'The Lawnmower Man' Gifts Generous 11-Year-Olds Lawn Equipment To Start Their Business

Jul 11, 2023

If one person can make a lot of difference in the world, one can only imagine what two people with a shared goal and similar visions for helping will do. Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to be a big shot, nor is being a person of significant influence a criterion for making a difference in the world. 

Also, it is not until you pull off a grand act that you make an impact in the world; a simple act of lending a hand to someone in need is enough to make all the difference. One of the most essential criteria for positively impacting the world is having faith in your power to change things.

In addition, making a difference is not restricted to people of a specific gender or age group. People across the world, regardless of their gender or age groups, have continued to show the impact they want to see in others. Just like grown-ups making an impact in different ways worldwide, children, preteens, and teenagers are doing their bit to make a positive difference. 

Two of these preteens are 11-year-old Ja'Torrian Taylor and Tevin Rice, founders of TJ & JT Mowing Service in Gadsden, Alabama. These lads started their walk into making a difference by helping an elderly woman mow her lawn.

After mowing 50 lawns for free, the preteen boys were rewarded on June 21, 2023, by Rodney Smith, "The Lawnmower Man," for their acts of kindness to the community. The boys went from lending a hand to a neighbor to starting their business. Continue reading to see how Smith rewarded the boys for their kindness.

When TJ and JT went out of their way to help an older lady mow her lawn, neither of them knew they were on the path to achieving something great. After their first act of kindness toward someone in need, the boys took on the 50 Yard Challenge, a challenge by "The Lawnmower Man," to offer 50 yards of free lawn mowing services for the elderly, veterans, and people who cannot do it themselves. 

After succeeding at the challenge, the challenge originator visited the boys, commending them for their efforts and making a generous donation towards their business. 

"I'm heading down to Gadsden right now. These are good, hard-working kids that deserve some gratitude," Smith shared with KMBC.

An interesting note in TJ and JT's story is that they completed the challenge with an old lawn mower a neighbor donated to them. Hence, Smith donated a mower, a blower, and a trimmer to reward them for achieving the feat.

"Giving these boys lawn equipment is teaching them discipline," he said. "If they tell someone they are going to mow a lawn, they need to mow the lawn."

"Remember, this is not the end; it's just the beginning," he added. "This could be the beginning of a successful lawn service."

Like TJ and JT, Smith started making a difference in 2015 when he lent a hand to an older man with difficulty mowing his lawn. Almost one decade after he offered to help that man, Smith has offered free lawn mowing services to hundreds of people who cannot do so. What's more, Smith has continued to inspire young boys and girls to do the same through the Raising Men And Women Lawn Care Service.

What do you think of TJ and JT rising to help an elderly woman mow her lawn? What do you think of Rodney Smith donating lawn equipment to the boys? Do you think Rodney Smith should be applauded for his cause? Let us know — and be sure to pass this article on to friends and family members.