Haen soars high to Eagle Scout status

As long as he can remember, Jacob Haen has his heart set on becoming an Eagle Scout on day. On Sunday, that day arrived as the personable 2020 Minneota graduate received his Eagle Scout badge during a Court of Honor ceremony in Ghent.
"I finished my final required Scout Project a few months ago and then I started college (at Minnesota State University, Mankato for Theatre Arts) three weeks ago," he said. "So I've been waiting for awhile to become an Eagle Scout. But it's worth the wait."
Less than one percent of all scouts become an Eagle Scout, mainly because of the dedication, patience and commitment required.
"I've been working on it for about 10 to 12 years now," Haen noted.
Haen, the son of David and Lisa Haen, belongs to Troop 30 of Minneota with Justin Knutson the Scoutmaster. David Haen, a former Scoutmaster in Minneota, is currently the District Executive overseeing several troops.
Haen entered Cub Scouts at the time he was in first or second grade. His father, uncle and grandfather were all involved in scouts.
To become an Eagle Scout, 21 merit badges must be earned; 16 are required and five others can be selected by the Scout. Haen was awarded the Bronze, Gold and Silver Eagle Palms; each palm representing and an extra five merit badges earned over the required 21. He earned 36 merit badges in total.
"It's as hard as you want to make it," Haen explained. "It just depends on how much work you want to put into it. I decided that I was willing to put in the time and effort."
The final badge to be earned before becoming an Eagle Scout is the Eagle Scout Project, in which the project benefits a community, school or church. Haen chose to restore/renovate the run-down volleyball court at Legion Park in Ghent. The previous volleyball court was in close proximity to playground equipment and had become unused. With the help of Jesse Christiansen of Ghent Public Works, and Ghent City Administrator Dawn Vlaminck, Haen was able to get the necessary approval and funding from the Ghent City Council and his project completed.
"We were able to use the sand from the old court," said Haen. "We got a new net and poles from Borch's in Marshall."
The new court was measured and dug out, landscape cloth was placed down and the sand was added. Bricks were then placed around the edge to prevent the weeds from growing in the court.
Haen's Court of Honor was appropriately held at Legion Park on Sunday where his final Scout Project was completed.