Jacob Barry, a senior at Rock Hills Junior-Senior High School, son of Pamela and Brenden Wirth of Mankato and Shawn Barry and Kara Gilbert of Webber, has earned his Eagle Rank as a member of Boy Scouts of America Troop 46, Jewell County. For his Eagle Project, Jacob built a Gaga Ball Pit at the elementary school. A total of 24 Scouts, leaders and community members came together and worked more than 134 hours to help him complete his project.  Jacob became a member of Troop 46 in 2015, when he and several others from Cub Scout Pack 46 chartered a Boy Scout Troop. This troop was the first to be established and maintained in Jewell County in more than 20 years. To become an Eagle, a Scout must earn a minimum of 21 merit badges, participate in leadership roles within the troop, and complete an "Eagle Scout Project." Jacob has hiked, camped more than 25 nights, earned more than 40 merit badges and participated in more than 100 hours of community service in addition to his Eagle Project service hours. Some of the merit badges he has completed include first aid, swimming, citizenship, communication, cooking, personal fitness, personal management, environmental science, family life, camping and engineering. 

A boy enters Boy Scouts of America as a Scout and moves up through the ranks of Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star Scout, Life Scout and the highest rank that can be achieved is Eagle Scout. At each level the Scout must learn new skills, earn merit badges and participate in a ScoutMaster Conference and a Board of Review.  Jacob plans to go into carpentry and attend Vo-Tech in Hays after graduation in May.