By Laura Allen
N.C. Cooperative Extension

4-H provides many opportunities for 4-H’ers to explore their interests and learn various skills. One of these opportunities is the 4-H Shooting Sports program. This youth development program teaches youth proper safety, skill and discipline in shooting various types of firearms. The 4-H’ers involved in this program, as well as their adult leaders, spend many hours in training and practice to develop their knowledge and skills in target shooting.

Rowan County has two 4-H clubs that focus on shooting sports: Hot Shots 4-H Club and Lead Drivers 4-H Club. Youths must be at least ages 8-18 as of Jan. 1 to participate in these 4-H clubs. Recently, 4-H’ers from these 4-H clubs have competed in regional and state 4-H target shooting tournaments.

The Central Region Shooting Sports Tournament was held on Saturday, Aug. 17 in Richmond County. Those who qualified then were able to compete in the NC 4-H Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 14, also in Richmond County. There were over 400 participants in the state level competition.

Hot Shots 4-H Club

Nineteen members of this club participate in the regional shooting sports tournament including: Owen Basinger, Matthew Cato, William Cato, Brody Decker, Joshua Douthit, Lucas Douthit, Tallulah Ennis, Levi Fink, Mason Gabosch, Bonnie Goossens, Carson Halpin, German Jaramillo, Addison Lynch, Levi Lynch, Luke Mesimer, Annabella Mowry, Jackson Mowry, John Tucker, Georgia Veleke.

Those that qualified moved on to state competition.

State Participation/Results for seniors (ages 14-18) include:

• Mason Gabosch: 10th in archery-compound hunter sporter; air pistol; rifle-open sight

• Josh Douthit: archery-compound hunter sporter; 9th in .22 small bore pistol

• Carson Halpin: air pistol; air rifle; rifle-open sight

• German Jaramillo: air pistol; archery-compound hunter sporter

• William Cato: rifle-open sight

• Levi Lynch: rifle-telescopic

The senior rifle-open sight team placed 6th.

State participation/results for juniors (ages 8-13) include:

• John Tucker: 4th in rifle-telescopic; air pistol

• Matthew Cato: top 10 in rifle-open sight

• Brody Decker: muzzleloading: shotgun: rifle-open sight

• Lucas Douthit: rifle-telescopic

• Levi Fink: muzzleloading

The following were first time participants at the state competition: Matthew Cato, William Cato, Brody Decker, Lucas Douthit, Josh Douthit, Levi Fink.

Lead Drivers 4-H Club:

Eighteen members of this club participated in the regional shooting sports tournament including: Barrett Devine, Wade Edwards, Weston Edwards, Elliot Fortune, Ollie Fortune, Georgia Fritz, William Fritz, James Lee, Bryan Meza, Finn Moore, Zoey Moore, Anna Parker, Caleb Parker, Jacob Parker, Lucas Parker, Reece Troutman, Kurtis Walters, Callie Yates

Regional team results:

Senior Team of Elliot Fortune, Ollie Fortune & Callie Yates:

• 1st in .22 rifle-telescopic

• 2nd place in .22 rifle-open sight

• 1st in air rifle

• 1st in .22 small bore pistol

Regional Individual Results:

• Elliot Fortune: 1st in individual & 1st overall in archery-recurve (senior)

• Callie Yates: 3rd in individual in archery-compound (senior)

• Ollie Fortune: 4th in individual in archery-recurve (senior)

• Finn Moore: 2nd in shotgun (senior)

• James Lee: 5th in .22 rifle-open sight (senior)

• Caleb Parker: 3rd in .22 rifle-open sight (junior)

• Will Fritz: 3rd in air rifle & 5th in air pistol (junior)

A total of 11 4-H’ers from the Lead Drivers 4-H Club advanced to state competition, including: Elliot Fortune, Ollie Fortune, Will Fritz, James Lee, Finn Moore, Zoey Moore, Anna Parker, Caleb Parker, Jacob Parker, Lucas Parker, and Callie Yates.

State team results:

Senior Team of Elliot Fortune, Ollie Fortune & Callie Yates:

• 3rd in .22 telescopic

• 3rd place in .22 open

• 2nd in air rifle

• 3rd in .22 small bore pistol.

State individual results:

• Elliot Fortune: 1st in individual & 1st overall in archery-recurve (senior)

• Caleb Parker: 4th in air pistol (junior)

A special thank you to the 4-H volunteers who lead these clubs and coach these 4-H’ers! These volunteers include:

Hot Shots 4-H Club: Beth Stebe (club leader), John Bare, Carrie Decker, Sean Douthit, Tony Ennis, Tim Gabosch, Sean Goossens, David & Sheri Halpin, Jeremy Lynch & Jennifer Lynch, Derek Mowry, Christian Stebe, Heather Stebe, Michael Veleke

Lead Drivers 4-H Club: Robert & Heather Parker (club leaders), Emily Barlow, Tom Barlow, Chris & Rachel Fortune, Judy Lee, Raul & Majorie Meza, Keith Redman, Bill Wherritt

Thank you to the parents that assist and support their children as they participate in 4-H shooting sports. Thank you also to the NRA for grant funds valued at $1,100 in 2024 to assist with ammunition and sporting clays for these 4-H’ers to practice and compete.

For more information about these 4-H clubs or other 4-H opportunities, please contact Laura Allen, 4-H Agent, at laura_allen@ncsu.edu or 704-216-8970.

Laura Allen is 4-H agent with the Rowan County Extension.