And welcome back to Capitol Journal's coverage of Governor Ivey's State of the state address, as promised.

Joining me next is Rodney Smith, founder of Raising Men Long Care.

Rodney, welcome to Capital Journal.

Thanks for making the time.

Thank you for having me.

I really appreciate it.

Well, look, I told you via text, I'm a big fan.

I'm a big admirer.

I started following you on social media probably five years ago.

I'm trying to get that straight in my mind.

So I'm tickled to have you in studio.

Yes, sir.

So I'm going to start with this.

What was that like tonight?

To be recognized by the governor?

Everybody stood up and applauded.

It seems almost surreal.

Yes.

So surreal.

And it's amazing feeling to be recognized by the governor and the state of Alabama.

Because this small idea, it started in Huntsville, Alabama and has grown across the country.

Well, take me back because as the governor an I told the story a little bit, but take me back to the beginning.

She she talked about how it was one just kind of started with one, to bring us at the very beginning to no and how this idea came about of, of service, of volunteerism and where it really began.

Yeah.

So I finished my last two years of school upstat New York in a boarding school.

Best two years of my life.

So I graduated from there, from high school.

Then I went to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

It took because I wante to do something with computers.

Don't do six months that I was in Florida.

I had a hard time adjusting.

And I remember one night calling my mom, saying, I'm I'm having a hard time adjusting and I want to come home and I remember one night I just asked, I pray to God and asked him to use me as a vessel, he to give me an answer.

That day.

Not a month later, not even a year later.

It happened a few years later, and here I am now in Huntsville, Alabama, getting my bachelor's degree in computer science.

And I was in my senior year, and I was leaving school one day, and I came across an elderly man outside mowing his lawn.

So I did what anyone would do.

I pulled over and helped him out.

Little did I know that once more that kind of would change my life forever.

And it was at that moment I realized that a few years before you ask God to use you as a vessel, and it felt like like that moment right there was that moment that he was preparing me for the whole time.

And ever since that moment, I've been three lawns and eventually turned to a nonprofit organization.

And today we have over 6000 kids across the country taking part.

6000, 6000.

Well, it was your iconic, you know, you would go to a different state or, I guess, really just beginning in Alabama when, I mean, it just seems so simple, like I've, I've met this veteran.

Yes.

And he, he has trouble getting around and I mowed his lawn.

I mean, a relatively simple act of service.

But I had a huge I don't know, wit so much negativity in the world.

It stood out to me on social media and especially in the world of social media, you know, there's just so much negativity on social media.

Were you surprised, even at the very beginning of the response that you got just posting those pictures and saying, I helped somebody out?

Yeah, I was surprised.

I didn't expect it to grow as it has grown.

I tell people at the time, if you look at a horse in a race, he has these blinders on his eyes to keep them straight.

And I believe that's what God's doing for me.

He has these blinders on my eyes to keep me straight and on the on the straight and path.

Well, I know we're making a difference.

I'm just continuing o doing his work, you know?

Yes.

Did you ever see yourself sitting amongst the the entire legislature?

You had the Supreme Court there.

Obviously the governor.

It's on live television.

Did you in your wildest dreams, did you think, oh, I'm going to be sitting here and, you know, the old House chamber of the state?

Oh, I would never had imagined when I first started where I'd be today, you wouldn't be here.

You know, I didn't expect it to be here when I got asked to come.

You know, I was very surprised.

But also honor at the same time.

We'll talk about the 50 yard challenge.

Yes.

That is so cool.

And how did you come up with this.

Because and you know correct.

What if whatever I get wron but I see just about every day.

Yes.

A new young person, I mean, I don't know what age is.

I'm thinking, you know, as the youngest, like 8 or 9, maybe ten.

Boys and girls, boys and girls saying with with a sheet of paper sayin I accept the 50 yard challenge.

Yes.

First of all, how you come up with it and what does it involve?

Yeah.

So the 50 yard challenge is a simple challenge issued to kids across the country to move 53 lawns in their community for the elderly, disabled, single parents and veterans.

If they accept this 50 yard challenge, they make a sign sayin I accept the 50 yard challenge.

And in return, we send them a white raising Men or raising Women t shirt, along with safety glasses and ear protection.

And it's kind of set up like the karate system.

Every ten lawns they move, the got a different color t shirt.

So once they made ten lawns, they got an orange 20, a green 30, a blue, 40 red and 50 lawns earns a black.

And then once they move 53 lawns in the community, I drive t wherever they are in the country and I deliver them a brand new mower reader and blower for completing the 50 yard challenge.

And what we have see is some kids take that equipment and they also start a business.

So we also create an entrepreneurs in a way.

But it all started when the organization first started in 2016.

So it's been about ten years now.

It was just meant to be locally.

And we went vira on the internet around May 2016, and I got a message from a lady by the name of Shannon, and I got another message from a lady by the name of Laurie.

Shannon lived in Wichita, Kansas, and, Lori lived in Marion, Ohio.

Shannon had a son named Andre.

Lori had a grandson named Quinton.

