She could barely push the mower, let alone turn it on, and the project required her to find adults she didn’t know to go serve. 

After a year of offering free lawn mows and other outdoor tasks, the now 9-year-old Santaquin girl has turned into a yard-care pro. She joined her brother, Sam, in completing the 50 Yard Challenge, a national program run by the Raising Men and Women Lawn Care Service, which invites youth to mow lawns or offer other acts of service for people in need. 

Sam, 10, started the challenge in the fall of 2023, and Emmaline followed once he finished. 

They each embraced the challenge, working hard to find service opportunities and finish within a year. Together, they mowed lawns, raked leaves and shoveled driveways 100 times. 

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

“After a while, I got used to it and it was really fun, even though it was challenging,” Emmaline said. 

The service project impacted numerous Santaquin residents and left an impression on the entire Gabbitas family. 

“It’s just so cool that your kids can participate in something that is making a difference in people’s lives,” said Emmaline and Sam’s mother, Amanda Gabbitas. 

50 lawns 

Raising Men and Women Lawn Care Service was started by Rodney Smith Jr., of Huntsville, Alabama, who began mowing lawns for free to those in need back in 2015. Smith Jr. then took his services nationwide in 2017, attempting to mow one lawn in each of the 50 states. 

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

He built up a large social media following, becoming known for posting selfies with state signs in the background and trimming grass in every corner of the nation. He used his platform to challenge children ages 8 to 17 to offer the same services to single moms, the elderly and others dealing with unique circumstances. 

Those who finish the challenge receive a personal visit from Smith, who drives out to their homes and awards them with a new lawn mower, leaf blower, hat, shirt and certificate. 

“It always feels good to see that a simple idea has inspired so many kids around America to get out there and make a difference, one lawn at a time,” Smith Jr. said. “They are the future.”

The Gabbitas children learned about the program after their father, Isaac Gabbitas, saw an article about it and determined his kids should learn how to serve and acquire a resume-building experience. 

Sam was a willing participant and connected with a neighbor, Mary Elizabeth, to see if he could mow her lawn. She was hesitant at first — “she wanted the lawn to look beautiful,” Sam said — but agreed. 

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

His list of people to help grew from there. 

“One of the hard things is that some people are really picky about how their lawn looks,” Amanda Gabbitas said. “So some people were a little hesitant to allow 8- and 9-year-olds to mow their lawn. But it’s amazing. Both of the kids got so many compliments about how well they did. They couldn’t believe how well they could actually push the mower and get straight lines in each yard.”

Special experiences 

The service led the kids to relationships neither of the them would have developed otherwise. 

Emmaline mowed the lawn for a recent widow, offering her trimmed grass and a new friend. 

She also mowed the lawn of an older gentleman who had cancer and grew a close attachment to the man’s wife. 

“She was just so excited to meet our kids,” Amanda Gabbitas said. “All our kids have all these built-in grandparents now. It’s really cool meeting these people and seeing their lives brightened by our kids.” 

Both Sam and Emmaline’s path to 50 service opportunities was also aided by snow shoveling. 

There were a number of single moms in their neighborhood who they chose to help, and they went before school in the morning to clear their driveways and walks without any prompting. 

“We didn’t even tell people,” Amanda Gabbitas said. “It was kind of like a secret act of service.”

“They were surprised,” Sam was happy to add. 

In return for their service, the kids gained valuable lessons and experiences they won’t forget. 

“One of our goals as parents is to just instill confidence,” Isaac Gabbitas said. “And I feel like the kids have gained a lot of confidence because it was hard for them to push the mower the first time and even to persist on some of the big yards.” 

The Gabbitas want their youngest daughter to do the challenge when she turns 8.

When she does, she may be getting help from a recent finisher. 

“I can do it with her!” Emmaline said.