Boyle/Mercer 4-H Shooting Club has meeting tonight, Jan. 19
Published 10:01 am Thursday, January 19, 2017
By Kim Ragland
Contributing writer
The Boyle/Mercer 4-H Shooting Sports Club will have its organizational meeting on Thursday night, Jan.19, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Mercer County Extension Office off the bypass in Harrodsburg. If you’re interested in archery, hunting, trap, or target shooting, this is the club for you!
Youth born in the years 1998 through 2005 are eligible to participate in 4-H Shooting Sports. There is no cost to sign up and accommodations for youth with disabilities can be made by contacting the Mercer County Extension Office at (859) 734-4378.
4-H Shooting Sports includes six disciplines: Shotgun (12 and 20 gauge), Rifle (.22 cal, bolt action, air, and BB), Pistol (.22 cal and air), Muzzleloader (rifle and pistol), Archery (compound bare and recurve, bow hunter, and target), and Hunter Education Challenge (hunter and firearm safety, orienteering, wildlife ID, and general skills).
One of the goals of 4-H Shooting Sports is to introduce youth to the safe and responsible use of firearms and archery equipment. To make that happen, all 4-H Shooting Sports coaches are certified in their disciplines and have received state and/or national training.
But Shooting Sports is about more than just learning to safely and accurately use firearms! 4-H uses firearms as a tool to also teach leadership, teamwork, responsibility, and communications skills. As with every 4-H Club or Project, the goal is to develop youth into capable, caring and contributing citizens.
There are definitely opportunities to compete at the regional, state, and national levels in 4-H Shooting Sports, but this program doesn’t focus on competition. Education is key and the goal is to develop great, well-rounded young people; becoming a great marksman or hunter is just a bonus!
So if you’re interested in archery, shooting targets or clay pigeons, or learning more about hunting, please join us at the Mercer County Extension Office on Thursday, January 19. You’ll learn all about the many opportunities available to you through Boyle/Mercer 4-H Shooting Sports.
For more information about 4-H Shooting Sports, please friend us on Facebook (Boyle Cty Extension), visit our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/boyle.extension), follow us on Twitter (@BoyleCtyExtensi), visit our website ces.ca.uky.edu/boyle/4HYouthDevelopment), call us 236-4484 or email cesboyle@uky.edu.
Kim Ragland is Boyle County Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development
