HAMILTON, Ohio — In 2021, Ohio had 3,713 4-H Shooting Sports project enrollments. Sixty-four 4-H clubs across the state are devoted exclusively to shooting sports and 823 certified shooting sports volunteer instructors are helping those kids learn marksmanship and a whole lot more, said Kirk Bloir, Ohio State University (OSU) Assistant Director, 4-H Youth Development.

The Butler County Sharpshooters 4-H club has seen a lot of growth in its 28 years, said Barb Haverkos, who currently, with her husband, Steve, coordinates the group. They have 70 to 80 kids participate each year. They start with an eight-week session in the fall, are off for the holidays, and start up again in January. They start shooting outside in April. 

“This is an introduction to our 2022 season,” said Barb on the first night of the fall session. “I had more kids than I expected. Our club offers rifle, pistol, shotgun, archery, muzzleloading, crossbow, living history, and hunting and wildlife. Our youngest ones start with the Safe Use of Guns.”

Meredith Briski came through the program herself and is now an instructor. 4-H shooting sports is different from other shooting sports because they don’t teach competitive skills just for the sake of competition, she said. 

“We’re here for youth development and shooting sports is a tool we use for youth development,” Briski said. “They are learning about safety. They’re developing self-confidence, the ability to set a goal and reach it. This is something that’s accessible to anybody, at any ability level. They’re getting the same benefits as other sports, but it gives them a more level playing field.” 

Cecilia Guenther participates in rifle, pistol, shotgun, archery, and muzzle loading. Her favorites are pistol and archery. This year she blue-ribboned in pistol and the year before in archery. She’s 15 years old now and started when she was eight or nine.

“Most of my friends think shooting sports is pretty cool,” she said. “I’ve had friends come to try it out. I’m never afraid because here at the sportsmen’s club we’ve been taught how to handle firearms safely. Safety is emphasized. I love that it’s like a family here and everybody is helping everybody out.”

Two of Colleen Scharfenbert’s children have taken part in the program. Megan is now in college and Ian is still involved. She liked it so much she became an instructor. 

“I love it because kids are so curious,” she said. “They want to know (about guns) so why not teach them upfront? That kind of curbs that curiosity. They know what to do if they’re confronted with someone who is not handling a gun properly. I have guns in my home and no worries.”

Jon Sander’s son, Connor, was dry firing a pistol in the inside range, it was his first night. His dad was glad to see him learning the right way to do things.

“He’s learning the right way to do things,” Sanders said. “How to handle a gun, what to do when he sees something incorrect being done.”

“I think it reaches a different group of kids than standard 4-H,” Barb said. “I think it reaches kids that aren’t necessarily involved in team sports. They like this activity because it is more individual. I have seen the kids grow year after year in the program. I like what I see and because of that, I have stayed with it.”

Meanwhile, out on the archery range, Abbie Kessler and Erica Landthorne cheered when Amelia Kessler hit the target. They were having fun.

And that’s why instructor Mike Wilson has stayed with the group as an instructor for 28 years.