Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Jimenez.
Michael, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started JMZ Farms when I was 12 years old after receiving my first baby chicken at church on Easter Sunday from one of the church moms. I showed up at home with a baby chick in my hands, and my mom was not too excited about having animals at the house. She told me that if I could create a plan showing how I would properly take care of it, then I could keep it.
That same afternoon, I jumped on YouTube and searched, *“How to take care of a baby chick.”* From there, it was on. I learned everything I could, put together a plan, and presented it to my mom — and she agreed to let me keep the chick. That one decision changed everything.
Since I only had one chick, I became obsessed with learning as much as I could about chickens and farming. I went down a rabbit hole of YouTube videos and eventually came across Joel Salatin. Learning about the way he raised hens on pasture completely opened my eyes. When I compared that to conventional commercial farming practices, I was honestly shocked by how our food is produced and how animals are treated.
That discovery inspired a vision in me — to one day build a farm where people could fully trust where their food comes from, with complete transparency, while putting animal welfare first. Although JMZ Farms is not yet certified organic, I have followed organic principles from day one, meeting the same standards the USDA requires for organic eggs. I believe in no chemicals, no vaccines, and no processed feed — only clean, whole foods and natural practices.
What began as curiosity quickly turned into a passion. I became obsessed with raising animals the right way and producing clean, honest food. As I got older, that passion grew into something bigger. I didn’t just want chickens in my backyard — I wanted to build something meaningful through agriculture.
In the early days, I raised chickens at my mom’s house and grew the flock one bird at a time. Capital and access to land were my biggest challenges, but I stayed focused and believed it would work out. Through persistence, networking, and a lot of trial and error, I eventually became an accountant at 20 years old — and that career unexpectedly became a turning point for JMZ Farms.
One day, before a finance meeting at work, a few coworkers were asking me how my chickens were doing. Mark Jones Jr. happened to be in the room and overheard the conversation. He became curious and asked about my operation. I told him I raised about 30 hens in my backyard and sold eggs around the office. I offered to bring him a couple dozen to try, thinking I was just gaining a new customer.
Not long after, I ran into Mark again in the hallway, and he asked how the chickens were doing. Then he asked a question that changed everything: *“What do you think you could do on five acres?”* Coincidentally, in high school I had competed in the Business Professionals of America club and created a full business plan for a five-acre farm, estimating I could generate six figures. Without hesitation, I replied, “I could make six figures on five acres.” He asked if I was serious, and I told him I could have a business plan ready by Friday.
Later that day, I received a meeting invite from Mark for Friday morning. I went home, pulled out my old business plan, revamped it, and made it better. That meeting led to my first investment and access to land, allowing JMZ Farms to grow beyond a backyard operation.
Within a year, the business grew quickly, and I was interviewed by Telemundo 39 — an incredible milestone. Shortly after, I received difficult news: the property I was farming on was being sold to developers, and I had just three months to relocate over 500 chickens and two livestock guardian dogs.
I was transparent with my customers about what was happening, and through that honesty, an incredible couple — William and Angela Stearman — stepped in and offered to purchase a 25-acre property in Bridgeport, Texas so I could continue farming and expand the operation. It was truly a blessing from God, and I knew this was my mission.
After moving to Bridgeport, JMZ Farms experienced another major turning point. During the height of the egg shortage, I was interviewed by the *Fort Worth Star-Telegram*. I remember waking up one morning to a flood of egg subscription purchases on my phone and realizing the article had gone live. It was surreal.
Not long after, CBS Texas reached out for an interview, and that exposure caused JMZ Farms to grow even more. All of it happened completely organically — no advertising, no promotions — just people resonating with the story and what we were building. I truly couldn’t believe how fast everything was happening.
That momentum confirmed what I had been feeling for a long time. In May of 2025, I made the decision to step away from my full-time career as an accountant and commit fully to JMZ Farms. Since then, all of my focus has gone into growing the farm, serving our customers, and continuing to build something rooted in transparency, quality, and trust.
Today, JMZ Farms operates on over 25 acres in North Texas, raising pasture-raised hens and delivering eggs directly to families and restaurants across the DFW area. The journey hasn’t been easy — I’ve faced predator losses, financial pressure, and moments where giving up would have been the easier option. But every challenge reinforced why I started in the first place.
