“Pull!” shouted Bruce Baublits of Cimarron. Taking aim, he squeezed the trigger, sending shot sailing through the air, splitting a clay target into a dozen pieces.
Close to 150 shooters attended the Barton Community College Foundation’s fifth annual clay shoot fundraiser this past Sunday at LaSada Sporting Clays and Hunting Service in Russell.
“It’s a good deal,” Baublits said, adding he was joined by more than 15 other Cimarron residents, from adults to a contingent of 4-H participants. “I bet we’ll come back next year. It’s a fun time, and I hope it does a good job for the college.”
The total raised last year was just shy of the $10,000 mark, but this year’s net amount was almost $14,000 – a record amount.
All proceeds are used as mini-grants for which faculty members can apply. The stipulation is that the money has to be spent on something that will be used in the classroom to enhance learning.
Roland “Gunny” Smith of Smith’s Supply LLC was one of two major sponsors of the event, along with Butterfly Supply Inc. A variety of other sponsors also helped make the event possible.
“This is a very worthwhile cause,” said Smith, who is president of the Kiowa Gun Club in Great Bend. “The foundation does great things for Barton students, and this is one way to help the cause. Shooting is a good clean family sport, and it’s great to spend a day getting fresh air and enjoy good camaraderie with friends.”
Executive Director of Institutional Advancement Darnell Holopirek is one of the key organizers of the annual event. Though the end-goal is to raise money to enhance learning at Barton, Holopirek said she’s fully aware that there is another goal at the forefront – fun.
“You want to raise money, and sure the participants want to win, but the point is to go out and shoot and enjoy time spent with your friends,” she said. Holopirek attributes the event’s swift and steady growth to that service-oriented mindset. “I’m just thrilled. (LaSada owner) Scott Young told us we need to have a well-organized event with good gifts and good sponsors, and we’ll see success.”
The winners of this year’s Foundation Clay Shoot are:
Top Man: Jeff Sammons, Logan
Top Woman: Kendall Hosler, Hays
Top Youth: Andrew McVey, Cimarron
Top Adult Team: Zack Sammons, Jeff Sammons and Bradley Jeffries, Logan
Top Youth Team: Andrew McVey, Alec Coast and Nick Franzitta, Cimarron