What can you build with a mentor, a willingness to learn, and a flock of sheep?
At just 20 years old, fifth-generation Texas farmer Kaden Kurtz manages roughly 2,000 ewes across 2,200 acres of solar installations—a full-time agricultural career that might not have been possible on his family’s farm alone. After discovering solar grazing through a summer job with experienced grazier Chad Raines, Kaden immersed himself in learning the industry, from sheep management and ASGA training to bidding contracts and building relationships with solar companies.
Since launching Central Texas Solar Grazing in March 2025, Kaden has grown his operation into a thriving business that combines sheep grazing with mowing when needed. Solar grazing has provided access to land he couldn’t afford to purchase, predictable contract income, and the opportunity to work for himself. Along the way, he’s learned that success takes more than livestock knowledge: it requires a service-oriented mindset, careful budgeting, persistence, and a willingness to learn from others. For Kaden, solar grazing has opened the door to a future in agriculture—and he hopes to help the next generation of young farmers find that same opportunity.
You can read Kaden’s story below: