The Todd County 4-H Shooting Sports club continues to make an impact on the lives of local youth. The club’s main focus is firearm safety with a secondary goal of teaching marksmanship to our county youth. The Todd County 4-H Shooting Sports is the largest 4-H club in the county with with 75 members starting up the season. In addition, the club hosts 10 active certified volunteer coaches who devote at least 4 hours each week to preparation and instruction for the 4-H members.  The club starts up in May and runs through October. In one season, volunteers contribute more than 80 hours each, a total of 800 hours in 2022. Through this volunteer-led program more than 75 youth developed self-confidence, personal discipline, responsibility and sportsmanship. The youth and adults also gained leadership skills and enhanced their communication and team work through their involvement in the program. 

The National Rifle Association (NRA) provided more than $1500 in ammunition and range supplies in 2022.  The club hosted two invitational shoots during the summer bringing in over $6000 to assist club members with shooting and travel costs.  The Todd County 4-H Shooting Sports club ended the year with the state shoot brining home five 1st place team placings, two 2nd place team  placings and one 3rd place team in the archery events as well as 4 state champion shooters in archery, trap and rifle.  In addition to winning, youth also gained valuable skills through out the season.  

An end of year banquet brought the season to a close and a small focus group of members revealed the following:

100% plan to return to the 2023 4-H Shooting Sports Club.

88% learned a new skill or technique during practices.

95% gained a greater sense of self-confidence due to involvement in the program. 

100% plan to continue shooting as an adult.

93% plan to become certified as a teen coach in the future. 

Todd County takes pride in teaching firearm safety to youth between the ages of 9-19 through the 4-H Shooting Sports program and in doing so, hopes to continue to decrease accidental firearm accidents in the county and continue a strong tradition and love for shooting sports.