Colby, Wisconsin Third Grader Brian Leader Mowed His 100th Free Lawn for Seniors and Veterans on Oct. 12, and Now He Wants to Reach 150

Five to six yards a week, every week since May, adds up. By Oct. 12, 9-year-old Brian Leader of Colby, Wisconsin, had mowed his 100th lawn for free, according to WSAW. The third grader mows for seniors, veterans, first responders and people with disabilities, and he has set a new goal of 150.

The lawns count toward the 50 Yard Challenge run by Raising Men & Women Lawn Care Service. Brian had already doubled that target before the fall leaves started coming down.

From 50 to 100 Lawns in a Single Season

WSAW reported that Brian finished his first 50 lawns in under two months over the summer, then set the bar at 100. The station says he was 8 when he completed the first 50 and is now 9.

His parents, Ashley and Brad Leader, told the station they see the effort at home. Ashley Leader said her son “sets his mind to something and he just runs with it” and called him “very impressive.” Brad Leader said Brian is “outside getting exercise mowing lawns” and that “he enjoys it, he has fun doing it.”

Brian told WSAW he hopes to save for a zero-turn riding mower. He also said the work has built strength he uses in pedal pulling competitions across Wisconsin.

What the 50 Yard Challenge Asks of Kids

Raising Men & Women is a nonprofit, and its own website says kids sign up, then receive a starter shirt and safety gear. A new shirt color comes at every 10 lawns, running from white to orange, green, blue, red and black at 50. Mowing, raking leaves and shoveling snow all count, and kids who reach 50 earn a black jacket.

The group’s volunteer page says its volunteers are kids ages 8 to 17. The people they help include the elderly, people with disabilities, single parents, veterans, first responders and active-duty service members.

The program is large. WAFF in Baton Rouge reported that more than 6,000 children nationwide take part in the challenge, and the group’s site cites more than 6,500 kids mowing.

Leaves This Fall, Snow This Winter

Brian is not stopping when the grass does. WSAW reported that he plans to rake leaves this fall and shovel snow this winter, which fits the program, since raking and shoveling count toward the challenge.

That keeps his 150-lawn goal within reach through the cold months. A yard that needs leaves cleared or a walk that needs shoveling can be added to the count as readily as a lawn that needs mowing.

Two Mowers for Two Iowa Kids

The program’s founder, Rodney Smith Jr., was in the news at the end of October for a different reason. WAFF reported that someone shattered the windows of his van in a Baton Rouge hotel parking lot and took two lawn mowers. Smith said the mowers were meant for two Iowa kids who had completed the 50-yard challenge.

Smith told the station he plans to replace them. He has been traveling the country offering free lawn care, and his own site says the organization has motivated more than 5,000 kids to offer free yard services. The theft shows the kind of reward waiting for young volunteers who finish the challenge, and Brian is one of thousands working toward it.

How a Neighbor Can Ask for Help

Homeowners who want a young volunteer to take care of a yard can request one through the group. According to its volunteer page, online requests were not yet available, so requests go by email or phone to the team. They are passed privately to participating parents or guardians in the selected city, who contact the homeowner directly, and the page notes that availability varies.

The service is free, and the page asks for a service address, the services needed and general details such as the size of the yard and any slopes. It advises allowing three to seven days for a reply.

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This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.

Image: Jim McDougall – CC BY 2.0/Wikimedia Commons