4-H Shooting Sports highlight youth achievement

The Big Horn County 4-H Shooting Sports program recently concluded its annual County Shoot, recognizing the accomplishments of local 4-H youth while celebrating the dedicated volunteers who make the program one of the strongest in Wyoming.

The Shooting Sports project continues to have the largest enrollment in Wyoming 4-H, providing youth with opportunities to develop responsibility, self-discipline, leadership, sportsmanship, confidence, and decision-making through hands-on educational experiences. Safety remains the highest priority, and every discipline is taught by certified volunteer instructors who have completed extensive training through the Wyoming State 4-H Shooting Sports Committee.

“Big Horn County is fortunate to have an outstanding team of volunteer leaders who dedicate countless hours each spring to preparing youth for competition and teaching lifelong skills. Weekly practices begin in March and continue throughout the season, allowing members to strengthen their marksmanship while learning responsibility, respect, focus, and ethical decision-making,” Gretty Gasvoda, 4-H/Youth Development Extension Educator, said in a press release. 

The county’s Shooting Sports program has deep roots thanks to Sean Foote, who introduced the program to Big Horn County in the 1990s. For more than three decades, Foote has served as the cornerstone of the program, mentoring hundreds of youths and helping build one of Wyoming’s premier 4-H Shooting Sports programs.

Dan and Sarah Holloway lead the county’s archery discipline, the only Shooting Sports discipline available to Cloverbud members. Their involvement began when their children developed an interest in archery through 4-H. Rather than simply supporting from the sidelines, they immersed themselves in learning the sport by attending certification trainings, fun shoots, and educational opportunities alongside their children. Their dedication has helped create an outstanding archery program for youth throughout the county.

“The success of the Big Horn County 4-H Shooting Sports program would not be possible without its outstanding volunteer instructors. Their commitment to teaching safe firearm and archery practices, encouraging positive youth development, and investing their time each week provides local youth with opportunities to build confidence, responsibility, focus, and lifelong friendships,” Gasvoda said. 

Big Horn County 4-H extended its sincere appreciation to the volunteer leaders who serve as the backbone of the Shooting Sports program: Foote, Dan and Sarah Holloway, Robin Allen, John Morgan, Ty Brown, Zach Coenen and Brady Mulley. Big Horn County 4-H also thanked the Basin/Greybull Gun Range and Big Horn County Fairgrounds for providing the facilities for the Shooting Sports program, and a special thank you to Pete’s Plumbing for donating the Archery awards.

“Congratulations to all of the competitors for their dedication, outstanding sportsmanship, and commitment to safe firearm and archery practices. Best wishes to those continuing their Shooting Sports season as they prepare to represent Big Horn County at the Wyoming State 4-H Shoot in Douglas,” Gasvoda said. 

Rifle and Pistol County Shoot Results – June 22

Rifle Junior Division

Champion: Buxston Shipley

Reserve Champion: Remington Morgan

Rifle Intermediate Division

Champion: Gatlin Mulley

Reserve Champion: Chase Allen

Pistol Junior Division

Champion: Veda Morgan

Reserve Champion: Remington Morgan

Pistol Intermediate Division

Champion: Chase Allen

Reserve Champion: Jesse Reber

Archery County Shoot Results – June 24

Sighted Archery Junior Division

Champion: Cydney Brown

Reserve Champion: Hunter Frazier

Sighted Archery Intermediate Division

Champion: Chase Allen

Reserve Champion: Sawyer Triplett

Sighted Archery Senior Division

Champion: Ava Wennberg

Unsighted Archery Junior Division

Champion: Buxston Shipley

Reserve Champion: Owen Hatch

Unsighted Archery Intermediate Division

Champion: Tatum Triplett

Reserve Champion: Teddy Edelman

Cloverbud Archery Participants

Mackenzie Tanner

Reagan Nelson

Mayson Reber

Paisley Edelman

Shotgun County Shoot Results – June 29

Shotgun Junior Division

Champion: Owen Hatch

Reserve Champion: Buxston Shipley

Shotgun Intermediate Division

Champion: Chase Allen

Reserve Champion: Gatlin Mulley

Shotgun Senior Division

Champion: Casen Foster