Teenage small business owner in Oregon proves he’s a cut above when it comes to mowing lawns

OREGON, Wis. (WMTV) - A teenager in Oregon has been busy this summer running his own successful small business. Even though he’s just 17 years old, Ethan Disch has steadily grown his lawn mowing business over the past five years.

His work ethic, maturity, and dedication to his craft has impressed his roughly 25 clients around town.

“There’s a sense of accomplishment that comes with it,” said Ethan. “A lot of people are surprised I’m out here doing this at 16 years, 17 years old now.”

In the summer of 2021, Ethan was 11 years old and started “Ethan’s Edge Mowing and Trimming”. That summer, he made about $1,000 mowing a few lawns around town. He bought a new mountain bike that summer with all the money he made.

“It was nice to a have a little responsibility at a younger age and it helped me get to where I’m at today,” said Ethan.

Oregon residents would often see Ethan lugging his push lawn mower secured in a mini trailer being towed behind his bike. Mowing lawns was hard work but getting from house to house with all that gear and just a bike was tough, too.

“There’s one big hill and I remember distinctly going up that hill to go for one lawn. It was something else,” Ethan said with a laugh.

By his third summer mowing lawns, Ethan graduated to using an e-bike, which helped him haul his equipment job to job.

Today, he has his driver’s license, and he drives a big Chevy truck.

“Oh, it’s so much nicer just being able to drive to places. It makes it a lot quicker for sure,” he said.

One of Ethan’s clients is 82-year-old Sybil Mercier. This is her fourth summer in a row that she has hired Ethan to cut her lawn.

“He hasn’t changed much. He’s just gotten bigger,” said Mercier. “He was evolving all along. He started very simple. And then I think it was an electric bike and that just speeded things up. And now with the red truck.”

Mercier said she was out for a walk one day four years ago and saw Ethan hard at work.

“There was a kid mowing the lawn and he had a bicycle and some kind of trailer with his name on it and I watched him for a while and thought that’s who I need!” she said.

Ethan said it wasn’t his intention to keep this business going year after year. But he says he enjoys the work.

“I don’t try to sit around be on my phone all the time. This is what this is for. This is something that can make me some money, get outside, and get some exercise and enjoy life,” he said.

He also credits his parents for helping him set up the business and encouraging him to get out of the house.

“Starting a small business at 11 or 12, you don’t really hear about it too much and they were all for it because I could make money and take on some responsibility too,” he said.

Owning his own small business means Ethan gets to set his schedule. He works Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, for about six hours each day.

He tries to get out early to mow his lawns and tries to be done by early afternoon, weather permitting. That way he’s not working during the hottest part of the day and he has time to do other things he enjoys like hanging out with his friends.

“It’s kind of a dream come true, I guess,” he said. “I like working alone. It gets me away from everything for a bit,”

Maddie Meyer hired Ethan last summer. She was impressed with his entrepreneurial spirit and believes he’s a good role model for her kids so she brought him back for another summer of cuts.

“I think it’s phenomenal. It’s such great experience, he’s so professional,” Meyer said. “Seeing that at that age I think is amazing. I know my kids love watching him mow the lawn. They’re 8 so they get very excited.

This summer, Ethan expects to make $15,000.

He will be a senior this fall at Oregon High School. After high school, his plan is to attend Madison College to study HVAC or to become an electrician.

He hopes to keep “Ethan’s Edge” going but he’s unsure what life will look like after high school next summer.

“There’s plenty of lawns to cut,” he said with a laugh.

Ethan said he’s welcoming new clients in Oregon. Give him a call or shoot him a text at 608-501-4873.

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