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.

PHOTO PROVIDED Carson Riley competes in smallbore rifle competition. Among the numerous Pennsylvania 4-H members who competed in the staet shooting sports competition was Lycoming County’s Wade Smith, who earned first place as an individual in the shotgun junior category.

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.

Air Pistol: In the individual senior contest, Stephanie Gauntlett, of Montgomery County, earned first place in the slow fire and silhouette categories.

Recurve archery: Blaise Foster, of Chester County, won first place in the senior individual categories.

Compound archery: John Mourey, of Cambria County, earned first place in the junior individual Federation Internationale de Tir a l’Arc, or FITA, and 3-D divisions. Walter Wukovitz, of Adams County, placed first in the senior FITA individual division. 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.

Shotgun: Wade Smith, of Lycoming County, earned first place as an individual in the junior category. The Lawrence County team won the junior team category. In the senior division, Brendan Cole, of Greene County, was the high-scoring individual. The Fulton 1 team won the senior team category.

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, Brendan Cole in the Senior Shotgun competition and Joulia Wolf in the Senior Air Rifle 3-Position competition.

Administered in Pennsylvania by Penn State Extension, 4-H is a non-formal 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 the Pennsylvania 4-H website at https://extension.psu.edu/programs/4-h.