Fairview Heights 3-Year-Old Grant Gains Attention For Love Of Skilled Trades

Jul 22, 2026 9:44 AM Jul 22, 2026 3:42 PM

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FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - A 3-year-old boy from Fairview Heights, Ill., is drawing attention in a Toddler of the Year competition benefiting Marine Toys for Tots, where he is currently in first place in his group, as his fascination with tractors, lawn equipment and skilled trades resonates with supporters online.

Grant, featured in a three-minute documentary shared on YouTube, has been captivated since before he could walk by tractors, lawn mowers, construction equipment and the people who operate them. While many children admire superheroes, Grant’s family says his heroes “wear work boots.”

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The documentary, “Little Guy Garage with Grant: Small Hands. Big Dreams,” tells the story of a toddler who looks up to landscapers, heavy equipment operators, mechanics, farmers and construction workers. According to the provided information, Grant wants not only to watch them work, but also to learn, help, and eventually follow in their footsteps.

He dreams of one day owning his own lawn care business.

Among the family’s favorite stories about him: “We thought he was color blind until he started calling green John Deere.” They also said he learned the letter Z because “his preschool teacher taught ‘Z is for Zero Turn,’” asked Santa for a zero-turn mower, carries tape measures and tools “everywhere — even to bed,” and once “turned down ice cream to watch a neighbor mow their lawn.”