University News

Get Ready for Grass-Growing Season with the WIU Lawn Mower Clinic; Mower Drop-Off March 21-22

March 7, 2013

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MACOMB, IL – With a foot or more of snow in your yard, it may not be the best time to envision the grass growth that will come when spring finally arrives. But there's no time like the present to prepare, and student members of Western Illinois University's Ag Mech Club and Collegiate FFA can help you do that later this month with their second annual Lawn Mower Clinic.

According to Sarah Farmer, chair of this year's clinic and a junior agriculture major from Monmouth, IL, push mower drop-off times will be from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, March 21 and from 4-6 p.m. Friday, March 22. Mowers can be dropped off at the Ag Mechanics Lab's service entrance, which is located on the north side of Knoblauch Hall on the WIU-Macomb campus. Farmer said for $40, the students will complete the following work on each push lawn mower:

  • Install new spark plug
  • Sharpen the blades
  • Clean the deck
  • Install a new air filter (if parts are applicable)
  • Drain and replace the oil
  • Install a new oil filter (if applicable)

"We will be working on the mowers Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23," Farmer explained. "When you drop off your mower, we will take your name and phone number so we can text or call you when your mower is ready to be picked up on Saturday."

Farmer added that when mowers are dropped off on either Thursday or Friday, they must be able to run. She also said, this year, the students will not be accepting riding mowers due to the amount of work and necessary time involved with riding-mower models.

Sponsored by the Ag Mech Club and the CFFA, the Lawn Mower Clinic provides a way for students to practice their mechanical skills and provides the Macomb and surrounding communities with a helpful service. All proceeds from the clinic will go toward supporting the activities of the WIU School of Agriculture's CFFA chapter and Ag Mech Club.

For more information, contact WIU agriculture major Daniel Mitchell at (309) 255-6452 or via email at DJ-Mitchell2@wiu.edu.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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