Guy dubbed 'The Lawnmower Man' surprises 11-year-old landscapers with new lawn gear
Rodney Smith Jr., of Huntsville, Alabama, is a hard-working man.
Known as "The Lawnmower Man," Smith is also a man who, last week, did an extraordinary thing.
Smith loves to give back. For years, he’s been giving back to older individuals, veterans, single parents, people with disabilities, active military and first responders.
When Smith, in 2017, mowed a lawn for a neighbor in need, it felt so good that he mowed another lawn, and then another – all for free. Over the last six years, Smith has traveled to all 50 states to mow lawns for free. Thousands upon thousands of lawns have been mowed.
Smith's Raising Men And Women Lawn Car Service is offering a 50 Yard Challenge, which allows teens and pre-teens to be awarded a mower, a blower and a trimmer if they mow 50 lawns during their summer break.
Two 11-year-olds from Gadsden, Alabama, have created TJ & JT Mowing Service. It seems the kids recently ran to the rescue of an older woman who was holding a mower in one and a walker in the other. Ja’Torrian Taylor and Tevin Rice grabbed the mower and finished the job. Their job of mowing lawns was just beginning.
"I’m heading down to Gadsden right now," Smith said as soon as he heard about the boys' story. "These are good, hard-working kids that deserve some gratitude," he continued. I told Rodney that Taylor and Rice were sharing an old lawnmower that was donated to them by a neighbor.
"I’m going to fix that," Smith said.
It was last Friday when Rodney braved the rain. TJ and JT were in awe as Rodney Smith, the Lawnmower Man, pulled up to the curb.
"Good morning, gentlemen," Smith said with a smile. "I’m about to make you honorary members of the 50 Yard Challenge Club!"
It was quite a scene. Two young kids of modest means standing together. Out of Smith's car came two lawnmowers, two blowers and two gas trimmers.
"Giving these boys lawn equipment is teaching them discipline," Smith said. "If they tell someone they are going to mow a lawn, they need to mow the lawn."
After teaching Taylor and Rice how to run the equipment – from gas mixtures to throttles to maintenance – Smith said goodbye.
"Remember, this is not the end; it’s just the beginning," Smith said as he encouraged the kids. "This could be the beginning of a successful lawn service."
I asked Taylor and Rice what they thought of their new lawn equipment. They were speechless as they toweled off the equipment after raindrops fell.
Smith probably won't receive national attention for his kind deed, but perhaps he should, because now it can be told: As Rodney Smith Jr. drove off into the mist, he had changed the lives of two good kids who have big dreams.
Big dreams that someday might come true.
Thanks to a good neighbor named the Lawnmower Man.
