Nicco Riley completes 50 Yard Challenge
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CHALLENGE COMPLETE — Rodney Smith Jr., left, founder of We are Raising Men/We are Raising Women is pictured with Glenwood City eigth grader Nicco Riley. Riley completed the “50 Yard Challenge” this summer. —photo by Missy Klatt
By Missy Klatt
Nicco Riley, a Glenwood City eighth grader took on the “50 yard challenge” this past summer and was rewarded for his efforts this past Wednesday evening, November 3rd, when he was presented with a certificate, new lawn mower, new leaf blower, and new weed whip. There were about 15 friends and family on hand to watch.
So what is the 50 yard challenge you ask. It’s part of an organization, We are Raising Men/We are Raising Women that Rodney Smith Jr. started in 2016 to encourage youth (ages 7-17) to get out and help in their community by having them mow lawns, for free, for the elderly, single moms, veterans, and the disabled. There are youth in all 50 states and 8 countries that have participated in this challenge. The organization has also grown to include challenges for leaf raking and snow shoveling.
Originally Nicco’s mom, Amy Groves learned about the program on Facebook and asked Nicco if he wanted to do it. Nicco who had already been mowing lawns for money for the past couple of summers thought it would be a good idea because he needed a new lawn mower anyway. The incentive of new equipment for completing the challenge of 50 yards mowed for free is just what Nicco needed to get on board.
After being busy with other commitments in June Nicco did his challenge in July, August, and part of September. Most of Nicco’s previous clients were elderly, military veterans, disabled, or single moms so he already had a good base to start his challenge. All the lawns he mowed were in Glenwood City except for one in Woodville. They were referred by one of his Glenwood City clients. He also received some referrals from friends and family. Fortunately he didn’t have to mow 50 different lawns and he was able to remow lawns for the challenge. In the end he had about 10 lawns that he mowed each week. Nicco preferred to mow them all in one day so he would be done for the week. However, some weeks were more of a challenge especially with a dry summer and not all of the lawns needing to be mowed every week.
Rodney first had the idea to start this organization after he came across an elderly man struggling to mow his lawn. He pulled over and helped him out. “That’s what kind of gave birth to it all” stated Rodney. To get the word out Rodney has used Facebook and other social media platforms. As for the equipment he gives out, it is all from donations. He has an Amazon wish list account. “Just people in the community and around the world helping our mission,” remarks Rodney in reference to the donations.
This year there have been 3,000 kids taking part in the challenge and 100 kids have completed the challenge. Rodney personally delivers the new lawn equipment to those boys and girls who have completed the challenge. After his stop in Glenwood City he was headed over to another young man who lived near Appleton, WI who had also completed the challenge.
For more information about this organization check out their website www.weareraisingmen.com.
As for Nicco he is considering doing the snow shoveling challenge but hasn’t decided for sure yet. One thing for sure Nicco will be out mowing lawns next summer and is considering starting his own landscaping business as well. After recently purchasing a go-kart from money saved from previous years of mowing lawn Nicco is looking forward to once again earning money next summer so he can make improvements to the go-kart and start saving money to buy a couple of trucks. He said he wants two, one to drive and one to pull at the fair.
