DUBOIS – On March 7, 20 4-H members from Clearfield & Jefferson counties gathered at the DuBois Rifle & Pistol Club to take part in the 5th Annual 4-H Shooting Sports Day. This was an air rifle competition open to youth between the ages of 8 and 18 years of age, as of Jan. 1, who are currently enrolled in the 4-H program. All participants must currently be taking a 4-H shooting sports project and completing the appropriate project requirements. This event served as a great practice opportunity for the youth traveling to Coudersport on March 27 to take part in the Regional 4-H Air Rifle Competition.
In the novice division, which was open to 4-H members ages 8 through 10, Devin Muth of the Clearfield County 4-H Riflery Club took home first place with a score of 157. Second place want to Victoria Barber of the Jefferson County Top Guns Riflery Club with a score of 135. In third place was Tanner Connor of the Clearfield County 4-H Riflery Club with a score of 132. Kyle Gotwald of the Jefferson County Top Guns Riflery Club received fourth place with a score of 114. In fifth place was Cheyenne Gotwald of the Jefferson County Top Guns Riflery Club with a score of 77. Jacob Hopkins of the Jefferson County Top Guns Riflery Club came in sixth place with a score of 67 and rounding out seventh place was Ainsley Wolfe of the Jefferson County Top Guns Riflery Club with a score of 56.
In the junior division, which was open to 4-H members ages 11 and 12, Lance Carrier of the Jefferson County Top Guns Riflery Club received first place with a score of 192. In second place was Hunter Connor of the Clearfield County 4-H Riflery Club with a score of 154. Tyler Gotwald of the Jefferson County Top Guns Riflery Club received third place with a score of 150. Receiving a score of 147 and coming in fourth place was Hunter Wolfe of the Jefferson County Top Guns Riflery Club received. In fifth place was Tyler Muth of the Clearfield County 4-H Riflery Club with a score of 133. Kayla Oakes of the Jefferson County Top Guns Riflery Club had a score of 132 and landed in the sixth place slot. Seventh place went to Shaina Allshouse of the Jefferson County Top Guns Riflery Club with a score of 86. In eighth place was Eli Thompson of the Jefferson County Top Guns Riflery Club with a score of 69.
In the intermediate division, which is open to youth between the ages of 13 and 15, Chelsea Folmar was awarded first place with a score of 229. Chelsea is a member of the Clearfield County 4-H Riflery Club.
Our final age category was the senior division, which is open to youth between the ages of 16 and 18. In first place was Brock Sallack of the Clearfield County 4-H Riflery Club with a score of 209. Brandon Oakes of the Jefferson County Top Guns Riflery Club came in second place with a score of 172. In third place was John Patterson of the Clearfield County 4-H Riflery Club with a score of 171. Rounding out fourth place was Eric Tosh of the Jefferson County Top Guns Riflery Club with a score of 109.
In addition to the individual scores, the youth were placed in teams prior to the start of competition. Many of the teams had a mix of both Clearfield & Jefferson County 4-H members on each team. Teams with 3 or more people had the lowest individual score dropped. In the novice division, the team of Jacob Hopkins, Victoria Barber, Cheyenne Gotwald, and Tanner Connor came in first place with a combined team score of 344. Second place was the novice team of Kyle Gotwald, Ainsley Wolfe, and Devon Muth with a team score of 327. In the Junior Division, the team of Hunter Wolfe, Lance Carrier, and Kayla Oakes took home first place with a score if 339. The second place junior team consisted of Hunter Connor and Tyler Muth with a team score of 287. Rounding out third place in the junior division was the team of Shaina Allshouse, Tyler Gotwald, and Eli Thompson with a score of 236. Winning first place in the Intermediate/Senior Division Team category was John Patterson, Chelsea Folmar and Brock Sallack with a combined score of 438 and coming in second was the team of Brandon Oakes and Eric Tosh with a team score of 208.
For the individual competitions, first place winners received a gold medal, second place winners received a silver medal, and third place winners received a bronze medal. Ribbons were awarded through sixth place in each category, as well as participation ribbons for all placings after sixth. All 4-H members and their families shared in a meal at the conclusion of the contest. All 20 participants received a gift card along with the announcement of the overall team scores. A special thank you goes out to all the volunteer leaders of Clearfield and Jefferson counties that not only helped put this program together, but take the time to continuously work with the youth on their shooting sports projects throughout the year: Scott Folmar, Crystal Folmar, Christopher Connor, Jeff Jamison, Phil Kuntz, & Michele Gotwald.
“I was very happy with this year’s contest. This was our largest contest to date and most importantly all the youth seemed to have a great time. Opportunities to bring youth together and allow them to meet and work with new people is wonderful thing” Jana Davidson, Children & Youth Development Educator
4-H is a non-formal youth development educational program of Penn State Cooperative Extension for all youth between the ages of 8 and 19, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identification, or veteran status. For additional information on the 4-H program or to locate a 4-H club in your area, contact Jana Lynne Davidson at the Clearfield County Cooperative Extension Office at (814) 765-7878 Ext. 3 or Susan Alexander at the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Office at 814-849-7361.