Qualifying matches end in late March
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Time is running out for Kansas youth to qualify for the state shooting sports match, scheduled for May 1 in Great Bend.
Shannon Rogge, a 4-H youth development program coordinator, said qualifying ends on March 27 for youth participating in BB gun, air gun and rifle competitions. Youth qualify for state competition based on their scores at local qualifying matches.
“Once qualifying closes, we will announce those that have qualified for the state match,” Rogge said.
The spring state shooting sports match was cancelled a year ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rogge said youth and instructors have been eager to get back to doing what they enjoy.
“There are a lot of programs that practice once a week, but some are practicing twice a week in the evenings to make sure they’re honing their skills and accomplishing the goals they want to,” she said.
The Kansas 4-H shooting sports program is structured to encourage increased safety and responsibility in youth, who learn to appropriately handle firearms and archery equipment. Matches include targets only.
“We have a training program for our volunteers before they go back to the county level and train the youth,” Rogge said. “It is a very structured process so that everybody is meeting those minimum standards.”
She adds: “The certified instructors are the backbone of our program. Youth have to be safe on the firing line, meet the requirements before they are considered safe to go to a match on their own. Those are all standards they have to meet and they learn a lot along the way.”
For information on the Kansas 4-H shooting sports program, visit the Kansas 4-H website, or contact your local K-State Research and Extension agent.
FOR PRINT PUBLICATIONS: Links used in this story
Kansas 4-H Youth Development, https://www.kansas4-h.org
K-State Research and Extension local offices, www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/stateandareamaps.html
K State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county extension offices, experiment fields, area extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K State campus in Manhattan. For more information, visit www.ksre.ksu.edu. K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Story by:
Pat Melgares
785-532-1160
[email protected]
For more information:
Shannon Rogge
785-532-5800
[email protected]
