4-H members focus on national competition

VIENNA -- Local 4-H youth used their archery and rifle skills at a tournament earlier this week at the Vienna Fish and Game Club as many aim to advance to national competitions next year in Nebraska.

The 4-H regional shooting tournament brought youth from throughout Ohio together for the competition.

Nicole Hartill, instructor/match organizer, said the 60 participants are from different 4-H organizations from 23 counties throughout Ohio. She said those who excel at the regional have the opportunity to advance to the national event.

The youth ages 9 to 18 can compete in up to two categories: rifle, pistol, shotgun, muzzleloaders and archery.

"To qualify for nationals, the participants must be 14 and older. For those ages 9 to 13, this event is for them to learn," Hartill said. "They have fun and camaraderie with others but also show the national coaches who are here today what they are made of."

Hartill said the youth fill out an application for the national team and then spend nine months practicing.

She said 36 youth, with four each in nine different categories, are selected for the national team and travel to Nebraska next June.

Lindsey VanGundy, 4-H shooting sports coordinator for Ohio, said her mission is to promote the 4-H shooting sports program and youth development.

"I want to see the youth not only aiming at their targets but also looking into the future of what they will be using these skills for. We have a big initiative called 'Beyond Ready' when the kids age out of 4-H and are ready for life in the real world,'' VanGundy said.

"We encourage the kids to do their best and try. It's about resiliency and being a team mate and accepting coming in second. They may not hit the target every time, but we encourage them to do well and aim for a bullseye," VanGundy said.

VanGundy said through shooting sports, children have the opportunity to learn proper safety practices, develop new skills, build confidence and gain a strong sense of responsibility and discipline.

PARTICIPANTS

Grace Stout, 17, of Vernon, a senior at Joseph Badger High School and the Trumbull Career & Technical Center, where she studies fire and emergency medical service, said "4-H is a great program to teach leadership and responsibility to youth, especially in shooting sports."

She said the participants learn firearm and archery safety.

Stout said she has been in the Trumbull County 4-H Shooting Sports Pioneers for six years and has been involved with 4-H for eight years.

"This has been a great experience for me. I went to nationals this summer. I signed up for the archery team because they needed more shooters. "They take four kids for each discipline. I have practiced since last June. The nationals are a little more intense because there are a lot of people," Stout said.

In June, Stout and Ethan Pleva were two of the 36 Ohioans among more than 740 competitors in Nebraska who competed against other youth from across the country.

"Being part of 4-H I have gained a lot of responsibility and leadership skills. I was shy before I joined 4-Hand now and am president of my club and speak in front of people. I am helping to lead the younger kids in archery. It is nice to see how they look up to me just as I when I was younger, I looked up to the older kids in archery,'' Stout said.

Logan Diefenderfer of Bristol, 11, said for three years he has been part of the shooting program and competes in the rifle category.

"I like learning to use the rifle. There are a lot of competitors in the rifle category," he said.

Logan's mother, Bobbi Diefenderfer, said her son being in the 4-H shooting program has made him more focused and aware of his surroundings.

"I enjoy watching him grow with this skill. He is better able to focus and pinpoint his targets. He has different kinds of targets at our house. We have clay pigeons, paper and metal targets," Bobbi said.

Logan said he wants to improve his rifle skills so that one day he can focus on hunting like his grandfather did.

Diefenderfer said he has made new friends and learned about fun safety.

The tournament also included a visit from officials with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, who spoke to families about job opportunities and its cadet program.