Overton County 4-H marksmen recently achieved national recognition as the air rifle team secured a fourth-place finish at the Nationals in Rogers, Arkansas.
Overton County 4-H Agent Alyssa Anderson said the air rifle program was only introduced this year, making the top-five national finish a significant milestone for the new team. Anderson said while the BB team did not place as high in the overall standings, several individual members recorded personal best scores in specific shooting positions despite the pressure of a large-scale national event.
“I am satisfied,” Anderson said. “I will say that for 4-H, we strive to teach kids a lot of life lessons. And so for me, while they may not be the super competitive, live-and-breathe shooting sports kids in some cases, they definitely learned a ton of life skills through the program this year and through going to that national event.”
Anderson said the kids on her team are involved in a diverse range of activities from livestock showing and public speaking, to basketball, and football. Anderson said the coaching staff works to integrate the shooting sports program into after-school schedules to accommodate the students’ various interests.
“They don’t have to win in my eyes,” Anderson said. “I want them to do their very best and learn from these activities. While it’s great for them to make the podium and I highly encourage them to do their absolute very best, ultimately they have done their best in my eyes and that’s what matters”
The competition includes a mandatory testing portion covering gun safety and technical knowledge. Anderson said every student from the Overton County delegation scored above 80 percent on the national exam.
“They learn about the different ammunition that they use, they learn about what rifles should be used to hunt different animals,” Anderson said. “So all of that is a part of this. The safety is 100 percent transferable to all the other types of shooting sports or hunting-type activities for these youth.”
Anderson said the program emphasizes patience, discipline and ethical decision-making. Anderson said the skills learned on the firing line, such as supporting teammates during difficult rounds and maintaining equipment, mirror the requirements of other athletic endeavors.
“They realize that this is a serious thing and that should be treated with the utmost respect,” Anderson said.
Anderson said the program relies on community support, grants, and sponsors to fund the equipment and travel necessary for students to compete at the national level.
“We appreciate anybody that is willing to donate or sponsor our team, because that’s what makes it possible for these youth to be able to learn these skills and do these activities and go on these trips outside of the state to show off these skills,” Anderson said.
