The Seventh Annual Barton County 4-H Winter Classic hosted over sixty 4-H members from nearby counties. Members participated in air rifle and archery competition to prepare for the upcoming state 4-H Shooting Sports Competition to be held April 16th at the Expo Grounds west of Great Bend.
The 4-H Shooting Sports program teaches young people the safe and responsible use of guns and the fundamentals of firing air rifle and archery. This program uses the skills and disciplines of shooting to assist young people and their leaders to attain knowledge and develop essential life skills. The air rifle and archery competitions give the young people who have participated in the program an opportunity to evaluate their progress.
In air rifle competition age 14 and older group, John Allen received a gold medal in standing and also placed 2nd overall. Jake Kohman received gold in prone and placed 6th overall. In the age 12-13 division, Ryan Kohman received gold in Standing and 1st overall in his age group. Ian Allen placed with a gold medal in prone and kneeling and placed 2nd overall in age 12-13. In the age 10-11 group, Katelyn Reh placed 2nd  overall and  Jeremiah Davis placed 3rd overall. In the age 7-9 year olds, Zane Allen received a gold medal in prone and kneeling and 1st overall. Will Clark received a gold in standing and 2nd overall. Dalton Dicks placed 3rd overall in 7-9 year olds.
Other air rifle members participating were Nicole Davis, Thomas Thill, Shiani Hughes, Lake Lyman, Caleb Straub, Kyle Clasen, and Zeb Hughes.
The archery competition is divided into Barebow and Open and Olympic divisions. In each the 4-H member will shoot 3D and FITA targets.
In the 9 and under age division, Samuel Bischoff earned a gold in Barebow 3D and silver in BB FITA; Austin Miller won silver in BB 3D and Bronze in BB FITA; J J Luerman took bronze in BB 3D & Open FITA, gold in BB FITA, silver in Open 3D; Colton McPherson received gold in Open 3D and in Open FITA; Orrin Tesch won bronze in Open 3D and silver in Open FITA.
In the age 10-11year old division, Robert Frizell won gold in BB FITA, Olympic 3D and FITA and silver in BB 3D; Damon Luerman received gold in BB 3D and silver in BB FITA.
In the age 12-13 year olds, Sam McGinnis took gold in Open 3D and FITA. Austin VanderMeer won silver in Open 3D and FITA.
In the age 14 and older, Athena VanderMeer won bronze in BB 3D; Garret Schneider received bronze in BB FITA and silver in Open 3D and FITA; Cole Bilbrey took gold in Open 3D and FITA; Alex Freund earned silver in Open 3D and Ryan Pruett received a silver medal in Open FITA.  Lexie McPherson also qualified for state in Barebow.
 Other archery participants were Andromeda and Seth Tesch.
Becasue of the special nature of the national 4-H shooting sports project only certified leaders who have attended a 16 hour discipline trainnig and have satisfactorily passed that training will be issued certification to teach youth in that area. The certified 4-H Archery leaders are Dennis Trapp, Kathy McGinnis and Roger McPherson.  Certified 4-H Air Rifle leaders are Frank Ochs, Leland Miller, Jim Kohman, John Reh, Gary Bainbridge and Pat Streck.