Local Boy Scouts experience Trappers’ Rendezvous

By ADAM STEWART

Staff writer

Boy Scouts from Hillsboro, Marion, and Peabody gathered during the weekend with about 4,000 other scouts at the annual Trappers’ Rendezvous at Harvey County West Park.

Scouts from Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas met to shoot black powder rifles, throw tomahawks, and learn the history of frontier mountain men.

The biggest activity of the camping trip, though, was trading. Scouts and adults brought all manner of goods to trade, from animal pelts and deer antlers, to collectible cards and video games.

Some enterprising scouts from Marion took the first couch seen at the event, said Marion Troop 102 committee member Caroline Kelly. They didn’t get any offers good enough to part with the couch, but it was available for trade.

Warm weather greeted the campers, with temperatures reaching the mid-40s on Saturday.

“This is one of the mildest ones in years,” said Scoutmaster Lee Clark of Troop 129 of Hillsboro.

That was a departure from last year, when the temperature was -2 when scouts got up Saturday.

Troop 129 has attended the gathering for most of its 35 years, and at least the past nine consecutive years, Clark said.

Troop 102 of Marion returned to Harvey County West Park for the third consecutive year. Two years ago the troop only sent one scout and two adult leaders. This year 13 Boy Scouts, eight adult leaders, and five Webelos represented the troop. Webelos are the highest rank in Cub Scouts.

“We had a good parent turnout for this,” Kelly said.

Scouts participating from Peabody Troop 108 were Wyatt Fistler, Ryan Johnson, and Devin McGonigal.

Hillsboro Troop 129: Jesse Meier, Dermot Morey, Matt Reeh, and Jordan Simmons.

Marion Troop 102: Joey Anderson, Justin Barr, Dylan Carpenter, Christian Czarnowsky, Spencer Fugitt, Dylan Goebel, Louis Holt, Aaron Mollecker, Adam Mollecker Adam Palic, Kyle Palic, Seth Snelling, and Charles Stuchlik.

Also from Marion were Webelos Hayden Beardsley, Wesley Dicks, John Lind, Zac Fruechting, and Jacob Spachek.