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Nov 05, 2024

HOOKED ON EAST TEXAS: Mowing a path to a dream boat | cbs19.tv

Next up in 5 Example video title will go here for this video Next up in 5 Example video title will go here for this video TYLER, Texas — Austin Johnson, 13, fires up his lawn mower on a Friday morning

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TYLER, Texas — Austin Johnson, 13, fires up his lawn mower on a Friday morning and he's cutting the grass at the family's church in Smith County.

Mowing lawns and cutting grass is Austin's summer job, but this job is part of a much bigger plan to buy a bass boat.

“I’m trying to save to get a Skeeter bass boat. Yes sir. Or any bass boat really," Johnson said.

Austin lives in the Dallas area but he's cutting lawns everyday in Tyler this summer while staying with his grandmother.

“Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturdays is for fishing. Sundays are for church," Johnson explained.

On Saturdays, you'll find Austin fishing which he has been doing since he was 5. Johnson belongs to the Texas Bass Nation Youth, Northeast Region.

“When I get older, I want to be professional bass fisherman," Johnson said.

The high school freshman has a clear business plan. He bought a professional zero-turn mower in an aim to maximize profits.

“So that's really the way I thought of how I get to get my bass boat because if I mow bigger yards that equals more money, and more opportunities for me to get my bass boat," Johnson said.

The dream might be just starting, but he already knows the end goal and what the boat will look like.

"My glitter rocket is gonna be nice. It's gonna be black and blue," Johnson said.

His goal to get a boat is off to a fast start but he knows owning the boat is still a couple years away. For now, he’s still trying to figure out how many lawns he’ll have to cut to make enough money to make his dream come true.

“Well, I really haven’t figured that part out yet. But I'm thinking right now, I said that I should make like $698 off for like six yards. And that's pretty good then times two, that's like $1.000," Johnson said.

His goal is to buy the boat when he turns 16. He's got some time to earn the money, but right now he's cutting a clear path to realizing his dream.

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