Hi, my name is Josh Schmidt. I am nineteen-years old and currently live and grew up in a small town in Kansas by the name of Goessel. The town itself has a staggering population of five hundred people. After graduating from Goessel High School, I headed off to Kansas State University, where I’m exploring a major related to business.

Concluding my first semester, I received an interesting, but yet enticing, offer. Ken Raney, the advertising manager at Hustler Turf Equipment, (based out of Hesston Kansas) explained that Hustler Turf Equipment and Victory Junction Gang were teaming up for a Mow for Victory Tour. After receiving all the details I was left with a choice, either to turn down the offer and resume my second semester, or take a semester off from college and drive a lawnmower across America. I went with door number two and decided to strap on my gear for the long haul across the USA.

I had several reasons for taking the job. For one, it was good money, which could be put towards my college education. Since I just started college and didn’t quite know what direction I was heading, this job would give me the opportunity to explore aspects of marketing and sales first hand. This, of course would be valuable experience to have to help shape and decide my future.

Another reason I hooked up with Hustler Turf Equipment is that this “adventure” would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It would give me a chance to meet a wide range of people and also get to see the beauty of a lot of our country.

More importantly though, the reason I’m doing this is for what it represents and the cause. Not only will this trip help promote Hustler lawnmowers, but also raise money for the Victory Junction Gang Camp, which is a free-of-charge camp for children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses. I had the privilege to visit the camp and get a tour of everything it offers. Victory Junction Gang makes it possible for these special children to enjoy virtually any activity you can imagine, from a water park to a simulation of being part of the Petty’s pit crew.

I know the Mow for Victory Tour is a win/win situation for both Hustler Turf Equipment and Victory Junction Gang. I’m excited to hit the open road and start the tour.

In 1936 Spike (Dwight) Hostetler was born and raised on a dairy farm in Harper County, Kansas. He was a dairy farmer until 1974. After retiring from the dairy farm he spent 11 years as owner and operator of hardware store. He also worked for a local manufacturing company for about 17 years in two different hitches. Here he got experience in various capacities including research and development, management, service, purchasing, and sales manager of the mower division. He retired on Halloween Day in 2002. He still lives in Harper where he lives in retirement with his wife Gloria, a Kansas farm girl whom he met in college and married in 1956. Gloria enjoyed working as a housewife, bookkeeper for the hardware store, treasurer for a church conference, and teaching piano. They have four children, nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild, who all live in Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming.

Spike and Gloria always enjoyed traveling for both personal and business, visiting many states and several foreign countries and meeting new people. They continue traveling in their retirement including spending 4-5 weeks each summer as volunteer workers at a church camp near Pikes Peak in the Colorado Rockies.

Spike and Gloria will be driving the chase vehicle following Josh on the mower.