Monroe Scout takes to fields to fight hunger

Zach Etsch organized picking and distribution of crops to the hungry through the New Jersey Agricultural Society’s Farmers Against Hunger program

By: Bill Greenwood
   MONROE — Zach Etsch, a 16-year-old Boy Scout from Troop 3 in Monroe, approached his Eagle Scout project with two goals in mind: give his fellow Scouts some hands-on agricultural experience and collect food for the hungry. Now that the project is completed, he feels as if he has accomplished both of those feats.
   "It’s definitely spreading this message of agriculture around and the reality of hunger in this area," he said. "In the short term, these hungry people get some food, bottom line."
   Zach organized a two-day project that took place June 9 and June 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Von Thun’s Country Farm Market in South Brunswick. On those days, many of Zach’s fellow Scouts showed up to collect leftover crops in the Von Thun fields. Those crops then were distributed to the hungry through the New Jersey Agricultural Society’s Farmers Against Hunger program, Zach said.
   The Scouts collected 21.5 crates of peas, 3.5 trays of strawberries, 3.5 crates of squash, and 20 crates of lettuce. Zach said he was surprised the numbers were so high, as he had set up a few backup farms the Scouts could go to in case the harvest was not as large as he hoped.
   "I was happy with how it all worked out," he said. "We were surprised we didn’t have to go anywhere else."
   Zach said he picked Von Thun’s Country Farm Market because its owner, Robert Von Thun, had never participated in the Farmers Against Hunger program but had wanted to for some time.
   Zach said about 30 people on June 9 and about 25 people on June 16 showed up to lend a hand. He said he was thankful for all the Scouts’ work, especially since farming can be monotonous and difficult without the help of machines.
   "It is hard work," he said. "It’s not just sitting in an air-conditioned tractor listening to the radio."
   He hoped the project helped volunteers develop an appreciation for farming by giving them some experience in the area.
   "(Agriculture) is one of those things that you really have to be in the field to understand it," said Zach, whose father is a farmer. "You have to experience it firsthand."
   Zach said he learned many new things from organizing the project, including communication, management and problem-solving skills. His duties included finding a farm on which to conduct the project, providing information to volunteers, gathering supplies and coordinating food-collection trucks.
   "I learned that every once in a while problems will arise, and you have to deal with them on the spot with the things that you have," he said. "It really taught me a lot about leadership."
   Zach said he was excited to be one step closer to attaining the Eagle Scout rank. He said his time in the Boy Scouts has helped him to grow by instilling in him an appreciation for the hard work that goes into creating just about anything around town.
   "(Being a Scout) has been a really good experience for me as a person," Zach said. "It’s really positively affected the way that I look at things."
   While he still needs to write a formal report on his project and go before the Central New Jersey Boy Scout Council before attaining the organization’s highest rank, Zach said he was excited to be so close to following his path with the Scouts to its end. He said the organization has helped him improve his strengths and work on his weaknesses, and he would encourage younger children to join up.
   "It’s a good program for any kid to join," he said.