Andrew Falk Earns Eagle Scout Rank

Milbank High School senior, Andrew Falk, son of Wade and Jenn Falk, has earned his Eagle Scout rank and will be honored with a ceremony Saturday, November 11, at 6 p.m. at Central United Methodist Church in Milbank. The public is invited to attend.

Andrew began his Eagle project in October of 2016 when he planted six Black Hills Spruce trees around the Brown Earth Indian Church near Stockholm. The trees were destroyed in an ice storm in 2006.

The original evergreen trees were planted around the church by Andrew’s grandmother, Eloise Falk, when she was seven years old. “The trees were planted in 1950 by my grandma and her 4-H club,” Andrew explained. All but two of the original trees were destroyed in the ice storm.

“This project is more special to us as a family,” said Jenn. “Because Eloise planted the trees and also because the church is on the same section that we live on, and we own most of the land around the church. So it has been a fun project.”
In addition to planting the trees, Andrew built six foot tall woven wire fences around each tree to prevent deer from damaging the trees. He also waters, weed and maintains the trees.

Andrew began as a Cub Scout when he was in the first grade. He continued until the middle of his fifth grade year when he transitioned to Boy Scouts. He says he always wanted to be in scouts because his dad, Wade, was a scout all the way through until right before becoming an Eagle Scout.
Andrew’s favorite things to do in Boy Scouts is the summer camps where he enjoys the Black Hills and Mt. Rushmore. He also like to campouts at Iyataka with the insane campouts where they sleep in tents. “But I prefer sleeping in a lodge,” he added.

Andrew has completed over 30 merit badges during his scouting years. His favorite badges to complete were the cooking and horsemanship badges. His biggest badge accomplishment was the cycling merit badge. He explained he was required to go on two 10-mile rides, two 15-mile rides, one 25-mile ride and one 50-mile ride. The 50-mile ride had to be completed at one time under eight hours. “That was his last and biggest merit badge to complete before he could become an Eagle Scout,” Jenn explained.

Outside of scouting, Andrew participates in band, choir, theatre, FFA and cross country at MHS. He also enjoys helping his dad out on their family farm.
Andrew plans to attend Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown for agriculture upon high school graduation, and hopes to return back to Milbank to farm alongside his father.