Crooked Stripes Podcast

Returning guest Average Anthony joins hosts Brandon Brubacher and Kyle Breiner to reflect on building a lawn-care business from a push mower into a 220-account operation, then choosing to scale back. He shares candid lessons about hiring, seasonal work, keeping a business simple, and finding satisfaction in hands-on work, before the group swaps notes on Walker mowers and a forthcoming mulching-deck test. Brandon Brubacher, AverageAnthony, and Kyle Breiner continue their conversation about commercial lawn-care equipment, sharing hands-on opinions on mulching decks, baggers, mower design, and hybrid power. They also trade stories about their early days in the business and weigh the long-term tradeoffs of battery-powered tools, including battery-system compatibility and product longevity.

Takeaways:

• Average Anthony started mowing at 15 with a push mower to earn money for video games, later adding restaurant cleaning jobs to build income.
• He says working alongside his crew and holding himself to the same standards helped earn credibility and keep the team accountable.
• Seasonality made year-round staffing difficult: snow-removal trucks could sit idle, so the business added interior contracting and other skilled work.
  Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up your landscaping game, this one’s full of useful insights .. and a few laughs. 

Other Links:
👨‍🌾 Stripe Life Canada: @stripelifecanada

🅾️ Breiner Lawn @breinerlawn

We're BACK from Equip Expo 2026! 🔥

Kyle and Brandon are sitting down to recap one heck of a week in Louisville. From checking out the latest equipment and getting behind the controls in the demo yard, to catching up with industry friends, meeting new people, and making the most of everything Equip had to offer.

We talk Ferris, Senix, Walker, Grabo, some of our favourite machines from the show, the Tuesday night Senix dinner, and plenty of moments that happened along the way.

There was a lot to take in, a lot of content to make, and definitely a few laughs along the way. We get into what stood out, what surprised us, and what we'd actually love to bring home and put to work.

If you couldn't make it to Equip this year, consider this your front-row seat to the action!

Thanks for tuning in 🤝

Takeaways:

• Our overall experience at Equip Expo 2026

• Favourite machines, equipment demos and new products

• Catching up with brands and industry friends

• Senix dinner and the fun outside the show floor

• Behind-the-scenes content, conversations and memorable moments

• Our biggest takeaways and highlights from the week

Whether you've been attending Equip for years or you're thinking about making the trip for the first time, there's something in this one for you!

Other Links:

👨‍🌾 Stripe Life Canada: @stripelifecanada

🅾️ Breiner Lawn: @breinerlawn

At Equip Expo 2026 LIVE, this episode is sponsored by Senix, big thank you for letting us do the Crooked Stripes live at equip. Hosts Brandon Brubacher and Kyle Briner talk with four guests: Scott Faulkner of Red Rock Maintenance, landscaper Dan Archibald, Matthew McGoldrick and 14-year-old operator Chance, last year's giveaway truck winner. They swap practical stories about focusing a service business, battery equipment, networking, scaling with trusted partners, and getting started young in lawn care. Recorded at Equip Expo, this episode moves between conversations with lawn-care operators about running a mowing business, equipment, and the value of industry networking. Kyle, known as The Lawn Dude, discusses balancing 35 mowing accounts with a pharmaceutical job and how he started creating content; McGoldrick shares his community-first approach, business ambitions, and personal perspective on making time for family and kindness.

Takeaways:

• The episode celebrates in-person connections made through social media and previews the busy expo giveaway and demo-yard plans. The Lawn Dude, based in Evansville, Indiana, says he began in 2018 with a push mower and a truck, and now maintains 35 accounts while working full-time in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

• McGoldrick encourages contractors to give time back locally, citing his work with Douglas youth baseball and softball and a fundraiser called Swing for the Fences.
• Archibald's business mows about 50 yards weekly and offers landscape installs, patios, planting, and stamped concrete, with trusted contractors trading labor and referrals on larger jobs.
• Faulkner's fleet includes three Walker mowers, Toro gas and battery mowers, Stihl and Husqvarna trimmers, and several high-powered blowers; his crew often prefers the battery mower. Scott is located in Coboconk Ontario.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up your landscaping game, this one’s full of useful insights .. and a few laughs. Other Links:
👨‍🌾 Stripe Life Canada: @stripelifecanada

🅾️ Breiner Lawn @breinerlawn

Brandon Brubacher and Breiner Lawn kick off the countdown to Equip Expo 2026 in Louisville, covering travel plans, booth setup, giveaway details, and the equipment they most want to check out on the show floor. It’s a practical pre-show episode for anyone attending, with plenty of field talk mixed in on fall cleanup, leaf management, and the realities of running a lawn care business heading into the busy season.

In this episode:

Takeaways:

• Brandon and Breiner compare travel plans for Equip Expo, including flying, driving, and getting in a day early
• The guys break down their leaf workflow, from backpack blowers to mulching leaves with the Cub Cadet and vacuuming them up with the Walker
• They rate a pre-expo “crooked crack” and joke about doing more of those at the booth

Other Links:
👨‍🌾 Stripe Life Canada: @stripelifecanada

🅾️ Breiner Lawn @breinerlawn

This episode of Crooked Stripes features Brandon Brubacher, Kyle Breiner, and guest Matt from Working With Matt talking shop on lawn care, hardscaping, equipment, and the realities of scaling a service and landscape business. Matt shares how he went from mowing neighbors’ lawns to running a 45 employee operation with multiple crews, plus the hard lessons he learned about debt, delegation, and staying profitable.

