DATE: 3/22/06

CONTACT: Rick Willey, (864) 656-3090; rwlly@clemson.edu

WRITER: Diane Palmer, (864) 656-4741; spalmer@clemson.edu

4-H Shooting Sports winners announced

CLEMSON – Nine counties were represented by 63 youths at the State 4-H Shot Gun Shoot-Out, March 11, at the Spartanburg Gun Club in Pacolet. Youths competed in three skill areas – trap shooting, skeet shooting, and sporting clay (senior division) or 5-stand (junior division) shooting.

Junior winners (9-13 years of age)

First place team - Dillon County (Aaron Gardner, Quinten Gardner, Cody Gasque, J.T. Baxley).
Second place junior team - Anderson County (Scooter Barnwell, Chase Campbell, Adam Willey).
Third place junior team - Marlboro County (Austin Baumgardner, Christian Durham, Justin Herndon, Bo Stokes).
Trap juniors - First place Scooter Barnwell – Anderson County; Second Place Aaron Gardner – Dillon County; Third place Drew Pearman – Abbeville County.
Skeet Juniors – First place Aaron Gardner – Dillon County; Second place Scooter Barnwell – Anderson County; Third place Drew Pearman – Abbeville County.
5-Stand Juniors – First place Aaron Gardner – Dillon County; Second place Daniel Williams – Oconee County; Third place Chandler Morrell – Dillon County.
Overall Junior – First place Aaron Gardner – Dillon County; Second place Scooter Barnwell – Anderson County; Third place Drew Pearman - Abbeville County and Chandler Morrell – Dillon County.

Senior Winners (14-19 years of age)

First Place Team - Dillon County (Arnette Cody, Player Aston, Josh Funderburk, Jacob Richardson).
Second Place team - Marlboro County (Patrick Altman, Patrick Cousins, Chad McLaurin, Dalton Taylor).
Third Place Team - Newberry County (Andrew Fisher, Ashley Floyd, Cody Lever, Austin Longshore).
Trap – First place Cory Dodgens – Pickens County; Second place Travis Cox – Oconee County; Third place Jacob Richardson – Dillon County.
Skeet – First place Cory Dodgens – Pickens County; Second place Travis Cox – Oconee County; Third place Jacob Richardson – Dillon County.
Sporting Clays – First place Travis Cox – Oconee County; Second place Jacob Richardson – Dillon County; Third place Josh Funderburk – Dillon County.
Overall Senior – First place Cory Dodgens – Pickens County; Second place Travis Cox – Oconee County; Third place Jacob Richardson – Dillon County.

The top four seniors, Cory Dodgens, Travis Cox, Jacob Richardson, and Josh Funderburk, will represent S.C. at the National 4-H Shooting Sports Invitational to be held in late June in South Dakota.

Through the 4-H Shooting Sports Program, y outh learn marksmanship, the safe and responsible use of firearms, the principles of hunting and archery, and much more. The activities of the program and the support of caring adult leaders provide young people with opportunities to develop life skills, self-worth, and conservation ethics.

4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. The South Carolina 4-H Youth Development Program uses a learn-by-doing approach, the involvement of caring adults, the knowledge and resources of Clemson University and the land grant university system to empower youth to become healthy, productive and contributing members of society.

“4-H provides youths the opportunity to master the knowledge and skills of their project area, said Keith Diem, state 4-h director. “The success of the 4-H shooting sports project, the fastest growing project in South Carolina, is the perfect example of a 4-H experience that these youths will remember throughout their lives.”

To learn more 4-H in your community, contact your local Clemson Extension office or go the state 4-H web site at www.clemson.edu/4h.

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