Members of eight 4-H shooting sports clubs met in Pawlet for a weekend of friendly competition in several disciplines, culminating in an awards ceremony on Sunday where medals and certificates were handed out.

The 2025 Vermont 4-H Shooting Sports Jamboree, sponsored by University of Vermont (UVM) Extension 4-H, took place July 18 to 20 at the Ross Gravel Pit. The Oxbow Mountain Shooting Sports Club, Pawlet, and Pownal Valley 4-H Sharpshooters, Pownal, hosted the event.

Other clubs that were represented were the Caledonia Sharp Shooters, St. Johnsbury; Cedar Lake 4-H Shooting Sports, Bristol; Green Mountain 4-H, Springfield; Green Mountain Shooting Sports 4-H Club, St. Johnsbury; Sunset Hill 4-H Club, Williston; and Upper Valley Bullseyes 4-H Club, Bradford.

There were two recipients of the Sean Tillotson award this year, Julian Mercy, Hardwick, and Isaac Osinchuk, Springfield. Julian is a member of the Green Mountain Shooting Sports 4-H Club. Isaac belongs to Green Mountain 4-H. Both 4-H’ers have qualified to compete on state teams at the National 4-H Shooting Sports competition in Nebraska in recent years.

The recipients of this award, chosen by jamboree participants, demonstrate good sportsmanship, enthusiasm and a willingness to assist and encourage fellow competitors at the annual jamboree. These are the qualities that were embodied by Sean, a National 4-H Shooting Sports Ambassador and member of two Vermont shooting sports 4-H clubs at the time of his passing several years ago at age 17.

The 4-H’ers competed by age group: Seniors (14 to 18), Juniors (11 to 13) and Novices (8 to 10) in several disciplines. These included archery, pistol, rifle, Seneca Run (timed events including fire starting, hawk and knife throw, longbow and black powder rifle), shotgun and hunting/wildlife skills. For the latter, competitors were tested on their knowledge of hunter safety; ability to identify animal furs, feathers, skulls, scat and tracks; and a timed compass course.

Gold, silver and bronze medals and certificates awarded to the three highest scorers in each discipline and overall. Fourth-place finishers received certificates.

OVERALL HIGH SCORERS:

  • SENIOR: Julian Mercy, Hardwick (first); Isaac Osinchuk, Springfield (second); Misha Chirkov, Newbury (third); Ivan Osinchuk, Springfield (fourth)
  • JUNIOR: Remington Card, Williston (first); Baylie Smith, Concord (second); Ezra Johns, Fairlee (third); Ezra Hahr, Wells River (fourth)
  • NOVICE: Erin Loomis, Whitehall, New York (first); Silas Johns, Fairlee (second); Emma Donaghy, West Burke (third); Holdyn Smith, Concord (fourth)

The four top placements in the individual disciplines were:

ARCHERY:

  • SENIOR: Misha Chirkov, Newbury (first); Isaac Osinchuk, Springfield (second); Julian Mercy, Hardwick (third); Marlana-Jane Niesobedzki, Bristol (fourth)
  • JUNIOR: Ezra Hahr, Wells River (first); Remington Card, Williston (second); Ezra Johns, Fairlee, and Baylie Smith, Concord (tie for third); Eugene Hahr (fourth)
  • NOVICE: Silas Johns, Fairlee (first); Gideon Allen, Lyndonville (second); Holdyn Smith, Concord (third); Emma Donaghy, West Burke (fourth)

HUNTING/WILDLIFE:

  • SENIOR: Misha Chirkov, Newbury (first); Logan Potter, Brandon (second); Julian Mercy, Hardwick (third); Nick McReynolds, Danville (fourth)
  • JUNIOR: Judah Noel, St. Johnsbury (first); Andrew Ochs, Milton (second); Josiah Noel, St. Johnsbury (third); Baylie Smith, Concord (fourth)
  • NOVICE: Ava Rose, Pownal (first); Emma Donaghy, West Burke (second); Myles McBey, Waterford (third); Silas Johns, Fairlee (fourth)

PISTOL (.22 pistol or air pistol, depending on competitor's age): 

  • SENIOR: Julian Mercy, Hardwick (first); Isaac Osinchuk, Springfield (second); Asa Johns, Fairlee (third); Bristol Card, Williston (fourth)
  • JUNIOR: Andrew Ochs, Milton (first); Judah Noel, St. Johnsbury (second); Baylie Smith, Concord (third); Layne Niemiec, Charlestown, New Hampshire (fourth)
  • NOVICE: Erin Loomis, Whitehall, New York (first); Lincoln Niemiec, Charlestown, New Hampshire (second); Jonathan Roy, St. Johnsbury (third); Hayden Bowdish, Weybridge (fourth)

RIFLE:  

  • SENIOR: Isaac Osinchuk (first) and Ivan Osinchuk (second), both from Springfield; Julian Mercy, Hardwick (third); Michelle Roy, St. Johnsbury (fourth)
  • JUNIOR: Baylie Smith, Concord (first); Remington Card, Williston and Gwyneth Williams, Newbury (tie for second); Irvin Barbour, Springfield (third); Beckett Perham, Pawlet (fourth)
  • NOVICE: Silas Johns, Fairlee (first); Erin Loomis, Whitehall, New York (second); Axel Gratz-Barney, Bennington (third); Dominik Montano, Eagle Bridge, New York (fourth)

SENECA RUN:  

  • SENIOR: Misha Chirkov, Newbury (first); Asa Johns, Fairlee (second); Kelton Wood, Concord (third); Bristol Card, Williston (fourth)
  • JUNIOR: Ezra Hahr, Wells River (first); Ezra Johns, Fairlee, and William Ochs, Milton (tie for second); Orion Putvain, West Danville (third); Joey Gajewsky, Sandgate (fourth)
  • NOVICE: Dominik Montano, Eagle Bridge, New York (first); Erin Loomis, Whitehall, New York (second); Emma Donaghy, West Burke (third); Axel Gratz-Barney, Bennington (fourth)

SHOTGUN: 

  • SENIOR: Julian Mercy, Hardwick (first); Noah Buck, Rupert (second); Wyatt DeLance, Castleton; (third); Robert Harris, Poultney (fourth)
  • JUNIOR: Orion Putvain, West Danville (first); Beckett Perham, Pawlet (second); Chloe Johnson, Concord (third); Shane Bradley, Danville (fourth)
  • NOVICE: Dominik Montano, Eagle Bridge, New York (first); Axel Gratz-Barney, Bennington (second); Blake Butler, Wells (third); Holdyn Smith, Concord (fourth)

To learn more about the Vermont Shooting Sports Program, contact Holly Ferris, UVM Extension 4-H Shooting Sports coordinator, at holly.ferris@uvm.edu.