4-H shooting sports champions crowned
CLOVERDALE -- Taking aim at another successful year for the 4-H Shooting Sports firearms group, the 2011 program consisted of three nights a week for five weeks at the Cloverdale Conservation Club.
Each youth was afforded the opportunity to participate in shotgun clay bird games, 22-caliber rimfire bench rest rifle competition and pistol speed shooting.
Safe and enjoyable shooting sport sessions were had by local youth, project coordinator Jerrod Baugh said.
Each shooting session started with the review of the basic rules of firearms safety:
-- Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
-- Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.
-- Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target.
-- Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.
The youths' skills were then put to a test in a round-robin competition Saturday afternoon at the Cloverdale Conservation Club.
Participants fired using each of the three disciples. Putnam County Fair champions were selected in each category and an overall Top Gun was named among those who placed well in each category and produced the best combined score.
Jared Hays emerged as pistol champion, Emmett Holsapple was named shotgun champion and Blake Bennett won rifle champion honors.
Reserve champions were Emmett Holsapple in pistol, Jacob Williams in shotgun and Reddy Smith in rifle.
Jacob Williams captured Top Gun honors, with Declan Taylor runner-up.
The West Central Chapter of Quail Unlimited served lunch for each shooter and their family. The Putnam County Fraternal Order of Police donated supplies and awards.
The full year's program was made possible by donations from The NRA Foundation, Quail Unlimited, Dr. Daryl Hodges and the Capt. Jim Baugh Memorial Fund.
Anyone interested in supporting the program through volunteering or making a donation should contact project coordinator Jerrod Baugh through the Putnam County 4H Extension Office.