about it all the time" kind of way.
We want Sunday dinners together. We want your kids growing up with our kids. We want to be the neighbors who show up with a truck when you need to haul something. We want to sit on the porch and watch the sun go down over YOUR land, not just ours.
You've talked about homesteading. You've talked about wanting more space, more freedom, a different pace of life. Everything you're describing exists right here in East Texas — and you'd have people who love you within driving distance to help you build it.
Life's too short to keep talking about "someday." Someday is now. Texas is ready. We're ready. Come home.
With love,
The Harveys
Stop Dreaming. Start Homesteading.
The land is cheap. The taxes are low. The growing season is long. And the people who love you most are already here, waiting. What are you waiting for?
Call Wes — Let's Talk About It