What keeps me going is knowing I’m building something bigger than myself. JMZ Farms represents hard work, faith, and the belief that if you stay disciplined and committed, anything is possible. I’m now 24 and still early in the journey, but I’m proud of how far it’s come — from one chicken to a growing farm serving hundreds of people.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all — it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges has been capital and access to land. Growing a farm takes time, money, and space, and in the early years I was constantly trying to figure out how to scale while working with very limited resources.
I’ve also dealt with significant losses along the way. Predators wiped out large portions of my flock at different points, which was both financially and emotionally draining. There were moments when I put years of work into raising birds, only to lose them overnight. Those experiences really tested my resilience.
Another major challenge was balancing the farm while working full-time as an accountant. I was waking up early, working all day, then coming home to tend to the chickens late into the night. It was exhausting, and there were times when I questioned whether it was sustainable.
On top of that, I’ve had to relocate the farm on short notice due to land being sold to developers, which forced me to move hundreds of chickens and my livestock guardian dogs in just a few months. That level of uncertainty is something most people don’t see from the outside.
Despite all of that, every obstacle strengthened my discipline and clarity. Each challenge forced me to adapt, problem-solve, and recommit to why I started. None of it was easy, but every struggle played a role in shaping JMZ Farms into what it is today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about JMZ Farms?
JMZ Farms is a direct-to-consumer, pasture-raised egg farm based in North Texas. We specialize in raising hens on pasture using regenerative farming principles and delivering fresh eggs directly to families and restaurants across the DFW area through a subscription-based model. Everything we do is centered around transparency, consistency, and quality.
Our farming philosophy is heavily influenced by regenerative agriculture and the teachings of Joel Salatin. From an early age, learning about pasture rotation, soil health, and animal-centered systems shaped how I wanted to farm. We focus on letting the hens do what they’re meant to do — forage, scratch, and fertilize the land — while we move them frequently to promote healthy pasture regrowth and improve the soil over time. The goal isn’t just to produce eggs, but to leave the land better than we found it.
What sets JMZ Farms apart is that we don’t operate like a traditional farm or grocery supplier. Our customers know exactly where their food comes from, how the hens are raised, and who is behind it. We raise our birds on open pasture, prioritize animal welfare, and use clean feed practices. Our eggs are known for their vibrant orange yolks, freshness, and flavor — a direct reflection of how the hens are cared for and the health of the land they live on.
We are also deeply relationship-driven. Many of our customers have been with us for years, and that trust is something I take very seriously. I’m hands-on in the operation — from caring for the birds to delivering eggs — which allows us to maintain consistency, accountability, and a strong connection with the people we serve.
Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is that JMZ Farms has grown almost entirely through word of mouth and earned media. We’ve never relied on heavy advertising. People find us because they believe in the mission, the story, and the integrity behind the product. That organic growth has allowed the brand to remain authentic and values-driven.
What I want readers to know is that JMZ Farms isn’t just about eggs — it’s about rebuilding trust in food and showing that farming can be both profitable and responsible. We’re committed to regenerative practices, transparency, and raising animals with respect, and as we continue to grow, those principles will always come first.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
One thing that surprises a lot of people is that for a long time I was running JMZ Farms while working full-time as an accountant. From the outside, it may have looked like the farm grew quickly and naturally, but behind the scenes I was balancing spreadsheets during the day and farm work early mornings, late nights, and weekends.
Another thing people don’t always realize is how intentional and disciplined the operation has always been. Even when JMZ Farms was just a few chickens in a backyard, I treated it like a real business — tracking costs, planning growth, and thinking long-term. It was never just a hobby to me.
Lastly, many people are surprised to learn how much faith plays a role in my decision-making. A lot of the biggest moves I’ve made — from leaving a stable career to relocating the farm — required trusting the process without having every detail figured out. JMZ Farms may look like an overnight success, but it’s really the result of years of quiet work, sacrifice, and belief.
Pricing:
- 4 Dozen Eggs a month is $52.23
- 6 Dozen Eggs a month is $78.19
- 8 Dozen eggs a month is $104.15
Contact Info:
- Website: https://JMZFarms.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jmzfarms/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/JMZ-Farms-100086073021514/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jimenez-farms-llc/?viewAsMember=true
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jmzfarms
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/jmz-farms-colleyville
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@jmzfarms?_t=8cW1h5N6Nf1&_r=1
Image Credits
Daisy Pineda @dsysphotos
