Seven hundred competitors, 42 states, nine disciplines — and most people at your average gun shop have never heard of this event. The 4-H Shooting Sports Nationals ran last month in Grand Island, and Iowa sent 20 kids across six disciplines.

"Youth learn responsibility, sportsmanship and perseverage, and those lessons stay with them long after the event is over."
— Scott Stuhr, 4-H Shooting Sports national coordinator

That's true, and it undersells the technical side. These kids are running air rifle, smallbore, muzzleloaders, shotgun — not just punching paper once and calling it a day. Structured coaching and match pressure will teach a young shooter things that a range trip with dad, however well-intentioned, usually won't.

The muzzleloader entry caught my eye — three competitors from East Pottawattamie County. There's something right about a program that still runs kids through the discipline of a charge, patch, and ball before they ever touch a modern rifle.

Anyone here have kids or grandkids who came up through 4-H Shooting Sports? Curious whether the local club coaching made a noticeable difference once they moved into adult competition or just general range habits.

Read the full article in The Handbook → | By Steve Duskett