Lawn care program teaches teens how to mow, start a business

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Raising Men & Women Lawn Care is a program through Student Startup that teaches teens how to successfully provide lawn care services, start their own businesses, and become successful adults.

“The main thing is how to turn them from a boy to a man and use mowing to get them there,” program lead Eli Isaacs said. “It’s fun to watch them as they start. They’re all nervous, but once they get going, they’re all confident.”

The teens mow lawns for free for people in need. Once they mow 50 lawns, they earn $500 worth of mowing equipment to start their own business.

Darius Hancock is going to be a freshman, and he has done this in his second year in the program.

“It’s just been like really really fun, and I’ve got to learn so much about mowing and businesses and stuff like that, and it’s really fun to come out every Wednesday and Saturday,” Hancock said.

He says he didn’t know much about mowing or running a business before starting the program.

“I learned how to, like, keep a straight line and how to work the mower,” Hancock said. “I learned how to be more good with customers and how to have a good business.”

He says he wants to create his own mowing business.

“It’s just satisfying to do it, then after, look at the work you’ve done,” Hancock said.

Jaquin Santivanez is also going to be a freshman and says he likes giving back to the community.

“What I have learned in this program is to become a man by mowing lawns and helping people who can’t help you back,” Santivanez said.

Liam Ramsey agrees.

“I get to help out the people who can’t do it themselves, so I’m kind of giving them a blessing doing this,” Ramsey said. “It’s a good chance to have a better success and help people and make people feel happy.”

Volunteers/mentors are needed. Students can sign up here .

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