Chuck and Laura McCutchen, owners of the Rio Grande Valley MAiZE, both grew up in Mercedes, Texas. The McCutchens lived only four miles away from each other growing up, and Chuck was one grade ahead of Laura in school.

Farming and teaching are family traditions

Both Chuck and Laura's fathers were farmers. They grew cotton, grain and some vegetables, like cabbage and onions. Laura's father was President and General Manager of the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show in Mercedes, and her mother was a teacher. Chuck's mother worked as a bookkeeper for a law office, and his father still lives at the farm with the McCutchen family.

Laura left Mercedes for a few years to attend college at Baylor (where her father went). Upon graduation, she taught 4th and 5th grade for six years in Mercedes, and then moved to La Feria to teach for another twelve years. During her teaching career, she taught Math, Science, Social Studies, Art, Texas History, and even coached tennis!

Laura quit teaching to run the cornfield maze. She says, "I still miss the coaching, but I'm very involved in teaching when we have field trips with the school kids. "

Chuck took over his father's farm in Mercedes — after working the land with his Dad for many years. The farm now produces cotton, grain, corn, onions, cabbage, and the ability for the McCutchen family to be involved in agri-tourism in the RGV. Chuck enjoys tinkering with old cars, and he has a special interest in 1970s era Ford Mustangs. (Good 'ponies', to be sure!)

The McCutchen's have two children, Logan and Tricia, who enjoy life on the farm – and especially having their own cornfield maze! Come out to the Rio Grande Valley MAiZE and meet the McCutchens!