By Marisa Dawson, Photo Courtesy of City of Bennington
The City of Bennington has announced its first-ever Yard of the Month winners, recognizing Brodie and Olivia Wakefield for their well-maintained property and commitment to curb appeal.
The new program, launched this year, recognizes one residential property each month from May through September. Winners receive a Yard of the Month sign, local bragging rights, and a $50 gift card to a Bennington business.
For Brodie Wakefield, receiving the inaugural honor came as a pleasant surprise. “I was pretty excited,” he said. “I just thought it was kind of funny,” he added, sharing that friends and family often joke about the amount of time he spends maintaining their yard. “It’s just fun sharing the news, I guess.”
The Wakefields have lived in their home for several years now, noting that the property was already well-maintained when they purchased it. Wakefield said they have focused on preserving and improving it over time. That effort largely comes down to consistency.
Wakefield said a typical week involves watering plants, keeping up with mowing, and removing weeds and debris before they become a larger problem. He believes staying ahead of maintenance is one of the keys to a healthy lawn.
“I think continued maintenance, keeping up with it,” he said of what it takes to keep a nice yard. “Definitely want to keep your yard watered and fertilized to keep the weeds out. If you get behind and you don’t take care of it right away, you’ll have a rough start and get patches.”
One of his favorite aspects of lawn care is creating a clean, polished appearance. “I like the crisp edges and the lines,” Wakefield said. “Mowing and creating straight lines and making it look sharp is kind of the goal every time.”
Living near a heavily traveled area also provides extra motivation. “We’re right off of 156th, and there’s a lot of people that drive by,” he said. “I definitely want to try and stick out.”
Beyond recognizing individual homeowners, Wakefield believes the program can encourage friendly competition and greater pride throughout the community. “I think there are a good amount of people that care for their yard,” he said. “We go on a lot of walks around the neighborhood and it’s always just a joke, seeing other people’s yards and comparing them to mine.”
He added that the program helps create a fun incentive while supporting local businesses.
“I think it’s neat to get a $50 gift card to be able to use within Bennington as well, keeping it in the town,” he said. “Just a fun little competition.”
When the program was first announced earlier this year, Mayor Clint Adams told The Bennington Buzz that the initiative was designed to recognize residents who take pride in their properties while encouraging others to do the same.
“I think in general there’s a lot of people that do take good care of their properties,” Adams previously said. “Hopefully people take a little bit more pride in their properties and hope to get that sign in their yard.”
Adams also noted that the program is intended to strengthen community connections and celebrate the pride residents have in Bennington.
“It’s really another way for the city to engage with the public and the community,” he previously told us. “Just showing that our community is proud of what we have here and making things look nice for the community.”
The Yard of the Month program will continue through September, with winners selected each month from among residential properties located within Bennington city limits.
