HAYDEN — Since 2021, Everett and Piper Small have mowed 50 lawns for the elderly, people with disabilities, single parents and veterans.

But the acts of service were never about money. In fact, the siblings never collected a single dollar.

Everett and Piper are among the thousands of youths ages 8-17 who have taken part in Raising Men and Women Lawn Care Service’s "50 Yard Challenge." The rules are simple: Mow 50 lawns for those in need for free to receive a new lawnmower, leaf blower and weed eater upon completion of the challenge.

The challenge, and the organization itself, runs entirely on donations. Among those who have attempted the challenge, about 500 have completed it.

The siblings accepted the challenge when Everett was 10 and Piper was 8 years old.

Finding time to chip away at the challenge wasn’t easy. Everett plays multiple sports, while Piper participates in theater and takes voice and violin lessons.

Even so, they made time — sometimes mowing multiple lawns on Saturdays.

“They did so good,” said their mom, Emily Small. “They never gave up on it.”

The Alabama-based organization and challenge’s founder, Rodney Smith Jr., visited the Smalls earlier this week to personally congratulate the siblings and deliver their new equipment and framed awards recognizing their achievement.

Smith frequently travels the country to visit with those who have completed the challenge, documenting it on social media.

“He drove 17 hours just to see us,” Everett said.

In a Facebook post, Smith described the siblings' accomplishment as “nothing short of remarkable.”

“The journey may have taken time, but what matters most is that you crossed the finish line together, side by side as brother and sister,” Smith wrote in part.

The siblings found lawns to mow by going door to door, particularly in senior living neighborhoods. Their mom also helped out by posting to "Buy Nothing" groups on Facebook Marketplace.

“It was always a little overwhelming because I would get something like 50 people saying they needed their lawns mowed,” Small said.

For Everett and Piper, the biggest reward was knowing they made a difference in their community.

“It was hard, but pretty fun to see the reactions on people’s faces when we told them we could do their lawn for free,” Everett said. “They were really happy.” 

Info: weareraisingmen.com/the-50-yard-challenge/.

    Everett and Piper Small initially accepted the 50 Yard Challenge in 2021, when Everett was 10 and Piper was 8.
  

    Everett Small, alongside his sister, Piper, mowed 50 lawns for free to complete the 50 Yard Challenge.
  

    Piper Small uses a weed eater, part of the lawn care services she and her brother completed for free for the 50 Yard Challenge.