From Business Owner to Firefighter, Casey Blackwelder Loves To Help People

Posted on May 21, 2021

If Casey Blackwelder’s phone is ringing, someone needs his help. Not only is he a young entrepreneur, but Casey is also a full-time firefighter. He’s dedicated, always busy, and has become a reputable business owner known for clearing land and mowing rough terrain in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. 

Casey’s business, CT Blackwelder Land Management Inc., was established in 2015 and continues to grow. He puts his work ethic – and his trusted Bobcat® equipment – to work every day.

Following family footsteps

Casey grew up on the family farm in the suburbs of Charlotte, North Carolina. The area is old and unique, Casey says, and many family names go back many generations. "I grew up in the agriculture community, and the more dirt I could plow, the happier I was," Casey says. "We had small gardens and crops, not like the traditional ‘farms’ in other areas of the country. I was always outside helping people around our area do different odd jobs."

I grew up in the agriculture community, and the more dirt I could plow, the happier I was, Casey says. We had small gardens and crops, not like the traditional ‘farms’ in other areas of the country. I was always outside helping people around our area do different odd jobs.”

Growing up, Casey watched his uncle venture into homebuilding and general contracting work.

“That was some of my earliest exposure to skid-steer loaders,” he says. “I have always enjoyed watching that kind of smaller grading type of work.”

He continued to work with his uncle, clearing lots, digging basements, building roadways, and tackling other contracting projects. Then, in 2016, he decided to purchase his own machine – a Bobcat® E55 compact excavator – to take his own business to the next level.

Firefighting full time

While farming and contracting work seem to run in Casey’s family, so does firefighting. He is a third-generation full-time firefighter, following in the footsteps of his father, grandpa, uncles and cousins. He grew up around the fire department and started his career at the age of 18.

“As far back as I can remember, I knew I wanted to be a fireman,” Casey says. “I grew up around it every day and now I’ve been doing it for 13 years.”

Like many of his family members, Casey ventured into a second line of work besides firefighting to help make ends meet. Now, he spends every day helping people in one way or another, which he says is very rewarding.

“Every day is a new adventure”

Casey is a one-man team ready to take on just about any kind of project. Whether answering a firefighting call or a customer request, he’s prepared. 

“I learned not to say that I just provide one type of service, because you never know when that might change,” he says. “If someone needs something done, I’m always willing to give it a shot.” 

Most of the jobs he takes on involve forestry mulching, lot clearing, and site prep. 

“I like to be on a project from beginning to end,” Casey says. “Turning an overgrown property into something usable in a few hours is very satisfying.” 

Depending on the task at hand, Casey uses his Bobcat® E55 compact excavator or the Bobcat® T770 compact track loader that he shares with his uncle. He says they go hand in hand, especially on tough jobsites. 

“I use a forestry head on the T770, and then if I can’t get that around ponds or over fence lines, I use the E55 excavator with a FM40 flail mower attachment. People see me doing these difficult jobs, and then they call me for their next project.”

One unique project Casey was asked to tackle was a site prep on the side of a steep hill. The customer built a house out of shipping containers, something Casey had never seen done before.

"It was definitely out of the norm,” he said. “The terrain was demanding to be on. The soil was hard to dig and we had to cut the driveway in, put the utilities in, and grade the area for his house. I couldn’t have done it with any other equipment. The Bobcat machines made it doable and the shipping container house is very cool."

A trusted dealer partnership

Casey works with the local Bobcat dealer, R.S. Braswell, when he needs service or new equipment. He has built a solid relationship with the Kannapolis, North Carolina-based dealership, beginning when he was a delivery driver for them several years ago. 

“When I decided to go out on my own, my Bobcat connections meant everything to me,” Casey says. “I knew a lot of the employees, but even the ones I didn’t know – they all bent over backwards for me. They keep me moving forward.”

While his organization is smaller, Casey says he never feels overshadowed by larger customers of the dealership. 

“I’m very small in the realm of machinery,” he says. “There are companies who have thousands of machines, and the dealer makes me feel just as important as those companies. From salesmen to service and parts guys, I have all of their personal cell phone numbers and they take care of me.”

Casey and his uncle occasionally rent attachments or other equipment for specific jobs. When they do, they stick to the Bobcat brand and are always impressed.

“Bobcat has become the staple of my company,” Casey says. “I like having matching equipment on a jobsite, because people recognize that as a professional operation.”

