07/29/2026
This is one of our Local 1805 sisters request….
🚜 AFSCME Brothers & Sisters, we could really use your help today!
My 3-year-old son, Grant, has made it to the Quarterfinals of the 2026 Toddler of the Year competition, placing him in the Top 1% of children in this National competition!
This week every remaining contestant starts back at ZERO votes, so we're asking our AFSCME family to help us get Grant off to a strong start.
🗳️ Please take 30 seconds to cast your FREE daily vote here: https://toddleroftheyear.org/2026/grant-d608
If you choose to donate, those proceeds benefit Marine Toys for Tots while also counting as additional votes.
I have been an AFSCME member for almost 15 years, and my husband has been in the operating engineers local 513 🚜 (St. Louis) for the past 28 years. We are raising our kids with an appreciation for our unions and the trades!
While most kids Grant's age are watching cartoons, Grant would rather watch excavators, dozers, cranes, graders, skid steers, tractors, and just about any piece of equipment he can find. He loves learning what every machine does and "helping" his dad work on equipment at home.
His passion recently caught the attention of RiverBender News & Metro East Star;
📰 https://metroeaststar.com/2026/07/22/fairview-heights-3-year-old-grant-gains-attention-for-love-of-skilled-trades/
Thanks to support from family, friends, and our community, Grant finished 1st in his group through the Top 10, Top 5, and Group Finals to earn his spot in the Quarterfinals.
We recently started Little Guy Garage with Grant to share his adventures and hopefully inspire more kids to appreciate the skilled trades and the men and women who build our communities.
📺 YouTube:
📸 Instagram:
📘 Facebook: Little Guy Garage with Grant
If Grant's story reminds you of your own kids, grandkids, or just made you smile, we'd be honored if you'd vote for Grant, subscribe to his socials, and follow along on this fun journey🚜🛠🛻🏗!
Keep an eye 👀 out for Grant next week on Fox 2 news in the morning and in the STL magazine!
💚 If you voted, please comment "Done!" so I can personally thank you. Every comment helps more brothers and sisters see Grant's story.
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 […]
