4-H shooting sports continue to grow

STARKVILLE, Miss. — The Mississippi 4-H shooting sport program recently held district competitions and will hold its state championship in July, but Reid Nevins is quick to point out the true mission of the project.

“This is a youth development project and not a competitive shooting project,” said Nevins, an environmental science and 4-H education specialist with the University of Texas Extension Service. Mississippi State. “We have a lot of kids in this program who never sign up for a competition and just come to shooting practice.”

In Mississippi, the program currently has about 3,500 participants ages 8 to 18 in nine disciplines, but Nevins wants to continue growing.

“One of my goals is to gradually increase that number,” he said, “but that means we will also need more volunteer instructors to help our officers obtain the certification needed to deliver the program safely and efficiently. »

Ellen Russell, MSU Extension Agent in Covington County and Shooting Sports Coordinator for the Southeast District, has seen firsthand what the program can do for young people from all backgrounds. Marion County 4-H Shooting Sports member Colsten Belk, who has special needs, participated in the Southeast District Shoot for the first time earlier this year.

Russell said Belk's mother met with Amanda Woods, MSU Extension agent in Marion County, to discuss her ability to compete. Russell and Woods worked to make accommodations to allow his participation.

“Colsten was born with cerebral palsy, which affects his motor skills on the left side,” Russell said. “He is an avid hunter and loves the outdoors and shooting, but his family was concerned that his physical limitations would limit his participation in our program, but we succeeded.

“He felt a sense of accomplishment, belonging and acceptance that he had never felt before, thanks to 4-H,” she added. “He loves being able to be a kid and shoot the bullseye. It makes him proud to see how much good he can do.

Beau Varner, MSU extension agent based in Attala County, said the safe environment offered by the program promotes teamwork, leadership and respect for firearms while promoting outdoor recreation .

“I have seen young people participating in shooting sports who were not able to demonstrate proper technique when holding a gun or hitting the target repeatedly when they first started training,” Varner said. “After practicing regularly, they become more confident and improve their technical and target-reaching skills.”

Bringing history to life

Mississippi's 4-H shooting sports program includes nine disciplines, including .22 pistol, air rifle, archery, muzzleloader and shotgun, among others. The most recent, and the one generating the most buzz, is “Western Heritage”. What sets it apart from other categories is its period-specific dress and format.

“Western Heritage brings the history of our 4-H members to life,” Russell said. “It is a vivid historical depiction of the West from 1860 to 1900 using historically accurate firearms, clothing and accessories. Contestants dress in historically accurate outfits from that era for the three-part competition.

The first part has a public speaking component. Contestants adopt a historically accurate character and undergo an interview, answering questions about their character's clothing, housing, daily activities and firearms. The second phase is a test featuring period-specific questions about notable historical figures, places, and firearms. The competition ends with a timed live-fire competition.

“4-H members shoot era-specific firearms, such as rifles, pistols and shotguns, at steel targets,” Russell said. “In the Western way, the fastest time wins.”

Nevins said the category originated more than 10 years ago in Montana's 4-H Shooting Sports program.

“What I like about it is that there’s a lot more to it than just our standard shooting disciplines,” he said. “You develop more than just your aim and your knowledge of the firearm and how to use it safely. You learn history and develop social skills that will serve you well as an adult.

Safety first

Two of the primary goals of the program are to teach the safe and responsible use of firearms and archery equipment, and to promote the highest standards of safety and sportsmanship.

Each of the program's volunteer facilitators is trained by nationally certified Level II State Instructors. Adult volunteers receive training in shooting sports at national and regional workshops to become qualified instructors.

“Our instructors are more than just volunteer leaders,” Russell said. “They are technical experts in their discipline and dedicated mentors and role models to youth in the 4-H shooting sports. »

Varner added that volunteers are more than just coaches.

“They provide guidance, expertise and mentoring to 4-Hers, helping them develop proper shooting techniques, sportsmanship and respect for firearms,” said Varner, who also directs the sports program shooting range for the southwest district of Mississippi. “Trained adult volunteers ensure safety measures are followed, creating a safe environment for young participants to learn and practice the shooting sports. They engage with community members and recruit participants to support their participation in the program.

One of those leaders is Alvis McCray, who works with Covington County 4-H. The program is a family affair for him and his wife, Jessica, who has the same certification and works with air rifle participants, and his three children, each of whom competes in several disciplines.

McCray said the spring training season for events means a lot of shooting time for his family and he wouldn't have it any other way, but he enjoys being able to share his knowledge as a certified shooting instructor with every 4-H person he teaches. .

“You can learn a lot from them,” McCray said, “if you just listen.”

To be involved

Varner emphasized the need for adult volunteers not only for 4-H shooting sports, but for any 4-H program.

“These programs couldn’t be successful without volunteers,” he said. “With all the disciplines in the shooting sports program, officers would not have sufficient time to provide adequate training and practice time for events.”

Russell added that volunteers are needed to help recruit members, coordinate county programs, organize district events and help manage state events.

“Fall is normally the best time of year to register children, as most of our shooting sports programs start in late fall or early winter each year,” he said. she declared. “Anyone of eligible age who is interested in joining 4-H for shooting sports should stop by their local Extension office and register for 4-H so they can get all updates and times of the start of shooting sports in their region.

More information about the 4-H Shooting Sports program in Mississippi is available online at