Guest Speaker (12/15/25): Betsy Prater Johnson Yardbusters

Yesterday, our class had the pleasure of visiting with Betsy, owner of Yardbusters, for an inspiring and honest conversation about her entrepreneurial journey.

Betsy shared that she holds a mechanical engineering degree, but through life experience discovered that the career path she initially chose wasn’t where her passion lived. After moving, working a variety of jobs, and ultimately returning to southern Illinois, she and her cousin uncovered a love for landscaping—one that would grow into a successful business.

What began with a few tools tossed in the back of her truck and small projects clearing overgrown yards has grown into a full-service operation offering mowing, flowerbed maintenance, brush hogging, power washing, and much more.

Betsy emphasized that the heart of her success is genuine care for her customers. By doing what’s right, going the extra mile, and treating customers like family, her business has grown largely through word of mouth with minimal marketing. That same commitment to others is exactly why she was selected to serve as a mentor for one of our CEO students this year.

We are grateful to Betsy for sharing her story, her business wisdom, and her time with our students—and for being a vital part of the CEO program.

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