Wakulla 4-H Shooting Sports Club Organized for Youth Success

4-H Shooting Sports Club Meeting

Crawfordville. Florida – Wakulla 4-H held the first meeting of the 2018-19 program year on Tuesday, September 18 at the UF/IFAS Wakulla Extension Office in Crawfordville. Generous community support from the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office; Fonvielle, Lewis, Messer and McConnaughhay Law firm; No Shoe Firearms and Accessories; the Wakulla Men’s Club; and Big Bend Realty has helped club organizers prepare to lead instruction and engage youth in club activities.

Jim Griner wins the raffle for the rifle. Left to Right: George Barefoot (co-owner of Noshoe Firearms, Crawfordville, FL), Jim Griner, and Kenneth Gooding (4-H Shooting Co-Club Leader)

In early September, sixteen individuals became certified as 4-H Level One Shooting Sports instructors during a day long range training hosted by Wakulla 4-H at the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office range in Sopchoppy. The three-person instructional team was led by University of Florida faculty member Professor Gerald “Jerry” Culen, PhD.

Two Areas To Be Certified In, Shotgun Or Archery

Participants choose one of two areas to be certified in, shotgun or archery. Training participants included 4-H volunteers and UF/IFAS Extension staff.

Parents and children, attend a Wakulla 4-H Shooting Sports Club meeting.

Counties represented in the training included Escambia, Holmes, Marion, Jefferson, Union, Wakulla, Walton, and Alachua. Five Wakulla 4-H volunteers earned their Level One certification in order to lead the newly formed Shooting Sports Club in Wakulla for the 2018-19 program year: Ken Gooding, Trena Gooding, Ne’Shoni Love-Beane, Joe Morgan, and David Pienta.

Wakulla Shooting Sports Meets Third Tuesday Of Each Month

Wakulla Shooting Sports will meet on the third Tuesday of each month at the UF/IFAS Extension Center in Wakulla at 84 Cedar Avenue to conduct club business and complete 4-H projects. Archery practices will be held at the same location several times per month pending instructor schedules with shotgun instruction will be held at the WCSO range at 65 Qualify Lane in Sopchoppy.

The Wakulla 4-H Shooting Sports Club will be organized and operated using the guidelines of the national 4-H Shooting Sports Program. The guidelines for this program are provided by the National 4-H Shooting Sports Committee. This committee is made up of Extension professionals, volunteers, and others.

UF/IFAS Extension To Achieve Youth Development

The 4-H Shooting Sports Program is one of many options utilized by UF/IFAS Extension to achieve youth development and fulfill the mission of Extension 4-H youth programs. The 4-H Shooting Sports Program teaches young people the safe and responsible use of firearms, principles of archery, and hunting basics.

4-H Shooting Sports Program Provides

Lifelong skill development is one of the main benefits of involvement in the 4-H Shooting Sports Program and applies to both youth and adults involved in the program. Specifically, the 4-H Shooting Sports Program is designed to:

Provide youth proper training in the use of firearms, archery equipment, and other areas of shooting sports.
Provide thorough instruction in shooting sports safety.
Develop life skills such as self-confidence, personal discipline, responsibility, and sportsmanship.
Create an appreciation and understanding of natural resources and their wise use.
Provide volunteer instructors safe and proper instructional techniques.
Show volunteer leaders how to plan and manage 4-H Shooting Sports Clubs.

To learn more about the Shooting Sports Club or other Wakulla 4-H youth development programs and volunteer opportunities please call 850-926-3931 or email 4-H Agent Rachel Pienta at r.pienta@ufl.edu.