Sisters Cub Scout sells $3,915 in popcorn

Can you guess how many kernels of popcorn make up $3,915 of the fluffy white stuff? Sisters Cub Scout Ross Grant is not sure, but he does know how much time and effort it takes to sell that many munchies - because he did it with a little help from his mom and some other family members and friends.

Eight-year-old Ross is a member of Sisters Cub Scout Pack 139 and a third grader at Sisters Elementary School. Ross recently set a Scout's regional fund-raising record, selling more popcorn than any other scout in the Crater Lake Council which includes seven Oregon counties covering Sisters, Madras, Prineville, Redmond, Bend, Klamath Falls, Grants Pass and Medford as well as two Northern California counties.

Ross told The Nugget that his "mom is the one who got me into it."

In appreciation for his efforts, Ross was awarded a Dell computer, earned money for a college scholarship and received gift cards. He also will have the privilege of attending Scout camp for free. Thrilled with his new computer, Ross said that he uses it mostly to play games.

Ross' mother, Sue Grant, explained that Pack 139 as a whole did not participate in the fund-raising project.

"The pack opted not to, but we decided we'd go ahead and do it because it helps the pack, and it helps the council, which we've got to pay to run the big thing to make it run all the way down the track."

Ross set up a table at Ray's Food Place over a period of about three weeks, put up a banner and sold his popcorn.

"I liked doing it because, well, I met some people, and it was pretty fun," he said.

Ross inventoried most of the popcorn he sold, although, according to his mother, he ordered items requested that he did not have on hand. He sold all sorts of popcorn flavors, including such exotic choices as chocolate covered, cheddar cheese and almond/pecan caramel. The popcorn sold from $10 to $50 per tin.

Sue Grant remarked, "Some of it was in tins, and some of it was microwaveable."

Grant told The Nugget that after paying for the cost of the popcorn, Ross donated $500 to his pack to pay for badges, sending kids to camp and all of the other things that the pack does during the year. She said that the remainder is being placed in a scout account for Ross to pay for summer camp and other scout functions or when he needs scouting equipment such as a sleeping bag.

When asked how much $3,900 amounts to, Ross laughed and replied, " A lot." Ross said with $3,900, "you could halfway pay for a car."

Ross' father mentioned that Ross' original goal was to sell $2,500 worth of popcorn and that Ross was thrilled to raise so much more than his goal. Ross mostly thanks his mom for his success. He also thanks his customers, neighbors and Ray's for all they did to make his dream come true. When asked what flavor was his biggest seller, Ross responded, "the caramel corn."

The Central Oregon Boy Scouts are the largest civic leadership training, conservation and community service group in the region. The Fremont District of the Crater Lake Council of Boy Scouts serves Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties. More than 1,600 youth between the ages of six and 18 and some 500 volunteer leaders providing over 380,000 hours of service participate in the program. Funds raised through popcorn sales are used by local Scout councils and districts to provide camp scholarships, equipment and uniforms.

For more information visit http://www.craterlakecouncil.org/fremont.