by Bailey Schildberg and Kelbe Flathers

Many students are not only busy during the school year, but even outside of school. Some may not know, but there are multiple AHS students that have their own business, which include lawn mowing, raking leaves, shoveling snow, photography, and more.

Senior Reid Nichols clips and fits cattle. Fitting cattle means to build the hair up to make it look big, then clip it down to make it look natural, “Which basically means I give cattle fancy haircuts and make them look presentable,” said Nichols. Nichols started out his business with his brother, who taught him a lot. Nichols said, “I am now a professional.”

He has always had a passion for cattle and the hobby of showing them. While most people think about the money when they have a job, Nichols does not, and enjoys what he does. “The money is just a plus,” said Nichols. He charges $100 for every calf he clips and $50 per leg he fits. As most people have their likes and dislikes about their job, Nichols does as well. His favorite part of his job is making the animal look it’s best. He does not enjoy when the calf acts “stupid.” Nichols’s business is not year round, he takes a break during wrestling season because of having such a busy schedule.

Sophomore Kelbe Flathers has founded her own business by the name of Kelbe Flathers Photography. Flathers said that she enjoys what she does because she is “good at it and it’s fun.” Flathers not only takes pictures, but she also edits them, which is one of her favorite parts of her job.

She also enjoys coming up with new, unique ideas and taking the pictures. She does not enjoy printing off the pictures because “it takes way too long and it’s so confusing.” Flathers starts off with the charge of $10 per session, and this price varies as the time increases. She also charges for the printing on pictures, and those prices depend on what the customer orders. Flathers said that she has come a long ways since the beginning. She has competed in the Atlantic News Telegraph photo contest and placed second the first time she entered, and tied for first the second time she entered.

As a person who is very involved in school activities, senior Mark Stinn is busy after school as well. Stinn mows lawns mostly during the summer, rakes leaves in the fall, and scoops snow in the winter. Stinn started mowing one summer when he lived in Cumberland, and was asked to start mowing the church and cemetery there for $5,000 every summer. From there, he moved to Atlantic and started mowing his neighbors lawns.

Stinn does enjoy his job. He said, “There’s worse things I could do. I would rather mow than do stuff on a farm like the slaughtering house.” Stinn charges around $20 per yard he mows. During the fall and winter when he rakes and shovels, he doesn’t have a specific charge. He normally takes what the people give him. Stinn said, “Occasionally during the winter when I walk to school, I bring my shovel and just scoop my way to school, because most people don’t scoop their sidewalks.” Stinn’s favorite part about working is the amount of time he has to think. He does not enjoy how many steps are required for the job and how long everything may take.