Island Scout sells popcorn

By Mike Billoni

Special to the Express

GRAND ISLAND – Simple question: "How many grade or high school students would spend the final month of their summer vacation setting up shop and selling an assortment of popcorn and nuts everyday outside Ace Hardware on Whitehaven near Grand Island Blvd. on the Grandest Island for 8 straight years?"

Answer: Meet Grayson Shelp, who is set to begin his sophomore year at Grand Island High School. On pace for another record year of sales at or surpassing $20,000, Grayson went into this year's selling season with sales of more than $120,000 throughout his career.

The Life Scout in Troop 539, following in his Eagle Scout dad's footsteps, will probably be the youngest Islander to ever achieve Eagle Scout status. His amazing Eagle project was just approved and he could receive the highest honor in scouting by year's end.

My late wife, Debbie, loved this kid. We hired him to cut our grass until he retired after last summer and four years of yardwork for us so he could concentrate on the amazing garden, pond and forest they have in their backyard. Many times I would return home and there was Grayson and Debbie having lunch while the grass was half cut and my wife was teaching him all about investing, which was Debbie's expertise.

"Grayson," I asked, "Am I paying you to have lunch and get schooled by wife?" "Yes, you are," he answered confidently.

I gladly paid him but more than that I was happy to learn he is putting Debbie's lessons to work for himself. For several years, since he began as a Cub Scout, Grayson has been the top seller in this region and then he advanced to the top in the Northeast and last year was in the top 3 in the nation. He is shooting for No. 1 in the nation this year.

As an incentive, the scouts put a percentage of your sales into your personal account and you can withdraw for equipment or camping trips. He is saving so he and his dad could go on an international scouting trip in a few years.

Plan ahead for your tailgate parties and stop by Ace and see Grayson this week from 8-6 during the week and 8-5 Saturday and 8-4 on Sunday's final day.

He takes Labor Day off to prepare for school where his grade point average is very high and he also is on chess and swim team!!!

Great job, Grayson!! Debbie is smiling down upon you.