Support Local. Buy Texas Made. Thank a Farmer.

by Jayci Bishop

Brady Evans, Owner of Defaid Emporium

These are all statements that are easy to stand behind, especially for those within agriculture. In Snyder, Texas, the Evans family has taken these notions a step further – growing a business and a brand that promotes Texas-made products, local farmers, and the cotton industry.

The Evans have always been linked to agriculture, from the cotton ginning industry to raising sheep. Their brand began when they started packaging and promoting lamb meat from pasture to plate. Since then, they have expanded into the thriving business they are today. 

“We had packaged some things under the Defaid Livestock brand, seasoning and pepper sauce and things along those lines to go with our lamb meat,” said Brady Evans, owner of Defaid Emporium. “We also wanted to start traveling to shows and taking products with us, so we needed to expand. We wanted the Defaid Emporium name on the products, and we started changing the store into what it is today. My mom, Roxanne, also makes candy for Defaid Candy Company.” 

The Defaid Emporium was founded in 2018 and features Texas-made products from around the state. 

“This store is Texas-made food products – that was where we started,” Evans said. “Some of it has our label on it, and the rest of the food products are all GO TEXAN members. We bring them in from around the state.” 

One such product is flavor-infused cottonseed oil. The oil is sourced from PYCO Industries, Inc. and is packaged for the store by a co-packer under the Defaid brand label. 

“The product that we carry is Texana Olive Oil. He is actually my co-packer for cottonseed oil,” Evans said. “We played with some of the flavors – some things worked, and some things didn’t work as well. We settled on garlic, cajun and Italian oils for the moment. We also sell a larger bottle that is just plain, original cottonseed oil.” 

Evans said there is a misconception that you can only fry food with cottonseed oil. 

“Some people that have cooked with it think you have to fry with it, and a little bottle isn’t enough,” Evans said. “We have really kind of changed that perspective. The people that do use it use it in their everyday cooking.” 

Promoting GO TEXAN products throughout their business endeavors has been vital to the Defaid Emporium. 

“Our products are GO TEXAN products, and those products primarily form the base of our store. The whole purpose of it, and you will see it on our website, is ‘Texans supporting Texans,’” Evans said. “That’s the story that we want to share. With everything that has happened in the last 18 months, we can see that it’s so easy for mom-and-pop shops to go away. If you’re not supporting them, they can’t survive and are not in your community anymore.” 

Above all, their ultimate goal is to promote the various agriculture industry sectors and give farmers the recognition they deserve. 

“I want everybody to know that it is important to know where our food comes from and to know the people that work so hard to bring it to you,” Evans said. 

Where to Buy: 

• Defaidemporium.com 
• StoreFront: 1908 37th Street Snyder, Texas 79549 
• Fibermax Center for Discovery – Lubbock, Texas 
• Whitehouse Parker, Farmhouse Vineyard Tasting Room 
• Homestead Cotton Co., located in KK’s Corner Mall – Lubbock, Texas 

Cooking Tips: 

• Put Italian oil in your boiling water when making pasta to add flavor 
• Brush garlic oil over pork chops with Defaid red meat seasoning before cooking 
• Sauté shrimp with a little cajun cottonseed oil for an extra kick 

Products: 

• Jams & Jellies 
• Candy 
• Cottonseed Oil 
• Seasonings 
• Lamb Meat 
• Honey Butter 
• Queso 
• Coffee 
• Salsa 
• Drink Mixes 
• Pickled Goods 
• Custom Gifts & Accessories 
• Ag/Ranch T-Shirts 
• Promotional Items