URBANA, Ill. — University of Illinois Extension is proud to announce a new sponsor for their upcoming 4-H State Shooting Sports contests this fall. Illinois Ducks Unlimited has made a substantial financial contribution to offset the costs of running these popular shoots so the participation fees can be more affordable for families.
Illinois State 4-H Shoots allow 4-H teens from around the state to gather and test the mastery of their skills with their peers in a safe and supportive environment. Participants can demonstrate the safety and skills associated with their chosen sport that they have learned by participating in a 4-H Shooting Sports club in their home county over the past year.
Disciplines offered include shotgun, rifle, and archery. The top four finishers in a shooting sports discipline are invited to join the Illinois 4-H State team to compete in a National 4-H Shooting Sports Competition the following summer.
The first 4-H state shoot will be archery in Pekin on Saturday, Sept. 16. The next will be shotgun on Saturday, Sept. 23 at Bunker Hill, and the final event will be rifle on Saturday, Oct. 7 in Bloomington. Disciplines offered include compound and recurve archery, trap shooting, as well as air and .22 small-bore rifle.
This year marks the first year of a sponsorship partnership with Illinois Ducks Unlimited.
"We are immensely grateful for the generous support of Illinois Ducks Unlimited, whose commitment to our youth shooting sports program is truly commendable,” says University of Illinois Extension 4-H youth development specialist Curt Sinclair. “Their support helps us to empower and support these youth in mastering their lifelong hobby of shooting sports as they enjoy the outdoors.”
For more information on these events, go to the Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports page.
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.
Source/Writer: Curt Sinclair, 4-H Youth Development Specialist, sinclair@illinois.edu
Illinois Extension leads public outreach for University of Illinois by translating research into action plans that allow Illinois families, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decisions, and adapt to changes and opportunities. Illinois Extension is part of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.