LUSK – The Niobrara County 4-H Shooting Sports Club convened in the Shooting Sports Complex at the Niobrara County Fairgrounds on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 9, for an informational meeting and to begin making preparations for the upcoming season.

4-H Club Leader Kenny Jensen started the meeting by providing the members with inspiration for what they could achieve throughout the year. Jensen noted several participants’ past accomplishments, notably a state champion, Wyatt Strauch, and the previous year’s top shot, Aiden Applegarth.

“We’ve got some really good shooters here,” Jensen told the club. 

Shooters in the club can participate in a variety of categories: air rifle, air pistol, .22 caliber rifle, .22 caliber pistol, shotgun, muzzleloader and archery. Jensen told the Herald, practice will begin immediately for air rifle, air pistol, .22 rifle and .22 pistol, but shotgun and muzzleloader practice wouldn’t take place until later on.

Jensen asked the participants to make nominations for club officers. Participants provided several nominations and a vote was conducted for the positions of president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. Aiden Applegarth was elected president, Wyatt Jensen vice president, Court Bannen treasurer and Wyatt Strauch secretary. 

After the election, club members began working on setting up target backers, cleaning and maintaining their firearms and establishing protocols for future meetings. 

Club members will also utilize a new scoring system this year, which will make scoring easier and more consistent. Jensen hopes this new scoring system will enhance fairness in scoring and allow more time to focus on the participants shooting ability.

“We’ve got to make it fun, but we got to learn safely at the same time,” Jensen said.

In addition to 4-H events, Jensen informed the club of a predator/coyote hunt to be held in the near future in Manville. The hunt will be sponsored by the bar in Manville, with 10% of the calcutta being donated to Niobrara County Shooting Sports Club. The club is also planning a fundraiser in March, but plans have not yet been finalized for the event. 

The Niobrara County 4-H Shooting Sports Club meets on Fridays for first and second-year shooters, and Sunday for the older, more experienced shooters. The next meeting will be next Sunday, Jan. 17.
Despite the club having its first meeting for the year, Jensen said it was not too late to sign up. Those who wish to join the Shooting Sports Club should contact the Niobrara County 4-H office at (307) 334-3534.

“If somebody is interested, they can show up to our practice and learn about it,” Jensen said.