Eagle Scout Kolbie Cummings with Scout Leader Rollin Neudel. Kolbie spent five years earning all 138 available merit badges, as well as one merit badge that had been retired. (Submitted photo)

GREENE — Boy Scout Troop 162 member Kolbie Cummings recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout, and spent five years earning 139 merit badges. This makes him the first Boy Scout in Chenango County to earn all available merit badges.

To become an Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts must earn a minimum of 21 merit badges, and complete an Eagle Project.

Kolbie's mother, Heather Cummings, said he started out as a Cub Scout around the age of 8. From there, they went looking for 4H programs and found the Boy Scouts instead. When they learned most Boy Scouts only earn 21 merit badges to earn the Eagle rank, Cummings said they immediately wanted to go for all badges available.

"Everybody's getting 21 and we threw it out there, you know we want to get all 139," said Cummings. "And the leaders and everybody were like, oh you won't do that ... All the kids always want to do it and then they never go through with it."

This didn't deter Cummings, however. She said she didn't want her son to be discouraged, and wanted to support him through this uncommon feat. But, earning 139 merit badges came with some challenges.