Lauren Estes-Velez

Hartselle Enquirer

For the first time in Alabama 4-H history, four teams from the state attended the National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships in Grand Island, Nebraska June 25-30.

Among those four teams included was American Legion Post 433 ‘Bama Clay Busters’ shotgun team from Morgan County. The team included Landon Sims, Noah Felong, Dustin Randolph and Zachery Benefield. The team ranked in the Top Twenty Teams, at 15th Place Overall. Scott Boyd coached this team.

The shotgun, air rifle, archery and .22 small-bore rifle teams competed in the national championships in Nebraska during the week-long championships.

Alabama 4-H Shooting Awareness, Fun and Education (S.A.F.E.) Program Coordinator Shannon Andress is thrilled that four Alabama teams competed in the largest national youth shooting sports competition in America. She said it takes a lot of planning and work to get an Alabama 4-H S.A.F.E. team to the National Championships.

“Alabama 4-H has never before had four teams attend Nationals,” Andress said. “Our teams forgo the convenience of air travel to Nebraska, due to the need to transport their shooting sports equipment. Funding for this trip is thanks, in great part, to the Alabama 4-H Foundation’s generous $2,000 sponsorship of each team.”

Andress said this resource, in combination with sponsorship from each teams County Extension office, and diligent fundraising efforts by members, worked together to provide travel, lodging and meal expenses for the teams and coaches.

Alabama 4-H Foundation development officer, Seth Tuttle, said the primary mission of the Alabama 4-H Foundation is to provide statewide support for 4-H youth education programs. He said when youth have the opportunity to travel and participate in national competitions like the 4-H S.A.F.E. shooting sports event, it takes learning to an entirely different level for the students.

“These 4-H’ers earned a spot to compete in a skill that they’ve worked very hard to master,” Tuttle said. “Through positive interactions between coaches and volunteers, these 4-H’ers have demonstrated the disciplines of safe shooting and responsible firearm ownership.”

Tuttle said being surrounded by your peers throughout Alabama is one thing, but surrounding yourself with peers from 49 other states allows an entirely different level of learning to take place.

 Members of the shotgun, air rifle, archery and .22 smallbore rifle teams showcased their talents in Nebraska.

Other teams included: The Lee County 4-H, the Coosa-Coffee County 4-H archery team, and includes Harley Adams, David Adams, and Christina Green. The team ranked in the Top Twenty Teams, at 20th Place Overall. The 4-Hers were coached by Tom Reichart and Lee Horton, and the Montgomery County 4-H American Legion Post 133 rifle team.

The Alabama 4-H Foundation is committed to the youth of 4-H and this commitment is echoed throughout the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

“We value the hard work of 4-H’ers,” Tuttle said. “It is their leadership that will inspire the next generation of great social responsibility.”