Photos, and Article by DeAnna Dugan, RP Contributor
Landan Reather is a senior at Mansfield High School, Vice President of FFA, and has been a Boy Scout Troop 330 member since he was 12 years old, and a member of other troops since age 8. Landan’s future goals are to graduate from college, and become an Arkansas Law Enforcement Officer. His hobbies include traditions passed down from his father, and grandfather, such as duck hunting, farming, fishing, and of course the same as his father and grandfather before him, Boy Scouts. Landan’s father Randall boasts with pride talking about carrying on these traditions with Landan and hopes He will continue these traditions with his own family someday.
Landan’s mother Amy was full of enthusiasm as she spoke about Landan’s accomplishments as a Boy Scout, past and present. She informed us that Landan had previously been a part of 12 Eagle Scout projects, the biggest she recalled being the boys refinishing the front gates of the national cemetery.
The younger boys in Landan’s troop look up to him. Randy Claude said his favorite memory of Landan is definitely Camp Hale. They were bass fishing, and Landan kept casting and casting, but it was Randy who got the first fish! He “one upped” the older guy.
Landan spent many hours completing badges, colors ceremonies, campouts, a hike through Philmont New Mexico, and sitting through meetings, and training courses such as CPR, and First aide. Now all his hard work towards Eagle is finally paying off . Landan’s task he set for his Eagle’s project is a community based project. He said he wanted to give back to the school where he spent all his years from Kindergarten to his present Senior year.
Landan and his troop started out at 8 am Saturday morning to fulfill his project’s duties by clearing grass, digging holes, which Landan meticulously calculated the landscaping, measuring, and spacing to plant the bushes, and shrubs he found to be the most self sustainable. This young man contacted companies such as Yeagars, Lowes, and Sharums getting discounts and donations, which also came from friends, and family to make sure his project came together just how he wanted it to.
Landan has to fulfill 21 badges, and he still has one left to fill, and must write his letter of accomplishments, and get letters of recommendation, before going to the board for review to become an Eagle Ranked Scout, but he is well on his way.
Feel free to go to the High School front office, and enjoy the new landscaping we all now know as Landan’s Eagle Scout Project. Congratulations Landan on your accomplishment and in all your endeavors to come.
*Troop leader, Pastor Gary Martin was not available for comment, he is on a missionary trip to Haiti*
