Shooting Sports a Top Draw Among Lake County 4-H Members

Published: 2021
By Berl Tiskus

Lake County 4-H has a lot of pride in its stellar shooting sports program with a steady enrollment of about 55 4-H members, many of whom compete in more than one discipline. Organizational Leader Bob Cornwell heads up the air rifle squad with Volunteer Leaders Bruce Fishbain and Mikayla Douthit, and Junior Leader Colter Cornwell. They meet in the Lake County Community center on Tuesday evenings from October through February/March, whenever the Lake County Shoot is held. The archery members meet in the horticulture barn with Les Mutchler and Nathan Cantlon. The leaders have two sessions, one at 6 p.m. and one at 7 p.m. Safety is stressed: Cornwell goes down the line with his prone air rifle class, asking each one to name a safety rule. Answers are: wear appropriate eye and ear protection; tie your hair back; always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction; always keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot. Shotgun members begin practice in the spring and hold their final 5-stand and trap shoot on the Sunday before the Lake County Fair begins. Siblings Nikki and Ryan Kendall have been in archery their entire 4-H careers, Nikki for nine years and Ryan for eight. Nikki is right eye dominant, so she faces her brother, who is right-handed, when they shoot. They stay in 4-H shooting sports because they enjoy the competition and improving their archery skills since they are both hunters. Other 4-H members said they like the sport because they have never gotten to shoot a gun before, and they like learning the safety rules, cleaning their guns, and becoming better shots. The leaders appreciate their students and take lots of time to teach them the correct and safest way to handle guns and bows.