Vermont 4-H'ers have returned home after representing the state at the National 4-H Shooting Sports Championship, held in Grand Island, Nebraska on June 20-26.

The event brought together youth from across the United States to compete in a variety of shooting sports disciplines, while also emphasizing safety, responsibility, leadership, and sportsmanship.

The Vermont delegation demonstrated their skill and dedication, which they developed through months of preparation and training with local 4-H clubs and certified volunteer instructors.

A young person in a green sweatshirt and glasses, with blonde french-braided hair, looking into the scope of an air rifle. More young people holding rifles are in the foreground and background.
Sunset Hill 4-H Club member Remington Card competes in the Air Rifle discipline. Photo courtesy of the National 4-H Shooting Sports Committee.

Vermont 4-H'ers competed in the following areas:

Air Rifle

  • Emmeline Barber - Oxbow Mountain 4-H Club, Rutland County
  • Bristol Card - Sunset Hill 4-H Club, Chittenden County
  • Remington Card - Sunset Hill 4-H Club, Chittenden County
  • Margaret Williams - Upper Valley Bullseyes 4-H Club, Orange County

.22 Rifle

  • Logan Potter - Cedar Lake Shooting Sports 4-H Club, Addison County
  • Hailey Chase - Cedar Lake Shooting Sports 4-H Club, Addison County
  • Brayden Isham - Green Mountain Shooting Sports 4-H Club, Caledonia County
  • Michelle Roy - Green Mountain Shooting Sports 4-H Club, Caledonia County

Muzzleloader

  • Misha Chirkov - Green Mountain Shooting Sports 4-H Club, Caledonia County
A young person wearing a jacket, spandex and sneakers is seen aiming a long gun at targets from underneath a sheltering overhand.
Cedar Lake Shooting Sports 4-H Club member Hailey Chase competes in the .22 Rifle category. Photo by Holly Ferris. 

In the 50-yard bullseye category, Misha Chirkov placed fifth out of 77 competitors. This year is also the first time Vermont 4-H has sent an air rifle team to nationals.

Throughout the competition, the following coaches and volunteers helped everyone stay focused on safety, discipline, and personal growth:

Coaches

  • Glenn Card, Chittenden County
  • Derek Williams, Orange County
  • Fred Mead, Rutland County
  • Scott Gordon, Addison County
  • Dave Hale, Caledonia County
  • Doug Petty, Chittenden County

Volunteers

  • Kandy Petty, Caledonia County and
  • Adrienne Card, Chittenden County

Family and friends traveled to the event, too, to cheer the 4-H'ers on.

The teams would like to thank their families, 4-H clubs, communities, and Vermont businesses and organizations for their continued support in helping them reach national competition. Participation at the national level reflects a significant achievement for each youth competitor and highlights the strength of Vermont’s 4-H Shooting Sports program.

Two young people in green tops and safety glasses stand outside on a sunny day.
Cedar Lake Shooting Sports 4-H Club member Logan Potter and Green Mountain Shooting Sports 4-H Club member Brayden Isham compete in the .22 Rifle category. Photo courtesy of the National 4-H Shooting Sports Committee.

Vermont 4-H is part of University of Vermont Extension and provides hands-on educational experiences that help young people build leadership skills, confidence, and lifelong learning opportunities.

For information about the Vermont 4-H Shooting Sports program, please contact Holly Ferris, Vermont 4-H State Shooting Sports Coordinator, at holly.ferris@uvm.edu.