Exmark's Backyard Life

Living Happens Outdoors

Search

Brian Fullerton

by

Fueled by nothing more than a dream and the desire to accomplish more, Brian Fullerton started Brian’s Lawn Maintenance in 2007 to serve the Detroit, MI area. And, while the journey’s been rocky at times, he’s emerged with a successful business to show for his efforts. Today, Brian utilizes his social media platforms and Lawntrepreneur Academy to help the next generation of landscape professionals grow more efficient, profitable businesses of their own, too. When he’s not hard at work, Brian and his wife Elizabeth enjoy spending time with their young daughter, Emmie.

Brian’s Exmark Equipment:

– Lazer Z X-Series with Tractus Tires and a Ultravac

– 60” Staris

– 60” Vertex

– 30” Aerator

George Kittle

by

George Kittle is an All-Pro Tight End for the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League. Drafted in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL draft, George is a 3x Pro Bowler and was first-team All-Pro in 2019. During the 2018 season, George set the single-season receiving yards record for a tight end, a record that has since been topped. George is a team captain and active in the San Francisco community with various charitable organizations.

Looking to advance the Tight End position across the NFL and in football beyond, George is the creator of National Tight End Day, a yearly celebration of Tight End’s across the NFL typically on the third Sunday in October. Along with fellow Tight Ends Greg Olsen & Travis Kelce, George created “Tight End University”, a yearly three-day summit for Tight Ends to learn & train alongside each other.

George Kittle’s Backyard Life

After growing up around farms and ranches his whole life, George and his wife Claire decided to purchase their own. Set amongst the backdrop of the beautiful hills of Tennessee, it is the perfect yard for various farm animals, training, working out, and a three hole “golf course” that George and his friends mow themselves.

When George isn’t catching touchdown passes or blocking defensive ends he can be found enjoying the outdoors with his dog Deenie, watching his favorite movies & TV shows, playing video games, and practicing yoga.

Keith Kalfas

by

Tired of being financially dependent on a job he wasn’t passionate about, Keith Kalfas decided to start his own landscaping business on the east side of metropolitan Detroit, MI. Through sheer determination and good old-fashioned work ethic, he’s since scaled the business to six figures. And, while doing so, Kalfas has used his experience to also grow as an industry influencer— turning the lessons he’s learned into social media content for his audience. 

In addition to landscaping, Kalfas has helped thousands of students start and grow their own successful businesses through his Keith Kalfas Academy. He’s also a popular public speaker, and has written two books detailing how to grow six-figure landscaping or window-cleaning businesses from virtually nothing.

Kalfas runs a 48-inch Radius X-Series mower (which, in the fall, he equips with an Exmark UltraVac bagging system).

David Bancroft

by

Meet David Bancroft, Prime Cuts host, chef, and owner of Auburn, Alabama-based Acre and Bow & Arrow restaurants. Born in Alabama and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Bancroft’s passion for food began at an early age, namely through the influence of his grandparents’ cooking and farming practices. In addition, his family’s own approach to homestyle dining played into his love of food. And, lucky for everyone who’s ever eaten a Bancroft-prepared meal, he figured out how to parlay this into a passion for farm-to-table cooking.

Southern Inspiration

Bancroft first drew knowledge and inspiration from his grandfather who farmed cattle, catfish, cotton and peanuts in South Alabama. While Bancroft spent time hunting and fishing on on his grandfather’s Alabama farm, he also learned how to smoke brisket and barbecue in South Texas. All of this laddered up to a deep appreciation for procuring and caring for meat.

After finishing high school, Bancroft attended Auburn University. While there, he served as kitchen steward for his fraternity before becoming head chef at Auburn’s Amsterdam Café his senior year. Under Bancroft’s lead, Amsterdam Café established farm-to-table dining in East Alabama, as well as recognition as one of the state’s Top-10 restaurants. And, it was here that Bancroft honed his culinary craft and sustainable cooking approach. It’s also where he began developing a name for himself.

Feeling confident in his experiences to this point, Bancroft then began looking for a way to utilize his self-taught skills as a farmer, forager and chef. In August 2013, he opened Acre restaurant with his wife, Christin.

