Inspiring Conversations with Steven Choate of Elite Land Management

Today we’d like to introduce you to Steven Choate.

Hi Steven, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in Perry County (Linden) Tennessee. I began my career in forestry mulching in 2018 after being offered an operator position with a newly-formed mulching company owned by a long-time friend. Having always loved operating heavy equipment and being an outdoorsman, land management was a natural fit. In late 2021, I was presented with the opportunity to purchase the machinery from my employer and form my own LLC. My wife, Gillie, and I decided to go for it.

I believe in being a man of my word and doing things to the best of my ability. The idea of being the owner and starting this journey to be able to provide high-quality mulching services was truly my version of the American dream coming true. I maintain a great relationship with all those who helped lead me here and try to pay their kindness forward whenever possible. My team and I take great pride in our work. There is something incredibly special about waking up each day and feeling so grateful to be able to be someone you.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Life doesn’t typically give smooth roads. I was raised with very humble means and have found bumpy roads lead to the best outcomes. The bumps teach us life lessons and the things we don’t want to repeat. But hopefully, with a little humility, we take the lesson and move forward.

There have been disappointments and times that I just truly didn’t know which way to go. There are always people that don’t want you to succeed, but for each of those, there are many that do. I try to use the lessons to do better- be better… stay in my lane and work that much harder.

We’ve been impressed with Elite Land Management, LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a land management company that specializes in forestry mulching. Our highly specialized mulching machines provide quality clearing, quickly, leaving a layer of thin mulch on the forest floor that is both beautiful and eco-friendly as well. Many of our customers are local farmers clearing for new crops, developers clearing for residential or commercial developments, and private owners looking to underbrush their property where they can see their land and use it more.

One of my favorite jobs is cutting trails for UTV use on properties as this is also a hobby I share with the landowners! We are family and locally owned. My wife, our employees, and I are all native Tennesseans who love this land. Many companies are only about the financial side. While as a business we must be conscientious of this, our goal is 100% satisfaction for customers and leaving a property as we would our own.

We offer services based on an hourly rate or can bid by the acre or total job. I do everything I can to make the experience positive for all involved.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I love to cook. As a country boy, there is nothing better than producing or finding food and creating something amazing for dinner. One of my wife’s favorite stories is when I called her so excited one day and told her I was bringing home Pokeweed to make Poke salad. She said, “umm, what??”

I got home and spent the evening cooking down my found plant and creating a meal like my mother and aunt used to make. We enjoyed it for dinner, but my wife still laughs as she had never seen someone so excited over some greens they found at work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ellandmanagement.com/
• Instagram: @elitelm_tn
• Facebook: Facebook.com/elmanagement21