Popcorn-peddling Cubs earn top honors, rewards
By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on November 28, 2006 1:45 PM
Rosewood Cub Scout Colin Carter held the electric razor steady while Packmaster Frankie Herring's handlebar mustache slowly disappeared.
Getting to shave Herring's mustache off was Colin's reward for selling the most popcorn during Cub Pack 258's annual money-raising drive. The pack celebrated the end of the campaign Monday night at Pine Forest United Methodist Church. In all, the Cubs sold $11,750 worth of popcorn, the most by any pack in the Torhunta District.
And Colin, 8, led the pack with sales of $2,566. As an incentive, Herring had promised his boys that if they exceeded their goal that he would give up his mustache.
They did more than exceed it. They nearly doubled it. District leaders had asked the pack to sell $6,000 worth.
How did Colin sell so much? He admitted to having a little help.
"Well, my mom's a teacher. A lot came from there. My aunt works at the hospital, and she sold some."
But he also went door-to-door, peddling his goods.
"Lots of doors, and classroom doors," he said.
The pack, with some 80 boys, finished second in popcorn sales in the entire Tuscarora Council, second only to the Clayton Pack in the Neusiok District. That pack has more than twice as many scouts.
Last year, the Rosewood pack sold $4,800 worth of popcorn. When council leaders set the goal at $6,000, Herring admitted he and Assistant Packmaster Lyn Williford, were more than a little worried about being able to meet the goal.
"I didn't know if we could do it or not," Herring said. "I was scared to death of our goal."
A membership drive that doubled the size of the pack went a long way toward helping. The new Cubs hit the streets immediately, knocking on doors. Their enthusiasm was amazing, Williford said.
Part of it was generated by Herring's promise to shave. Williford added to it by promising to let the Cubs toss pies in his face if they reached their goal.
The scouts hit their goal in September, but the men kept the total a secret -- and watched as the sales continued to pour in.
On Monday, Williford gladly took numerous pies in the face, as gleeful scouts practiced their marksmanship.
Colin got to throw the first "pie", a paper plate loaded with shaving cream. Before it ended, Williford's face, covered by safety goggles, was completely hidden -- except for his grin.
Colin said he set his own personal goal at $2,500 because that amount in sales gains a Cub scholarship money from the company that makes the popcorn. The company, Trails End Corp., has established a scholarship fund for any Cub Scout who sells at least $2,500 in one popcorn sales drive. If the Cub reaches that goal one year, he continues to receive 6 percent of all his sales matched in a scholarship fund, which continues growing each year he stays in scouting.
Herring's son, Daniel, came in second with $1,640 worth of popcorn sales. Daniel and Colin are among four Pack 258 Cubs who sold more than $1,000 worth of popcorn. The four pulled in $6,500 between them. Another seven Cubs sold at least $500 worth of popcorn each.
"We sold 776 boxes. That's a bunch of popcorn," Herring said.