Ryan Niederschulte has accomplished something that only a dozen or so out of more than 2.5 million Boy Scouts manage to do. Niederschulte, a 17-year old Boy Scout with Troop 310 from Grain Valley, recently completed all 138 merit badges offered by the Boy Scouts of America.
     Ryan’s father, Larry Niederschulte, recalls his son setting the goal to earn all merit badges early in his scouting career.
     “After earning his third or fourth merit badge he told me he wanted to earn them all.  I told him he had no idea the amount of work that would involve, but sure enough he did it.  We went to many different states and on numerous outings to facilitate completing his goal,” Niederschulte said.
     Larry Niederschulte emphasized his son’s troop was helpful in achieving this goal. Troop 310 is an active troop in the area, with approximately 50 registered youth and 25 adults.
     The troop completes several service projects each year, including a roadside clean-up along Sni-A-Bar Road as well as the annual food drive. The troop regularly brings in over 1,500 pounds of food to benefit agencies such as the Grain Valley Assistance Council.  
     This year on Memorial Day, Ryan and two other scouts played Taps to an audience of over 300 at a ceremony held at the Blue Springs Cemetery. Outside of Boy Scouts, Niederschulte, is very active in the Grain Valley Marching Eagles.