SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Abe Lincoln Shooters 4-H club currently offers archery as part of the Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports Program, guided by a Certified 4-H Shooting Sports Coordinator and aligned with national standards. Focused on youth development, the program helps members build life skills such as responsibility, decision making, teamwork, and safety.
From January to May 2025, two, eight-part archery series was held for youth ages 8–18. The program culminated in a competitive shoot on May 7 at Rigney’s School of Archery in Glenarm, Illinois, where participants demonstrated their skills by scoring based on arrow placement. Six youth from Sangamon and Logan Counties received special awards for their achievements.
Champion Medallion – awarded to the exhibitor with the highest points in their experience level:
- Aiden King (Lincoln) – Beginner
- Elliot Lee (Glenarm) – Intermediate
- Kallen Beutke (Buffalo) – Advanced
Reserve Champion Ribbon – awarded to the exhibitor with the second highest points in their experience level:
- Greyson Martin (Lincoln) – Beginner
Blue Award – given to all exhibitors who met the archery shoot requirements:
- Luke Leesman (Atlanta)
- Oliver King (Lincoln)
- 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 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.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.