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Summer archery league sets sights on county fair

On a weekly basis, dozens of Cheyenne County youth have been taking up arms just outside of Sidney getting ready for action next month.

But there's no reason to duck for cover or call the sheriff's office. It's just the Cheyenne County 4-H'ers practicing their archery skills ahead of July's shooting sports competition at this year's county fair and rodeo.

"This is our third year," archery coach Kevin Wehrer said. "Our group is the largest in the Nebraska Panhandle right now."

Wehrer said in 2014, UNL Extension Educator Cynthia Gill, who oversees the 4-H programs in Cheyenne, Banner and Kimball counties, contacted him, Dan King and Marshall Bowen about starting an archery program.

"She said there was a lot of interest in archery," he said. "The kids wanted something active to do."

Wehrer said several of the 4-H'ers in the archery program are also part of the trap shooting program, but age restrictions forced younger 4-H'ers to wait to join a shooting sport.

"And archery's the first program a lot of youth can get into for shooting sports," he said. "But it doesn't really matter your age, as we've had so many freshmen in high school join our program."

Wehrer said when they first began offering the program, he estimated they would have maybe ten 4-H'ers at most.

"But we had a little over 20 in our first year," he said.

Supplies and equipment were scarce during that initial year as well, with club members sharing four bows and three targets.

"We didn't have much to work with that first year," Wehrer said.

The second year saw the club grow by more than 50 percent to more than 30 members. Wehrer said 35 additional targets were purchased using grant money and additional donations.

This year, Wehrer said they are expecting close to 70 4-H'ers participating in the archery program.

"It's in big demand right now," he said.

Skill levels range from a more seasoned shooters with couple of years experience to first-timers just picking up the bow.

"And when the kid is out here for the first time, we (coaches) are hands on with them until they release their first arrow," Wehrer said. "And then we will watch them for the first round, and then from a distance until they feel comfortable."

The 4-H archery program offers members both winter and summer leagues, with the summer league currently in full swing. Archers attend weekly practice sessions every Thursday afternoon at the Sidney Shooting Park in preparation for the county fair and rodeo.

"We just started the first Thursday in May," Wehrer said. "And we will be going until the end of July."

While King has left the program as a coach, Wehrer said Hannah Haun and Jack Hendricks have assisted during practices and are looking to become certified as instructors at the next opportunity.

"It's a weekend-long class, about eight hours every day," he said.

Weather can be a factor in their practices, Wehrer said, with rain and heavy wind causing delays and sometimes cancellations.

"We don't want a bad experience for the kids," he said. "When you go from shooting on a normal day to shooting against the wind and no longer hitting the target, it's discouraging for the kids."

Wehrer said the contest tasks archers with shooting groups of five arrows at three different distances, with the score tallied at the end.

"It's a total combined score," he said.

Wehrer said they will participate in competitions hosted by other clubs throughout the year, but do not travel as a team for those meets.

"As of right now, it's all individual," he said. "I'd like to see more as we get more organized and more clubs form closer to us. It used to be an 80-mile drive to find another club, but we're starting to see more in our area, like Chappell has a club."

Archers also keep a detailed record book chronicling their experiences shooting and what they learned from the program.

"One of the main things that 4-H teaches is leadership," Wehrer said. "So we have the kids teach their parents how to shoot a bow and stuff like that. We want to turn shooting into something they can use for the rest of their lives."

Wehrer said besides the typical practice, "fun day" shoots are also held sporadically, offering 4-H'ers a variety of targets including 3-D models of game animals and balloons.

"Something different than just shooting at paper targets," he said. "We try to keep it interesting for them."

Interest in archery has also spread to parents, Wehrer said, with many also taking turns to practice shooting arrows as well.

"So instead of just watching the kids shoot, it's turned into a family sport," he said.

In shooting sports, cost can be a determining factor for participation, as it can be an expensive project. A good rifle, for example, sells for $400 or more in most cases.

In contrast, archery tends to be a cheaper option as a recurve bow can be purchased for under $100.

"But if you want a compound bow, which you can sights and rests to it and really customize it, it can get quite expensive," Wehrer said. "But then it's customized to the kid, and nobody else out here can pick up his and her bow and use it as accurately."

Wehrer said new members typically start off using the club's bows, which he described as "very universal," for maybe the first six months to one year.

"Then once they decide that they like (archery), they will go out and purchase their own so they can customize it," he said.

Jackson Hill, 11, said he grew up watching hunting show on television, and decided at an early age that archery was something he wanted to do.

"I've known since I was about six," Hill said.

Hill received his bow when he was nine years old and has been shooting with the Sidney Sharpshooters ever since.

"My general shooting and form has gotten better since (I started)," Hill said.

Through the years, Hill said he has made modifications to his compound bow to improve his shooting, including adding a new sight.

"The sight before didn't have a level bubble thing," he said. "So I couldn't tell if my bow was crooked."

Hill said he practices as often as he can, shooting targets whenever he can at his home as well as at the weekly practices with his club. He said he plans to continue with the 4-H archery program for as long as he can.

"I love it," Hill said.

Additional information on the Cheyenne County 4-H archery program can be found online at facebook.com/cc4harchers.

To join the 4-H program, students must reside in the county and be at least eight years old but no older than 19 years old as of Jan. 1. Cheyenne County 4-H also offers Clover Kids membership for children between five and seven years old that allows them to participate, but not compete, in activities and projects.

Registration into the 4-H program can be done online at ne.4honline.com. There is a $10 enrollment fee for youth.

For information on the 4-H program, contact the Cheyenne County Extension office at (308) 254-4455.

 

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