Part of Penn State Extension, the 4-H shooting sports program offers a positive and safe environment for youths who enjoy the outdoors and hunting. The program promotes best practices for the responsible use of firearms and archery equipment under the training and guidance of adult coaches.

Competitions are designed to challenge a 4-H member’s skill and knowledge and to recognize demonstrated abilities, marksmanship and concentration while fostering sound decision making and promoting safety, sportsmanship and ethical behavior.

“Participation in the state competition is a steppingstone to provide youth with opportunities to advance outside of their county in an area they are passionate about,” said Spencer Gee, 4-H youth development extension educator. “The competition allows them to showcase the skills they have developed throughout the year with their club members and leaders for state recognition.”

In the recent contests, participants competed in air pistol, air rifle, archery, muzzleloader, shotgun and smallbore rifle. Area winners include:

Simon Hardy finished first in the junior individual contest for smallbore rifle.

Air Rifle: In the junior division, Isaiah Snyder, of Blair County, earned first place for 3-position and silhouette categories. Joulia Wolf, also of Blair County, won the senior division in these categories. The Blair County Sharpshooters won the junior and senior team silhouette category.

Compound archery: John Mourey, of Cambria County, earned first place in the junior individual Fédération Internationale de Tir à l’Arc, or FITA, and 3-D divisions. The Indiana/Cambria Senior Compound Archery Team won both senior team categories. Riley Fink, a member of the team, also won first place in the 3D division.

Muzzleloader: The Blair County Sharpshooters earned first place in the junior and senior muzzleloader divisions.

Smallbore Rifle: Simon Hardy, of Huntingdon County, finished first in the junior individual contest. In the senior division, Carson Riley, also of Huntingdon County, earned first place.

This marked the first competition which used a merit-based award criteria to award placing. Those who scored 90%-100% of total score based on their discipline received a medal at the competition. This included John Mourey in the Junior 3-D Compound Archery competition and Joulia Wolf in the Senior Air Rifle 3-Position competition.

Administered in Pennsylvania by Penn State Extension, 4-H is a nonformal educational youth-development program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that helps young people develop knowledge and skills to become capable, caring and contributing citizens.

To find your local program, visit https://extension.psu.edu/programs/4-h.