Farm-to-Table

Situated on one acre of land, Acre reinterprets the rich heritage of Alabama cuisine. The restaurant’s seasonally influenced menu focuses on celebrating sustainable ingredients. It highlights an abundance of herbs, fruits and vegetables, along with poultry, meat and seafood. The land that Acre sits on is an edible landscape. It includes three on-site gardens and fruit orchards designed to provide fresh, seasonal harvest to create delicious offerings. Bancroft supplements this with ingredients received from friends and family in the local community.

Bancroft was a  2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 James Beard Foundation’s “Best Chef—South” award semifinalist. In addition, he won Food Network’s 2017 Iron Chef Showdown competition. In November 2018, he opened his second restaurant, Bow & Arrow, in Auburn. Bow & Arrow is his interpretation of a South Texas smokehouse with the communal dining approach of an Alabama potluck. The menu offers up an assortment of smoked meats cooked over a custom-built, live-fire Kudu grill. These menu items can be paired with a selection of southern sides like tater-tot casserole, collard greens and cream corn, to name a few.

When Bancroft isn’t focusing on his culinary ventures, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. He can also be found hunting and fishing on his family’s lower Alabama farm.

Backyard Life Q&A with Renowned Chef and Prime Cuts Host, David Bancroft

Grae Buck

by

Ever since tagging along with his grandfather at a young age, fishing has always been in Grae Buck’s blood. The passion continued to grow throughout his teenage and young adult years, ultimately leading to success as a competitive bass angler. 

Grae grew up in the family landscaping business, getting an early start mowing grass and learning the ins and outs of all aspects of the company. He spent summers throughout high school and college mowing lawns on Exmark mowers, ultimately saving up enough money to buy his first 18-foot bass boat. 

In addition to local club tournaments, Grae fished alongside his then-finacé Jessica on the FLW College circuit for Penn State. After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Management, Grae worked the next three years for a pond and lake management company. He fished his way up the tournament ladder on weekends, all the while saving up in the hopes of one day fishing professionally.

In 2014, Grae was fortunate enough to win the BFL Super Tournament on New York’s Thousand Islands, which enabled him to upgrade to a 20-foot boat. The following year, he won the BFL Regional on the Potomac River. Having won both prize money and a boat, Grae made the decision to leave his job in 2016 to pursue fishing full time on the AAA circuits. 

Since qualifying for the MLF Big 5 Pro Circuit four years ago, Grae hasn’t looked back. In 2020, he fished in the Bassmaster Classic and MLF Title Championship, finishing 3rd place in the Angler of the Year points standings and punctuating his most successful year to date.

When he’s not traveling the country fishing tournaments, Grae enjoys traveling and fishing with his wife, Jessica; improving their recently-purchased Pennsylvania property; and, of course, cutting grass on his new Exmark!

Backyard Life Q&A with Grae Buck

Greg Mrvich

by

Greg Mrvich is easily regarded as one of America’s top barbecue aficionados—and, for good reason. For starters, he is the founder and host of YouTube channel, Ballistic BBQ, which has garnered 300,00 subscribers and a whopping 43 million views. Ballistic BBQ is all about traditional “Low N Slow” barbecue and grilling. Greg’s Recipes and techniques are explained in detail and made easy enough for even the most novice outdoor chef! 

Greg also gained serious publishing notoriety with his books, Sous Vide BBQ: Delicious Recipes and Precision Techniques that Guarantee Smoky, Fall-Off-the-Bone BBQ Every Time and American Barbecue Sauces: Marinades, Rubs and More from the South and Beyond.

Mrvich’s culinary skill and creativity have enabled him to forge partnerships with some of the BBQ industry’s most respected brands. He also earned many prestigious designations, including Country Music Television Awards’ 2017 official grill master. His success is aided by his natural ability to attract, and connect with, like-minded enthusiasts.

Greg resides in San Diego, CA. Usually, you’ll find on his backyard deck grilling with his wife and son. When he’s not grilling, he enjoys hitting the water or trail to pursue his fishing and backpacking passions.

Backyard Life Q&A with Ballistic BBQ Founder, Greg Mrvich

Trending