Why he’s interesting: Fields runs Mr. Reggie’s Lawn Cutting Service, a Maple Heights lawn-mowing company. In June, a white neighbor called police to report the young black entrepreneur for mowing some of their grass without permission as he tended to a next-door neighbor’s lawn. The New York Times picked up the story, and soon, messages of support for Fields poured in from around the world — and a GoFundMe account for him raised $48,810. “It was like opening a new life — a new experience. I never had something like this happen to me in my life before.”
Smart Investor: Most of the money from the GoFundMe went toward a college fund, but Fields used some of it to purchase new items for his business, including a shed, a truck, leaf blowers and string trimmers. “My mom bought all the big stuff.”
Big Plans: Fields has his future planned out: “I see myself going to college, buying my first home, buying my first car and taking care of my business.” First things first, though: He’s currently in the seventh grade and hopes to play football in high school.
Well Rounded: Fields can’t choose between his three favorite subjects: math, science and language arts. When school is out, he plays basketball at the gym with friends. “Sometimes the girls challenge the boys to a full-court basketball game. We beat them every time — unless we let them score.”
Eatin’ Good: He loves Golden Corral and Steak ’n Shake, but for his favorite meals — anything seafood, especially shrimp — Fields likes his mom’s cooking best. “She makes crab legs!”
Season’s Greetings: Fields doesn’t like cold weather, so he prefers lawn mowing to snow shoveling — but his favorite thing about yardwork is that there’s something to do during every season. “I want to stay with landscaping because landscaping never stops.”
Budding Buckeye: Although he’s never visited Columbus, Fields hopes to eventually study business at Ohio State University. “It sounds like a good college. I’ve been hearing good things about it.” For now, though, he’ll settle for rooting for their sports teams from afar.
Mama’s Boy: Fields’ mom is proud of her son’s business sense and how he’s dealt with all the recent attention — including that unwanted police visit. Fields says the best advice he’s gotten came from his mom: “Don’t let anybody take you from doing what you want to do.”
Interesting Fact: 13:Number of people — mostly his brothers and cousins — who are now a part of Fields’ lawn care team.
