By Jeff Kenney Citizen editor
It’s a summer sight not often seen in recent years, but well remembered by many from their own childhood: boys (or girls, for that matter) out on foot looking for outdoor work in their community, willing to go where needed, all to save up some hard-earned cash. But, Culver residents may have noticed a group of local boys, lawnmowers in tow, heading door-to-door in search of gainful mowing employment.

As a matter of fact, there are four boys involved in the effort, all of them from the same neighborhood and all friends. Adam Tompos (seventh grade this fall), Joseph Cavazos (6th grade), Hayes Barnes (seventh grade), and Zak Kephart (eighth grade), working in alternating groups of two, started their efforts this spring after Tompos and Barnes decided – in addition to making extra money and keeping busy over the summer – “people needed more room to spend time with other people, and we thought it would be nice to mow…yards,” says Tompos.
Each of the boys uses a mower of their own, and typically they hit the streets two boys at a time, knocking on doors and asking residents if they need their lawns mowed. Business, says Cavazos, was “ok at first,” though he notes many people already have some plan for lawn care in place. The boys usually are able to find at least three lawns to mow per week, Tompos says. “Usually people pay us $10 to $15 each,” notes Cavazos, “or sometimes $20 or $25.”
“That’s ok with us,” adds Tompos.
Besides mowing, the boys usually trim and edge the lawns, carrying clippers and occasionally weed wackers with them.
In their travels, says Tompos, the boys have actually gone so far as walking completely around the lake in search of lawns to mow, though none came about that day.
Tompos is saving his money for a new bicycle, while Cavazos has a collection of fireworks, new and old, on which he says, smiling, “I usually blow all my money.” Kephart and Barnes were away at camp at the time of this writing, but have been involved with the effort up until recently and will resume work after camp.
Tompos notes that he and Barnes actually began working together in a similar fashion last fall, raking leaves. Now that the lawn mowing business had become more steady, the boys say they plan to make raking even more consistent this fall, and add snow shoveling to their offerings this winter.
As might be expected, the boys’ parents are proud of the hard work and ingenuity their sons have displayed. “I think it’s great that they’re working together and helping people keep their yards looking nice,” says Rick Tompos, Adam’s father, “and making a little bit of spending money at the same time. There’s good teamwork with (these) guys; there hasn’t been any fighting at all. I’m proud of them.”
Those with lawns to mow, say the boys, are encouraged to contact them via Adam’s mother Sheryl at 574-298-2986 or Cavazos’ parents at 574-842-2306.