This Scout sells more popcorn than most entire troops, but what he does with the money is even more impressive

In 2011, Beck Garnett was just a 7-year-old Tiger Scout when he sold $1,800 worth of popcorn — a pack record.

A year later, he extended the record with more than $3,000 in sales. Up and up the sales numbers went until 2017, when Beck sold a staggering $51,420 in popcorn. Beck wasn’t just the top seller in Virginia. He outsold most entire troops in his state and across the country.

The money Beck has raised — $111,807 in seven years of selling — has helped grow and sustain Scouting in Beck’s pack, troop, district and the entire Heart of Virginia Council.

You see, Beck isn’t after records or notoriety or even the pile of rare patches he has earned as a leading seller. Beck just wants to bring Scouting to as many people as he can.

Last year, he donated $17,000 to help grow Scouting in underserved areas through a program the council calls Scoutreach.

Thanks to Beck’s efforts, Troop 442 can enjoy Scouting without worrying about worn-out gear.

‘It’s not just about making money’

“What’s impressed me about Beck is that he’s not just out selling popcorn to raise money for his troop,” says Todd Martin, director of support services for the Heart of Virginia Council. “He’s really out there doing it to raise money to help these Scoutreach troops and packs get started and funded and to have the same opportunities that his troop had. It’s not just about making money. It’s about how we can do good in the community.”

Beck used his fundraising powers to help turn around Troop 442, a previously struggling troop on the south side of Richmond, Va. Thanks to Beck, the troop replaced its leaking tents, worn-out cooking equipment and sagging backpacks with new gear. The troop shares its gear with two Exploring posts and a Cub Scout pack — further extending the reach of this great Good Turn.

“They finally have some quality stuff so we can make these trips happen,” says Troop 442 Scoutmaster Tom Hayes.

As Beck, now 14, gears up for another popcorn season, I asked him for his top popcorn-selling tips.

As a Tiger, Beck set a pack record with $1,800 in sales.

Getting sales, giving back

But first, here’s a look at Beck’s first seven years of selling.

Year Age Grade Rank Overall sales (online and in-person) Online sales Ranking Where the money went
2011 7 1st Bobcat, Tiger $1,800 n/a No. 1 in pack, pack record Beck’s pack
2012 8 2nd Wolf $3,381 n/a No. 1 in pack, pack record Beck’s pack
2013 9 3rd Bear $5,087 n/a No. 1 in Cardinal District Bought new Pinewood Derby track for pack
2014 10 4th Webelos $11,728 $2,877.50 No. 1 in council and Virginia Sent every Cub Scout in his pack to camp for a week and covered pack’s dues for a year
2015 11 5th Webelos, Arrow of Light $15,026 $3,781 No. 1 in council and Virginia, No. 5 in region Gave $1,000 to pack, gave $3,800 to Scoutreach, got himself a tent and pack for Boy Scouts
2016 12 6th Scout, Tenderfoot $23,365 $10,570 No. 1 on East Coast, No. 2 in nation, No. 1 online salesman in nation Gave $7,000 to Scoutreach
2017 13 7th Tenderfoot, Second Class $51,420 $31,745 No. 1 on East Coast, No. 1 troop in council, No. 2 in nation, No. 1 online salesman and troop in nation Gave $17,000 to Scoutreach
Overall $111,807 $48,973.50

Beck’s top tips

Jay Lugar, development director for the Heart of Virginia Council, says Beck has a knack for peddling popcorn.

“I’ve never encountered a more natural salesperson than Beck,” he says.

Here’s how Beck says he got to more than $110,000 in sales:

  1. Set and meet daily goals to help reach your overall goal.
  2. Never give up. If you knock on enough doors, someone will say yes.
  3. Always wear your Scout uniform when selling, and be polite and professional.
  4. Sell online to friends and family who live far away.
  5. Know your products and be able to comfortably explain the value of larger products. You’ll get a bigger sale, and they’ll get a better deal.
  6. Remind customers that “it’s not about buying or selling popcorn. It’s about supporting the Boy Scouts.”

Learn more

If you’d like to hear more from Beck, visit his website, BeckGarnett.com, and watch the video below. Beck’s family has a friend who owns a video production company that created this excellent video for him.


About Bryan Wendell 3282 Articles
Bryan Wendell, an Eagle Scout, is the founder of Bryan on Scouting and a contributing writer.