Barton County 4-H will be host to the State 4-H Shooting Sports competition Saturday, April 16, at the Expo grounds west of Great Bend. The disciplines included in this competition are Air Rifle, Air Pistol and BB gun. There are over 250 4-H members age 9 -18 years old registered for the event.
 The BB gun competition begins and 8 a.m. and air rifle and air pistol competition begins at 8:30 a.m. The public is invited to attend. Barton County 4-H archery and air rifle members and their families will be providing a concession stand in the Expo II building.
Barton County 4-H members who qualified for the state shoot are Ian and John Allen, Nicole Davis, Shiani Hughes, Jake and Ryan Kohman, Lake Lyman, Cory Merten, Colin Miller, Katelyn Reh and Thomas Thill.
To qualify, a competitor must shoot 60 shots in three different positions (prone, kneeling and standing) at a state qualifying event. A qualifying score is 350 or above out of 600 possible.
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 learning the rules of firearms safety and safe firearms handling, a young person will learn decision-making, develop an inquiring mind, and acquire and cultivate a knowledge of wildlife and natural resources. They will also learn skills such as social interactions and international communication skills.
Barton County has a wonderful team of shooting sports leaders who have worked for months with our 4-H members and it will all pay off this next weekend. All shooting sports leaders must be certified by attending a three day training. Leaders certified are Frank Ochs, Leland Miller, Jim Kohman, John Reh, Gary Bainbridge and Pat Streck.
Steve Schultz and Jeff Clark just attended a state training April 1-3r at Rock Springs Ranch 4-H Center. All leaders are currently helping prepare members for the state shoot.
Berny Unruh is the 4-H and Youth Development Extension Agent in Barton County. She is a guest columnist for the Great Bend Tribune. She can be reached at 620-793-1910 or at bunruh@ksu.edu.