And they saw what we were doing with kids in Huntsville, Alabama.

And they said, how can I get my son and grandson involved?

So for some reason, I told them, look, if your two boys can mow 50 lawns, I'll come up to them and I'll give them a brand new mower.

That summer and that summer, they went on to move 53 lawns for the elderly, disabled, single parents of veterans.

And a man of my word.

I went out ther and gave them a brand new Moore, and that kind of gave birt to the whole 50 yard challenge.

And now today, 6000 kids across the country are taking part.

6000, 6000.

Wow.

What's it like meeting those kids?

And what what do you hear from them and even from their parents about why they agreed to it, why they would sign up?

I mean, it it's encouraging, no doubt.

Yes, but also maybe a little bit surprising in today's age.

I mean, that's why it's so coo to see these kids stepping up.

What have you learned in interacting with these young folks?

Yeah.

So it's amazing to finally meet them because you get the photos every time they do along the streets, take before and after pictures, a picture of them in action and a picture of the homeowner, and they submit those lawn.

So once I finally meet them, once they complete the 50 yard challenge, I get to get to know them or get to really see their personality.

And some kids start off as a shy, quiet kid, but by the time they'r finishing the 50 yard challenge, they're, you know, becomin who they're supposed to become and they're, you know, just enjoying it and encouraging other kids in their community to do it as well.

I know that part of the mission and the organization is, look, you know, soliciting help.

You know, you go to a different state and you want to expand and you need supplies and things like that.

Were you surprised at some of the generosity?

It seems like people are just eager to help out and say, yes, this this is a mission worth supporting.

Yes.

I was very surprised.

And even like the van that we have now, it was donated for because.

Because a gentleman saw me on Twitter one day.

I tell kids all the time you never know who's watching.

This gentleman saw me with a small SUV on Twitter when I was going to deliver, lawnmowers to kids.

He joked with me and sent me a message saying, it looks like you need a bigger vehicle.

And I said, yeah.

And then he said, right there he is right there.

Yeah, I didn't I didn't know him, but he was following me and he says, give me a call.

So I give him a call.

And he said, look, I'm going to look into getting you a bigger vehicle.

I didn't expect nothing.

This is Twitter.

So the next day he calls me and says, look, hey, Rodney, I found a big SUV.

It's a 16 seater, cargo van.

Can you fly out to Nebraska and pick it up?

I said sure, so I flew t Nebraska, met him and his wife, at the airport and I drove that vehicle back.

So you just never know who's watching.

And this gentleman, you know, he's he's been a supporter ever since.

How about that?

Well as I mentioned earlier, there's so much negativity out there.

You know, look we work in the political realm.

And so we encounter arguments all the time.

Certainly on Twitter, other kind of social media.

What does this mission show us about the goodness out there?

The good people out there?

Maybe we don't pay enough attention to the good things happening.

And that guess that's what.

That's why I so much enjoy you account and and following you.

Is that it's like a timeline cleanse, if you will.

But what is it shown you about the goodness out there and the good people in the world that maybe don't get enough attention?

Yeah, it's it' so many good people out there.

You know, we see a lot of negativit on the on the news or on online.

But if you turn that off and you just get outside in your community, you will see it's so much good out.

There are people out there helping peopl and we need to see more of it.

Absolutely agree.

Thank you for what you do.

Governor Ivey said it tonight.

You are an embodiment of what we aspire to be as a state.

Yes, in Alabama.

And tonight, it' one of those nights where it is kind of a celebration of the state.

Started the legislative session.

I was watching all the eyes in that room.

And, you got a lot of admirers before I let you go.

How can people get involved?

How can people donate and, support your organization, whether it's here in Alabama or all over the country?

Because this is actually broadcast on PBS, website National.

Okay, wonderful.

So we have a website at we are Raising men.com.

They can learn more information about the 50 year challenge.

And if we are raising men.com.

Yep.

You're raising men.com on there.

We have the a tab for the fit the your challenge.

So they can learn a little bit more about the fit your challenge.

If they want to sign their kids up it's no tim limit to the 50 year challenge.

So they can sign up today an finish two three years from now.

And on there we have different ways that they can donate, either with money or we also have, Amazon Wishlist or Amazon Wishlist.

And if you would like to purchase the item, they're sent directly to us.

And yeah, what about for those who might need be if you're a veteran elderly, you know.

Yeah, of cours some folks might be embarrassed to ask or something, but, you encourage that, right?

Yeah.

So if someone needs help on our website, you can simply go to our website and it says find a volunteer.

And on ther you will just select your state.

And then once you select your state it will show you where we have kids.

And then if you see your city listed you just click say I need help.

You fill out a for and that form is sent directly to that parent or that volunteer, and they will be in contact with you if you need help.

Absolutely.

And we'll follow up.

Go to the website, follow Rodney on social media because I guarantee you, your your timeline will be cleansed and better for it.

And it shows the like I said, the good people the goodness that's out there.

Thank you for what you do.

And thank you for your tim this evening.

Thank you so much.

I appreciate it.