A trip around the world at SoTex Farms
Pat West Jr. holds one of SoTex’s beautiful chickens. ALYX MORGAN | PLEASANTON EXPRESS Joanna
Pat West Jr. holds one of SoTex’s beautiful chickens. ALYX MORGAN | PLEASANTON EXPRESS
Joanna Garcia and Pat West Jr. began farming together in 2018 under the name SoTex Farms
SoTex has everything representing seven continents from quail and chickens, eggs, emus to several different soon-to-be-planted vegetables and of course several varieties of strawberries this year.
To say that SoTex Farms has been busy would be an understatement. They have planted 31,000 strawberry plants this year. They have six varieties they are growing specifically and about 20 varieties as part of their Texas Department of Agriculture grant. The varieties they are growing include Seascape, Royal Royce, Camarosa, Cabrillo, Frontera and Valliant.
The farm has plenty to see. You can pick your own strawberries, and, later in the summer, okra, squash and cucumbers. They also have farm tours for $5 per person that last roughly 20-30 minutes. “We always encourage that, whether you’re here for a tour or you’re out here picking, you know, taste what you want, if that’s the variety that you like, and you only want to pick that. If you want to mix and match and go all over the place, go ahead and do that too.”
Alyx Morgan, Pleasanton Express reporter, fed Ayla, the Axis deer while touring the farm. JOANNA GARCIA | COURTESY PHOTO
SoTex Farms is slowly moving towards having an agricultural tourism farm. West said, “The farm tour can be entertaining, educational and you can be really hands-on with the animals. We also want to provide you with your jams, strawberries.” He added, “Our goal is to have an agritourism experience where people can get out here and be hands on, learn about what happens out here on the farm.” Their farm tour is so interesting. Anyone who participates will learn about their different chickens, quail, guineas, Axis deer, four-horn goats, ducks and strawberry varieties.
Garcia and West have learned through other local farmers including Leonard Sanchez, Ruth Ann Schultze, Donovan Garcia, Will Bates and Joel Garcia. They want to pass that knowledge they learned from the “OGs” of strawberry growers on to future generations.
SoTex Farm invites people to come out and learn about how to grow strawberries and other produce. They are located at 2425 Strawberry City Rd. in Poteet. You can follow all of their updates through their Facebook page, SoTex Farms and SoTex Outdoors.