AMES, Iowa -- Iowa 4-H'ers recently competed for the first time in a National Invitational for 4-H Shooting Sports.

Held in Columbia, Mo., the event pitted top state qualifiers in archery, shotgun and rifle against youth from 22 states. 

Brad Leurs and Ross Sieren, Keokuk County, and Aaron Hill, Ryan Mueller, M.J. Hulsing and Cindy Smith, all of Worth County, earned the right to compete in the four-day national invitational.

Iowa youth were coached by Rick Tremmel - Keokuk County, and Andy Hill and Dean Mueller - both of Worth County.

Luers and Hulsing competed in shotguns, Hill and Mueller competed with smallbore rifles, Smith competed with air rifle and Sieren competed in archery. Each 4-H'er competed in three events at the invitational. Winners of each individual event and overall winners received medals.

Even though Coach Andy Hill enjoyed preparing youth for the invitational, he doesn't believe competition is the most important part of the program.

"Shooting sports is a tool to help youth development," Hill said. "It is fun to see members of my 4-H club gain responsibility, decision making and social skills."

Youth interacted with more than 300 4-H'ers at the invitational. Another sidelight - several Iowa participants were invited to go wild boar hunting in Mississippi with local 4-H'ers.

"The kids came home wanting to learn another discipline so they can return to the national invitational next year," Hill said. (Youth must compete in a different category each time they attend the national invitational.)

4-H'ers 14 and older who finished in the top four at a mid-May qualifying event in Winterset, Iowa, were eligible to compete in Missouri. Youth between the ages of 9 and 13 were able to compete at the junior or intermediate level at the qualifying match for medals, but were not old enough to attend the national invitational.

Shooting sports will be offered as a 4-H project area for the first time in 2005-2006. The content provides a framework of knowledge and skills for lifetime participation in recreation, hobbies and careers related to shooting sports and wildlife.

For more information on shooting sports, contact your local Iowa State University Extension office.  

-30-