Getting its start in 1988 Kentucky 4-H Shooting Sports is one of the largest 4-H programs in the state with over 2,000 youth enrolled, and more than 850 certified volunteer leaders across 80 counties. Even with its continued success within the state, youth from Kentucky had never participated in the National 4-H Shooting Sports Championship put on annually by the National 4-H Shooting Sports Committee. 

While not the focus of our program, competition still plays an important role in positive youth development within the 4-H Shooting Sports Program. Providing youth with a goal to work towards, a caring mentor to work with in their discipline coach, and learning good sportsmanship are just a few of the benefits to healthy competition. These benefits are only enhanced when youth have the ability to move up from the state to national level. 

In the fall of 2021, the KY 4-H Shooting Sports Program developed parameters for its first ever National Teams in the disciplines of shotgun and muzzleloader. Participation on these two teams was a two-step process. First, the top 8 eligible youth in each discipline were selected after competing in the KY State Competition held in September. For the next 8 months these youth worked with certified instructors within their discipline, practicing and developing the necessary skills required to compete at the national level. In the spring each team competed amongst themselves in a selection event. The top 5 youth (4 competitors and 1 alternate) from this event in each discipline then made up the KY National Teams. Connor Brooks, Spencer County 4-H member, was selected to be on the Shotgun Team for Kentucky for 2022!  We are so proud of Connor for being on this inaugural team!

These 10 youth, along with their coaches, travelled to Grand Island, NE at the end of June for the National Championship. Thirty-nine states and over 700 competitors took part in the event. Lasting 5 days, this event consisted of not only competition but opportunities for youth to meet their fellow competitors and create meaningful connections and friendships through the teen social and highly looked forward to “state pin exchange”. 

In their inaugural debut the KY National Shotgun Team placed 5^th in Sporting Clays, and 6^th overall team. Shotgun team member Charlie Castle (Clark Co.) placed 2^nd in Sporting Clays, 5^th in Skeet and 4^th overall individual. While not all team members were as successful as they had hoped to be in competition, youth left the event with comments such as:

“This trip was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I would do again in a heartbeat. The development from 5 kids who shot against each other at state to one team at nationals was unbelievable and only possible from our coaches.” 

“I thought it was perfect. I will always remember this week; I think it was the coolest thing I’ve ever been able to do.” 

“I wouldn’t trade the past week for anything.”