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ALEXANDRIA — The Pipestone County 4-H Shooting Sports program once again shooting sports program continues to shine as one of Minnesota’s best.
Pipestone County earned 36 individual medals and 40 more team medals during the Minnesota 4-H State Shooting Sports and Wildlife Invitational from Friday-Sunday, Sept. 5-7.
“For the past 30 years we’ve been involved with 4-H, we’ve always been well-represented (on the state level),” said Dean Schulze, who serves as one of the organization’s coaches.
4-H logo. (Contributed graphic from the organization)
Both coaches Robert Faber and Schulze were proud of how the team battled through adverse weather conditions.
The tournament was distressed by rain, heavy winds and unseasonably chilly temperatures hovering around 50 degrees (with chills even lower than that).
“We battled to place very well,” Schulze said.
“We shot very well in the conditions we had to deal with,” Faber chimed in.
Faber noted that during the final day of shooting, contestants used umbrellas and towels to fend off the rain and keep their equipment as dry as possible.
The Alexandria Shooting Sports Complex endured rain, wind and chilly temperatures during the state shoot the first weekend of September. (Contributed graphic)
Overall, the event featured 755 youth from 58 counties with more than 2,000 entries. One highlight was a cast-iron cooking contest with 30 meals for judges.
Schulze instructs shooters on BB guns, pistols and .22 rifle shooting. Faber concentrates on archery and air rifles. Chris Loll also assists with the archery category.
Kyle Viland and Gavin Viland are the trap coaches, with Kristina Schultz handling wildlife education and Brandi Schaap youth development program coordinator.
Coaches made sure to point out that in order for youth to participate in the state shoot they are required for have eight hours of wildlife training, which included a conservation project. Venison processing is one example.
The 4-H Shooting Sports program covers the entire county.
Some training takes place at the Schulzes in Holland. Winter archery is conducted near Hatfield.
The Pipestone County Sportsmen’s Club to the northeast serves as the site for clay target training, and an indoor shooting station may be found in the basement at American Legion Hall Post No. 6 in downtown.
To receive an individual medal, a contestant must place in the top 10. Team medals are awarded to the top-four squads across Minnesota.
Awards will be presented to the shooters during a banquet on a yet to be determined date in November at Christ the King Lutheran Church.
Schulze reported several shooters are expected to represent the county in the national 4-H contest set for June 21-26 in Grand Island, Neb.
Statewide, the 4-H program began during the 1980s — now enrolled with more than 5,000 youth plus about 1,000 adult leaders.
A list of top individual and team performances accompanies this story.
Pipestone County 4-H Shooting Sports team member Cora Loll competes during the state shoot in Alexandria the first full weekend of September. (Contributed photo)
SHOOTING SPORTS
4-H Shooting Sports
and Wildlife
At Alexandria
Friday-Sunday, Sept. 5-7
Individual Awards
Zachary Schulze: Standard Air Rifle, Intermediate, 5th; Air Pistol, Intermediate, One Hand, 3rd; Air Pistol, Intermediate, Two Hands, 2nd; .22 Rifle, Intermediate Target Grade, 10th; Intermediate Silhouette Pistol, 3rd
Ethan Faber: Standard Air Rifle, Intermediate, 7th; .22 Rifle, Intermediate Target Grade, 2nd; Intermediate Silhouette Rifle, 1st
Joseph Kor: Standard Air Rifle, Senior, 2nd; 3-Position Air Rifle, Senior, 1st; Air Pistol, Senior, One Hand, 1st; .22 Rifle, Senior Target Grade, 2nd; Senior Silhouette Pistol, 1st
Addison Burke: Standard Air Rifle, Senior, 10th; 3-Position Air Rifle, Senior, 9th; .22 Rifle, Senior Target Grade, 5th
Brody Hiniker: 3-Position Air Rifle, Intermediate, 10th; .22 Rifle, Intermediate Target Grade, 4th
Braedon Kor: 3-Position Air Rifle, Senior, 2nd; Air Pistol, Senior, One Hand, 4th; .22 Rifle, Senior Target Grade, 10th; Senior Silhouette Rifle, 2nd
Torin Schroyer: Intermediate trap, 7th
Crystal Soleta: Archery, Junior Class C, 3rd
Grace Soleta: Archery, Intermediate Class C, 10th
Ellen Brown: Archery, Senior Class A, 3rd; Archery, Senior Class B, 5th
Jase Schaap: BB Gun, Junior, 2nd
Lawson Hiniker: BB Gun, Junior, 10th
Lucas Faber: BB Gun, Intermediate, 2nd; 3-Position Air Rifle, 5th
JordynBre Schulze: Air Pistol, Intermediate, Two Hands, 8th
Cora Loll: .22 Rifle, Intermediate Target Grade, 9th
Colin Bucher: Senior, Silhouette Rifle, 6th
Kasey Burke: Junior, Silhouette Pistol, 7th
Aaron Schulze: Junior, Silhouette Pistol, 8th
Team Awards
Intermediate .22 Target Grade: Pipestone, 1st
Intermediate Air Pistol, Two Hands: Pipestone, 4th
Intermediate BB Gun: Pipestone, 2nd
Intermediate Trap: Pipestone, 2nd
Senior .22 Target Grade: Pipestone, 2nd
Senior 3-Position Air: Pipestone, 1st
Senior Air Pistol, One Hand: Pipestone, 2nd
Senior Standard Air: Pipestone, 2nd