“Bobcat has become the staple of my company,” Casey says. “I like having matching equipment on a jobsite, because people recognize that as a professional operation.”

It seems as though Casey isn’t the only Bobcat fan in his family. His 3-year-old daughter, Caroline, has also inherited a love for the equipment. Every time Casey loads equipment, drives it around their yard, or comes home after a long day of work, he says Caroline is glued to the window. 

“She’s just like me when I was her age,” he says. “She loves helping me and I can’t wait until she’s old enough to learn to operate the equipment.”

More Recent Stories

View All Stories
Celebrating 65 Years of Groundbreakers at CONEXPO 2023  Bobcat Booth Featuring Platinum Series T86 Compact Track Loader
Celebrating 65 Years of Groundbreakers at CONEXPO 2023
Bobcat unleashed 65 years of groundbreaking ingenuity and empowerment by unveiling the brand’s newest equipment, innovations and digital solutions at CONEXPO 2023.
40+ Years of Success with Family Values & Bobcat Equipment A Lewis Straus Construction crew member operates a Bobcat mini track loader at an indoor jobsite.
40+ Years of Success with Family Values & Bobcat Equipment
Discover how Lewis Straus Construction has successfully thrived for almost 40 years with Bobcat’s innovative equipment, excellent service and industry expertise.
Josh Duhamel Builds Legacy at Lake with Bobcat Equipment Josh Duhamel standing in the forest, gazing off into the distance.
Josh Duhamel Builds Legacy at Lake with Bobcat Equipment
Josh Duhamel is carving a legacy in the Minnesota lake wilderness with Bobcat Equipment, by building a family getaway for the generations to enjoy after him.
Bobcat Equipment Helps SDF Build Training Grounds Delta, a canine trainee with the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, jumping over a pile of rubble.
Bobcat Equipment Helps SDF Build Training Grounds
Discover how Bobcat equipment helps National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) build training grounds for elite canine first responders after disasters.
Landscaper’s 5 Tips to Build a Booming Business with Bobcat Equipment Product shot of Bobcat E10 compact excavator
Landscaper’s 5 Tips to Build a Booming Business with Bobcat Equipment
Learn how Danny Reisdorfer turned his childhood passion for lawn care into a successful business that now boasts more than 1,000 customers.
Bobcat MaxControl Gives Business Owner Renewed Freedom Anthony Cardoza operating his Bobcat S510 skid-steer loader with MaxControl
Bobcat MaxControl Gives Business Owner Renewed Freedom
Learn how Anthony Cardoza built his successful landscaping and snow removal business after a tragic accident with the help of Bobcat MaxControl remote operation.
One-Man, One-Brand Show with Bobcat Equipment Fleet Eric Imgrund operating his Bobcat E35 compact excavator with bucket attachment digging water trench
One-Man, One-Brand Show with Bobcat Equipment Fleet
Discover how Eric Imgrund owner of Imgrund Excavating, who likes to keep his company small, does all the work himself with his fleet of Bobcat Equipment.
Dreams Come True in Georgia with Bobcat Mini Track Loaders  Bobcat Mini Track Loader MT100 model product shot
Dreams Come True in Georgia with Bobcat Mini Track Loaders
Discover how Nationwide Turf in Georgia uses Bobcat equipment to complete jobs faster and with less manpower. Learn how.
Dayton, Ohio’s Go-To Gravedigger Does it Himself with Bobcat Equipment Bobcat E35 compact excavator product shot
Dayton, Ohio’s Go-To Gravedigger Does it Himself with Bobcat Equipment
With his fleet of Bobcat equipment, Jim Lock excavates all the graves himself for more than 20 cemeteries in the Dayton, Ohio area. Discover how it all started.
Christ In Action Rebuilds Lives with Bobcat Equipment Christ In Action uses a Bobcat E50 compact excavator to demolish a home.
Christ In Action Rebuilds Lives with Bobcat Equipment
A 100% volunteer-driven organization, Christ In Action provides disaster relief to communities and Bobcat® equipment has become a crucial part of its mission.

What’s Your Bobcat Story?

Taking on big, ambitious challenges is what being One Tough Animal® is all about. Tell us how Bobcat empowers or inspires you to accomplish more. Whether it’s at work, at play or in life, share your story with us.

Share Your Story