Burlington--Seven Vermont 4-H'ers are among the 800 youths who will compete at the 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships in Grand Island, Nebraska, this summer.

Vermont will send both a hunting/wildlife skills and smallbore .22 pistol team to the event, which takes place June 26-July 1. The teams have been practicing on a regular basis and will continue to hone their skills until they leave for Nebraska on June 25.

Competing on the hunting/wildlife skills team are Uma Chirkova, Newbury; Colton Masure, St. Johnsbury; Luke McReynolds, Danville; and Haley Michaud, East Hardwick. Overall scores are based on a number of contests, including a timed map and compass competition, shoot/don't shoot hunting scenarios and identification of waterfowl, furs, tracks, scat and animal skulls. Teams also will compete in archery, .22 rifle and shotgun as part of their score. Their team coach is Tom Decker from St. Johnsbury. 

Colby Butler, Dorset; Andy McReynolds, Danville; and Taylor Tetreault, Barnet; comprise the .22 pistol team. They are coached by Dave Hale, a long-time 4-H shooting sports volunteer from Hardwick.

Colton, Andy, Luke, Haley and Taylor are members of the Green Mountain 4-H Shooting Sports Club in Lyndonville. Colby is a member of the Oxbow Mountain 4-H Club in Pawlet. Uma belongs to the Caledonia Sharp Shooters 4-H Club based in Lyndonville and St. Johnsbury.

Selection for teams was based on an interview, past performance at Vermont 4-H Shooting Sports Jamborees, recommendations from 4-H club leaders and shooting sports volunteers and being an active 4-H member in good standing. In their application, the 4-H'ers were asked to specify a team and explain why they are interested in competing at the national level on that team. 

To help fund their trip to Nebraska, the 4-H'ers are seeking donations from local businesses, their county 4-H foundations and the public. They also are raffling off sides of beef, donated by the McReynolds Farm, Danville, and processed by Cottonstone Farm in Orford, New Hampshire.

Anyone wishing to make a tax-deductible donation toward trip expenses may send a check to Vermont 4-H Shooting Sports, c/o Kassity Marckres, 90 Mastin Rd., Craftsbury, VT 05826. Checks should be made payable to Vermont 4-H Shooting Sports. A receipt will be provided upon request.

The 4-H Shooting Sports program teaches skills and allows kids to become proficient in safe firearms and archery target shooting, hunting, map and compass and wildlife management in a safe and respectful environment with supportive volunteers and certified instructors.

To learn more, contact contact Holly Ferris, University of Vermont Extension 4-H Shooting Sports coordinator, at holly.ferris@uvm.edu.