By any measure, the recent series of 4-H Shooting Sports events attended by the best 4-H shooting sports competitors in the State of Illinois brought some jaw dropping results. These competitions are held each year in late August and throughout September The shear number of shots scored should impress as 14,474 shots were scored during these state competitions. Specifically, that would include 4,074 arrows, 1900 air rifle pellets, 1,000 smallbore rifle bullets, and 7,600 shotgun shells.
The State 4-H Shotgun Shoot recently held at Brittany Shooting Park in Bunker Hill, IL had the top three individuals of Chase Garey, Woodford Co. in first place, followed closely by Parker Logan and Erin Federle, both of Macoupin County finishing in second and third respectively. County competitions are the top scores from four individuals from a county added together. The top three 4-H Shotgun County totals are: Macoupin County in first place, followed by Piatt County, then Adams County.
The State 4-H Archery Competition County scores brought a first place prize to Whiteside County, with second place going to Macoupin County and third place to McHenry County. The top three individual archers in the Sr. Compound Division were: Tripp Higgins, Shelby Co. finishing in first place; Isaac Mohr, Henderson Co. in second place; and Jake Glasgow from Brown-Schuyler Co. finishing a strong third. The 4-H archery competitions in recurve archery and a junior division for younger archers.
The State 4-H Small Bore pistol match was the first of its kind in 2025 and was conducted at the local level and scoresheets submitted virtually. Both a speed match and a precision match were scored and the results highlighted the talents of three youth from Madison County team from the Staunton Road Rangers 4-H Club: Evelyn Bremer, Ryan Dissett, and Titus Cloninger.
Similarly, the State 4-H Air Rifle Competition was also dominated by a single county. DeKalb County 4-H had three 4-H members finish in the top three places with Lillie Harper, Mark Pritchard, and Reese Harper taking the first three spots. This competition was held at the modern Central Illinois Precision Shooters indoor shooting range near Bloomington, Illinois.
Congratulations 4-H Shooting Sports competitors!
Author: Curt Sinclair, University of Illinois Extension 4-H Youth Development Specialist
Photo Credit: Cloninger Photography