SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Abe Lincoln Shooters 4-H currently offers the shooting discipline of archery. The Sangamon County program is guided by a Certified 4-H Shooting Sports Coordinator. The Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports program is part of the National 4-H Shooting Sports Program which sets the standards and guides the curriculum.  The focus of all 4-H programs is the development of youth as individuals and as responsible, productive citizens.

The Sangamon 4-H Shooting Sports program stands out as an example. The activities of the program and support of caring adult leaders provide young people with opportunities to develop life skills, self-worth, conservation ethics, and the responsible handling of bows to shotguns to shoot trap, skeet, and sporting clays. Youth gain knowledge and build life skills such as responsibility, decision making, discipline, goal setting, teamwork, and safety. The six-part archery series was offered to youth ages 8-18 in January-August 2023.

During the final session, 4-H members were able to participate in an exhibition shoot in which they demonstrated their mastery of the archery discipline by keeping score based on what color the arrow was in on the target.

Eleven local exhibitors representing Sangamon County received special awards at the exhibition held on August 23, 2023, at Rigney’s School of Archery in Glenarm, Illinois.

Champion Medallion – awarded to the exhibitor with the highest points in their experience level:

• Emmett McBride (Springfield) – Beginner
• Caleb Willfong (Springfield) – Intermediate
• Grayson Huss (New Berlin) – Advanced

Reserve Champion Ribbon – awarded to the exhibitor with the second highest points in their experience level:

• Elliott Lee (Glenarm) – Beginner
• Lillian Lee (Glenarm) – Intermediate
• Jackson McBride (Springfield) – Advanced

Blue Award – given to all exhibitors who met the archery shoot requirements:

• Levi Dean (Pleasant Plains)
• Zach Dean (Pleasant Plains)
• Dillon McKinney (Auburn)
• Kael Tobias (Chatham)
• Max Calloway (Mechanicsburg)
• All those who were listed as champion and reserve champions.

Thank you to the dedicated and hardworking volunteers that continue to make the Abe Lincoln 4-H Shooters archery discipline a success!

If you are interested in learning how to participate in Abe Lincoln 4-H Shooters, contact the University of Illinois Extension Office in Sangamon County at 217-782-4617. Also, the new 4-H year begins in September, and local clubs are always happy to welcome new members. To learn more about the opportunities available to local youth through the 4-H program, please visit extension.illinois.edu/LMS/4-H-youth-development.

ABOUT ILLINOIS 4-H: Illinois 4-H is the flagship youth development program of University of Illinois Extension and administered through the College of Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences.4-H grows true leaders, youth who are empowered for life today and prepared for a career tomorrow. The hands-on approach in 4-H gives young people guidance, tools and encouragement, and then puts them in the driver’s seat to make great things happen. Independent research confirms the unparalleled impact of the 4-H experience, demonstrating that young people are four times more likely to contribute to their communities; two times more likely to make healthier choices; two times more likely to be civically active; and two times more likely to participate in STEM programs.