OKEECHOBEE — An Okeechobee teen is not waiting until he graduates to begin earning a living. Instead, Okeechobee Christian Academy senior Quinn Rucks has already opened his own business and is making a profit.

Quinn’s business, Brighton Land Services, will celebrate its one-year anniversary in March. The teen said his family has been in Okeechobee since his great-grandparents moved here in the ’60s and moved their dairies here from down south. Though, after laws were passed making it difficult for dairy farmers, his grandfather moved his dairies to Desoto and Hardee Counties in the ’80s. Just a few years ago, the dairies were closed completely.

Attending Okeechobee Christian Academy since kindergarten, Quinn is scheduled to graduate this year. In addition, he also takes classes at Indian River State College and is now taking an introduction to business class.

Brighton Land Services was an idea Quin came up with after his grandfather closed his dairies. “We had a tractor sitting in our yard,” he said. “I started thinking about what I could do with it to earn money.” After talking to his parents about it, the teen decided to see if anyone would be interested in hiring him to mow pastures, and he soon found that this was indeed of interest. He said he doesn’t really mow small yards but focuses on pastures and has one regular client. During the summer, he is much busier and does other things such as dirt work and tree trimming. He works in Okeechobee and Indiantown. Most of his jobs come through word of mouth, but he also has an Instagram and a Facebook page.

After graduation, Quinn plans to become an electrician and has been taken under the wing of a friend’s grandfather, who has an electrical company on the coast. He will go to work for this man as an apprentice while he goes to school. He will continue his business on the side.

The Rucks family attends Christ Fellowship Church. Quinn is an avid baseball player and plays for Okeechobee High School.

Anyone interested in obtaining Quinn’s services can call 863-532-3019 or look for him on Facebook at Brighton Land Services, LLC