Scouts grow support and hope for a friend

Scouts Daniel Vess and Jacob Warne carry harvested potatoes from the field. Cancer survivor Mike Leggee and his wife, Karen, benefited from a prolific potato field and generous friends when sunshine supervised the harvest of 1,600 pounds of potatoes October 3.

This past spring, local farmer Tristan Klesick approached Boy Scout Troop 413, chartered by Camano Chapel, with the idea of planting, tending and harvesting potatoes in the Leggee’s field to provide him something to enjoy following his scheduled esophageal cancer surgery.

The Scouts agreed and Tristan mentored them in the agricultural venture.

Mike was discharged from the hospital in time to be present while potatoes, winter squash and sunflowers were planted. A week later medical complications surfaced and he was readmitted to Swedish Hospital ICU where he remained for months.

As Mike received medical treatment, the tractor and many hands mounded, weeded and watered the rows of potatoes.

Living up to the Scouting slogan of “Do a Good Turn Daily,” on Oct. 3, the potatoes were gathered, removed from the field, bagged and sold – with all proceeds benefiting Mike’s mounting medical expenses.

Originally estimated to yield about 750 pounds the final harvest exceeded 1,600 pounds.

More than 270 pounds of potatoes were donated to His Pantry, Camano Chapel’s community food bank, and many pounds to the Stanwood Food Bank.

“It was a great experience seeing everyone working together, getting dirty and gathering potatoes to support MikeNike, our family nickname for him,” said scout Erling Anderson.

Although Mike’s health did not allow him to be present for the harvest, a telephone conversation from the field to the hospital allowed him to participate from a distance.

“His face is beaming,” Karen shared over the phone as he realized the number of people who truly cared about him, and were willing to work his field for their benefit.

Both expressed humble gratitude for each participant and donor.

Boy Scout Troop 413 would like to express its thanks to the Klesick family, Camano Island Coffee Roasters, WinCo, and to every generous donor who made this event possible.