A Cut Above the Rest

Teen brothers run landscaping business
By Phoebe Warren

photo by shane darby.

Before most of their peers have even stumbled out of bed, the White brothers have already mowed half a neighborhood. What started as a remedy for boredom during the memorably sluggish summer of 2020 has snowballed into six seasons of lawn care for Jeb, Chapman, and Harrison White. “We mainly mow, but we do [also] offer light landscaping and bed work,” Chapman said. “We started doing yards with our parent’s lawn equipment but have since invested about $7,500 in purchasing our own equipment.”

The brothers give credit to their dad, Justin White, for getting them started. “He made the first steps in starting our business by posting our desire to do yard work for those in our neighborhood,” Chapman said. “We started with our neighborhood since none of us had driver’s licenses at the time we started. We now all have licenses and can efficiently and safely manage our 14-foot trailer.” 

A typical work day for the brothers begins quite early. “We wake up by 6 a.m. and get to the first yard at 7,” Harrison said. “Depending on other obligations, we complete somewhere between one to nine yards.” 

The White family gathers to celebrate the scouting accomplishments of the White brothers. submitted photo

The brothers collaborate to oversee all aspects of the business. Each brother lends his own unique strength to make their operation a success. Chapman is credited as the group’s star communicator with customers. Harrison is the motivator of the trio, being the first to get up and get the equipment loaded, encouraging the group to tackle the day’s work. Chapman and Harrison both said that Jeb “doesn’t mind doing the dirty work,” making him an invaluable asset to their business. Collectively, all three engage in various yard work tasks, including mowing, weed eating, edging, and utilizing a blower to clear leaves and debris. “It’s a messy job, so we’re all covered in sweat, grass clippings, and dirt when done with jobs,” Jeb said. “Weedeating ditches is an especially dirty job.”

Chapman said working together is probably easier with family than working with strangers. “You can be honest with one another,” he said. “When there are disagreements, we settle them between ourselves and try to find a middle ground.” 

The White brothers go hiking with their father at Philmont Scout Ranch, located in Cimarron, New Mexico. submitted photo

The brothers generally work together with ease. “When there are disagreements, we settle them between ourselves and try to find a middle ground,” Chapman said. “You can be honest with [family].” However, the landscaping business still throws plenty of curveballs.

“We were talking about someone on another lawn crew getting their mower stuck in the mud,” Chapman said. “Then we ended up getting ours stuck. Karma.” Harrison admitted that he has removed poison ivy from a yard and then absentmindedly wiped his fingers down his face, causing some major discomfort later. Jeb chimed in with his own tale of woe. “I jack-knifed the trailer one time and left a dent in my truck,” he said. 

Harrison competes in various golf tournaments with Texas High School. submitted photo.

Luckily, the challenges of the work don’t put a damper on the brother’s enthusiasm, as they believe their landscaping jobs are laying a solid foundation for their future careers. “We understand how hard it is to make money,” Harrison said. “We treat our equipment well, since it is expensive to buy and maintain.” 

Jeb said the business has instilled in each of them the important lesson of pride in one’s work. “We get satisfaction seeing the yard once it is completed, knowing we did a good job, and making the customers happy,” he said. 

Even outside of work, the White brothers stay busy. Jeb and Chapman White, the elder twins of the trio, both participate in cross country at Texas A&M University–Texarkana, and Chapman serves on the Student Athlete Committee. Harrison, a student at Texas High School, is a member of the varsity golf team, Leadership class, and National Honor Society. Jeb and Chapman are Eagle Scouts, and Harrison is on-track to attain the title this year. The brothers believe that, despite being time-intensive, these extracurricular endeavors have been invaluable to their lawn care business by equipping them with leadership and communication skills.

Jeb and Chapman White run cross country for Texas A&M University–Texarkana. submitted photo.

Each brother has his own big plan for the future, and they are hopeful that the long hours of work now will pay them back tenfold. Jeb is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in forest wildlife management, aspiring to become a wildlife biologist. Chapman is aiming for a bachelor of science in nursing. Meanwhile, Harrison is focused on completing high school and intends to earn a bachelor’s degree in finance.

The White brothers provide the perfect inspiration for any other young aspiring entrepreneurs in the area. In true brotherly fashion, they have come up with their “checklist for success”: network with your parent’s friends and colleagues, manage your time, set goals, and work hard.