They also get into social media, brand sponsorships, battery powered tools, and why Equip is such a big deal for the industry.

Takeaways:

• Business growth from small to large scale
• Importance of proper legal and financial setup
• Social media's role in marketing and branding

Other Links:
👨‍🌾 Stripe Life Canada: @stripelifecanada

🅾️ Breiner Lawn @breinerlawn

📋 Get a FREE 14-Day Trial of Jobber + Partner Discount:
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Kris Kiser, President & CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), joins us for a big one.

This episode is a pretty cool full-circle moment for us. The Crooked Stripes Podcast started because of our love for this industry and Equip Exposition, and now we get to sit down with one of the people behind the organization that makes it all happen.

We talk with Kris about his journey into the outdoor power equipment industry, what OPEI actually does, and everything that goes on behind the scenes to support manufacturers, dealers, contractors and the industry as a whole.

Of course, we had to dive deep into Equip Exposition. We talk about how the show has grown, what has changed over the years, what makes Equip different, and where the show is headed next. We also get into the upcoming move to Orlando in 2029, what that could mean for the show, and the outdoor demo area that everyone has been asking about.

We also get into some bigger industry conversations around technology, battery equipment, robotics, the relationship between manufacturers and contractors, and where Kris sees the outdoor power equipment industry heading.

Thanks for listening to Episode 118!

Takeaways:

• Kris Kiser’s journey into the outdoor power equipment industry

• What OPEI actually does

• How Equip Exposition has grown

• The future of Equip and the move to Orlando in 2029

• Outdoor demo areas and the future of the show

• Technology, battery equipment and robotics

• The relationship between manufacturers and contractors

• Where the outdoor power equipment industry is heading

Other Links:

👨‍🌾 Stripe Life Canada: @stripelifecanada

🅾️ Breiner Lawn: @breinerlawn

Kyle is finally back after a busy week in Canada and Montana, so naturally we had to hear all about it.

With September officially here, the season is starting to shift into the final stretch. We talk about the September grind, what we’ve been working on, and why this is such a big time of year for lawns with top dressing, overseeding, aeration and all the fall work starting to pile up.

From there, we get into some bigger industry conversations around where landscaping is heading, the difference between revenue and actually making money, technology and software, bigger companies vs. smaller owner-operators, and some of the changes we’re seeing across the industry.

And of course, Expo is coming up FAST, so we talk about what we’re looking forward to, equipment, manufacturers, and what we’re hoping to see.

A lot of industry talk, a lot of stories, and a whole lot of shooting the shit in this one.

Thanks for listening to Episode 117!

Takeaways:

• Kyle’s trip through Canada & MontanaEconomic impact on landscaping businesses 
• The September grind
• Landscaping industry trends

Other Links:👨‍🌾 Stripe Life Canada: @stripelifecanada

🅾️ Breiner Lawn @breinerlawn

In this episode, Brandon discusses the challenges and adaptations in the landscaping industry, including leaner business models, the impact of economic shifts, and upcoming industry events like the expo and golf tournament.

Takeaways:

• Industry shifts towards smaller crews
• Economic impact on landscaping businesses
• Importance of maintenance and small jobs

Other Links:
👨‍🌾 Stripe Life Canada: @stripelifecanada

🅾️ Breiner Lawn @breinerlawn

👨‍💻Episode Sponsor: Green Frog Web Design

https://greenfrogwebdesign.com/

In this episode, Brandon and Kyle discuss their recent experiences, landscaping projects, and plans for upcoming events like the Equip Expo. They share insights on landscape design, equipment maintenance, and community involvement, offering valuable tips for landscapers and enthusiasts. In this episode, Brandon and a guest discuss the latest equipment, industry trends, and upcoming events like Equip Expo, sharing insights on battery technology, equipment innovations, and networking opportunities in the green industry.

Takeaways:

• Equipment maintenance and troubleshooting
• Event planning for the Equip Expo
• Community involvement and cleanup efforts

Other Links:
👨‍🌾 Stripe Life Canada: @stripelifecanada

🅾️ Breiner Lawn @breinerlawn

👨‍💻Episode Sponsor: Green Frog Web Design

https://greenfrogwebdesign.com/

In this episode, Clark Williamson shares his journey of starting a lawn care business at 16, managing 32 accounts, and planning for future growth while balancing school and work. We discuss equipment choices, pricing strategies, marketing, and tips for young entrepreneurs in the lawn care industry. Kyle is also back in the house!

Takeaways:

• Clark Williamson's journey into lawn care at age 16
• Equipment choices: mowers, blowers, and trucks
• Balancing trade school, school, and business growth

Other Links:
👨‍🌾 Stripe Life Canada: @stripelifecanada

🅾️ Breiner Lawn @breinerlawn

👨‍💻Episode Sponsor: Green Frog Web Design

https://greenfrogwebdesign.com/