SC 4-H Rifle Team still taking new members for 2023 competitive season

The Stephens County 4 H Rifle team is getting closer to the official start of their season, and is continuing to welcome new participants. 

Students in 7th to 12th grade who are interested in learning marksmanship, firearms safety, and becoming a 4-H Rifle Team member through the 4-H Rimfire Sporter Program, are invited to attend an informational meeting at 6 p.m on October 5. Parents are encouraged to attend. 

Team members can be from Stephens County or surrounding counties that do not have a 4-H Rimfire Sporter Rifle Team program. Team members can be students at public schools, home schooled, or from private schools. 

As earlier reported by WNEG News, The 4-H Rimfire Sporter program is a competitive shooting sport that will consist of learning shooting techniques in a competitive setting, which culminates with the Georgia 4-H State match in spring of 2024. 

One of the goals for the three coaches – Bruce Grant, and Mike and Stephanie Mayo, is to teach responsibility, and a part of that is requiring commitment to the team. 

Grant talked to WNEG News about the season length and practice schedule, and the commitment required from participants.

He also talked about the safety of the sport.

While there are many benefits to team members outside competitive wins, such as gaining confidence and maturity, the 4-H rifle team is a competitive sport, and Grant said the team saw a good deal of success last year in both open site and telescopic site divisions, with both senior and junior teams.

While many team members provide their own guns and shooting kits for practice and competition, Grant said that , for students and parents who may not have the resources to fully invest in the equipment needed, the team has a number of generous supporters locally that make it possible for the team to provide full shooting kits for up to 12 team members.

To learn more about the 4-H rimfire sporter program and competitive team, search online for 4-H Project Safe and select 22 Rimfire.