兔子先生系列麻豆

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February 2025

Alumni couple creating art in wood furnishings 

In more and more homes across West Texas, the unique work of Caleb and Jodi Schumacher is showing up. But they are not fine artists in the usual sense.

Both graduates of the Plainview campus, Caleb and Jodi are owners of C&J Wood Farm, a woodworking business they have operated since 2019. But the two have been partners in life since they first met at Koinonia freshman orientation in 2009 and began dating immediately. The two were engaged at the end of their freshman year and married in 2011 after their sophomore year.

The Schumachers lived in married student apartments while finishing their education, with Caleb

earning a BS in 2013 in mathematics and business. Jodi, a native of Robert Lee and a cheerleader that first year at WBU, earned her BS degree in 2013 in biology, aiming to teach secondary science. Shortly after graduation, the pair moved to Lubbock to begin their careers.

Jodi was teaching freshman biology at Coronado High School, and Caleb was in management in the construction industry. Stressed and overworked, Caleb approached his wife with a simple request: “I want to start a business.” When Jodi asked what he would do, woodworking was the simple answer.

“Essentially I was not happy in my current job and did not agree with a lot of what my bosses and owners were doing. I said, ‘There’s one way to change that and that’s to start a business and be my own boss,’” Caleb recalled. “I had been hobbying since age 13. I just always had a passion for it and started doing it years earlier.”

Jumping into business

That was in September 2019, but both kept their full-time jobs while building C&J Wood Farm. They were also raising one young daughter and had another on the way. Their first projects were sets of fall home décor, oversized painted candy corn or pumpkins. They also created cornhole sets for many customers. From there, other furniture requests

began to come in.

“I think we did 75 sets of those décor pieces and about 200 sets of cornhole,” Jodi laughs. “I want to bring them back just for nostalgia purposes.”

Caleb adds, “We would come home from our jobs, eat supper and get right back to work until midnight. We had to start somewhere and build people’s trust.”

A few short months after the business began taking off, the world shut down due to the COVID pandemic. Jodi thought the situation might kill the business, but the opposite would prove true.

“We thought we might go under when COVID hit, and we were so green at that time. But honestly that’s when it exploded because people were home all the time and tired of looking at their stuff,” she said. “They needed something to do, like the cornhole games, or more storage space.”

Gaining ground

Setting up a Facebook presence from the very beginning, Caleb and Jodi began to get requests for built-ins, furniture and even doors for homes. While the couple turned down some projects early on since they had never tackled them before, their confidence began to build with each completed piece.

“Eventually people would ask us to do more and more and what we can and cannot do, and it snowballed from there. When we got our first big job, I quit my full-time job,” Caleb recalled, noting that was in September 2020 and meant he brought their daughters home to watch them while working from home. Jodi worked out her contract year, joining Caleb full-time at C&J in May 2021.

Jodi noted that early customers would often bring a photo of a project idea and the Schumachers would determine if they could tackle it. Even if it was something they had never tried, Jodi said they would often ask for the opportunity to give it a go. From there, their portfolio grew.

“A lot of our confidence now comes with doing this every day. Our skill has gotten better. Our business knowledge has gotten better,” said Caleb. “The great thing about woodworking is I get bored doing the same thing every day, so I love a new project and a new challenge.”

And while they have added beauty to many homes through their furniture, shelving units and accent walls, Caleb and Jodi said the project they just recently completed may be one of their favorites: a unique dining room table set for their own home. When they built a new home a while back, they did their own kitchen cabinets, both a labor of love and a great portfolio piece.

“We’ll try anything but our bread and butter is cabinetry. We like doing everything in-house where both me and Jodi can utilize our skills,” said Caleb. “We stay away from new construction, so a lot is people adding things to their homes or remodels.”

Dividing the duties

While Caleb focuses his attention on the wood creations in their home shop, Jodi has another focus.

“I do a lot of interior painting right now, walls, ceilings, etc. I didn’t think I would paint for a living but I enjoy it for the most part,” said Jodi. “When we started painting the woodworking, it quickly became obvious that using a brush and roller was not feasible and doesn’t give the quality people want. I had to learn the hard way how to paint well and it is very hard; it is not an easy trade to do.”

Working side by side their spouse might be stressful for many couples, but Caleb and Jodi say having their own niche of the work has helped. For instance, Jodi is the painter in the business, and she said that “gives us our space.” She also enjoys refinishing old furniture for customers and restoring the nostalgia of pieces.

“Working together is not the easiest thing to do when you see your spouse all the time. I feel like this gives us a good break and the separation to be our own person,” Caleb laughs. “She helps when I need an extra set of hands, but usually the wood work is more in tandem. Once I finish my part and it’s ready to be handed off, that’s when she hops in. It works better since she’s the paint professional and I’m the wood professional, so we don’t fight about those things.”

Heart of the matter

The Schumachers say they aim to turn projects for customers as quickly as possible, typically within 2-4 weeks. That means they can accommodate customer needs and devote the right attention to each custom project.

“Our main goal, and what differentiates us from others, is that

when we start projects, we work on only that project until it’s finished. One of the proudest things is we can turn over a kitchen in three weeks,” said Caleb. “We know people usually still live there, and we want to inconvenience the customers the least amount.”

The Schumachers, including daughters Brynlee, 8, and Braylee, 5, are active members of Hope

Lutheran Church. Other than some sporting activities for their girls, they keep their free time for family by design.

“We did not start this business to be rich. If we wanted to be rich, we would have hired people years ago and worked on building the business. We did this because we wanted the freedom to be a family with our daughters and to work for ourselves and work with our hands,” Caleb said. “What sets us apart is it is just me and her. We do all the work in-house and what you see is what you get. We take people’s time very seriously, and it’s our job not to inconvenience them as much as possible.”

    

Devotional: Returning to what matters most

Scripture: “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’” (Psalm 122:1)

Homecoming is a special time for alumni and families to return to familiar places, to reconnect with old friends, and to remember the moments that shaped who we are. It’s a time to look back on our journeys and reflect on the paths that have brought us where we are today. But beyond the festivities, there’s something deeper that homecoming invites us to think about—the value of coming home.

In Psalm 122:1, David expresses joy at the prospect of going to the house of the Lord. For David, returning to God's presence was a cause for celebration. This verse can remind us that as we return home, whether it’s to our alma mater or to a church community, we are ultimately returning to what matters most—our relationship with God.

In the busyness of life, it’s easy to get caught up in the distractions and forget what it means to truly “come home” spiritually. But homecoming is a reminder to reconnect with the foundation of our faith. Just as we celebrate the physical return to familiar places, let’s also celebrate the spiritual return to the presence of God, where we find peace, purpose, and belonging.

As you celebrate this Homecoming, take a moment to reflect on how far you’ve come. Remember the memories that have shaped you, but also take time to rededicate your heart to the One who is always waiting to welcome you home.

Reflection:
How has your faith journey shaped the person you are today? How can you return to God’s presence in a deeper way during this Homecoming season?

 

 

 

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