The Barton County team of Ryan Kohman, Parker Smith, Katelyn Reh and Lake Lyman placed 2nd in the state at the recent State 4-H Air Rifle Competition. The 4-H Shooting Sports Program uses the skills and disciplines of shooting to assist young people and their leaders to attain knowledge and develop essential life skills.
In the Junior Division, ages 9 to 13, Parker Smith of Great Bend placed 2nd overall with a score of 500, Katelyn Reh of Ellinwood placed 4th overall with a score of 482 and Kyle Clasen placed 8th overall with a score of 471. Parker received 2nd place medals in the kneeling and standing position. Katelyn placed 4th in standing and 7th in kneeling. Kyle Clasen placed 4th in the prone position. Dalton Dicks of Great Bend placed 18th and Will Clark of Great Bend placed 23rd overall.
In the Senior Division, ages 14 to 18, Ryan Kohman of Great Bend placed 12th overall, Lake Lyman of Ellinwood placed 26th, Jake Kohman of Great Bend placed 32nd and Caleb Straub of Great Bend placed 64th in this division. Ryan also placed 9th in the prone position.
The total number of participants from across the state reached 323 youth from 33 counties. This is the highest number ever qualified. 4-H members from other counties were also competing in BB gun and Air Pistol.
Barton County has an amazing team of shooting sports leaders who have worked for months with our 4-H members. Shooting sports leaders must be certified by attending training and receiving continual updates. Certified leaders are John Reh, Jim Kohman, Steve Schultz, Jeff Clark, Scott Smith, Frank Ochs, Leland Miller, and Pat Streck.