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(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) A Young County 4-H Archery club member prepares to shoot a target at the training barn located on West Street in Graham. The club hosts practices every Tuesday and Thursday at the barn in Graham. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Young County 4-H Archery Coach David Cook speaks with members at the training barn located on West Street in Graham. The local program is part of the Young County 4-H Shooting Sports organization which offers youth activities. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Youth participants in the Young County 4-H Archery program line up to practice shooting at the archery barn in Graham. Coaches for the program teach the participants the fundamentals of archery. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Participating 4-H members and coaches of the Young County 4-H Archery program pose for a photo. The club meets Tuesdays and Thursdays at the training barn in Graham. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Texas 4-H Ambassador and Young County 4-H member Maddie Hearne prepares to shoot at the training barn located on West Street in Graham. Hearne will be a part of the Compound Archery team for Texas during the National 4-H Shooting Sports national competition this summer.
With options such as archery, rifle and shotgun, the Young County 4-H Shooting Sports program provides activities and skills for youth that can last a lifetime.
Texas 4-H provides youth development programs for participants from ages 8-18. To participate in shooting sports, participants must be enrolled as a 4-H member and then connect with the Young County 4-H Shooting Sports club for details.
Texas 4-H Ambassador and Young County 4-H member Maddie Hearne works to promote the 4-H Shooting Sports Program and is in her second year with the local 4-H archery club.
“Shooting sports really teaches self discipline, and it’s a lot of responsibility to keep up with your own gear. It also teaches consistency. It builds confidence and there’s a lot of patience put into learning how to compete or shoot a bow or a gun,” Hearne said.
Young County has 57 participants enrolled in 4-H Shooting Sports across archery, rifle, shotgun, muzzle-loading pistol and hunting and wildlife.
“It’s a hands-on program designed to teach youth ages 8 to 18 marksmanship, safety, responsibility and life skills,” Hearne said.”It really emphasizes personal growth, good sportsmanship, teamwork, goal setting and community involvement, and it’s a lifetime sport.”
The 4-H Archery Barn in Young County is located on West Street off of Fourth Street. The group meets at the location on Tuesdays and Thursdays to practice shooting. For archery, or any of the local shooting sports clubs, Hearne said to meet in person and see what the program offers.
“Go meet the coach, tell them like you’re new to this, you’ve never done it, and you’re interested. Most likely they’d let you watch the practice, and they’d probably let you try it to see if you like it. I’d really suggest doing that before you just commit,” she said.
The programs also hold competitions that can vary by each club. For the archery competitions, they are split into county, district, state and national.
“(For) County (it is) in your county or other counties, and usually it just consists of mostly people from your own county. (The) District (competition) would be anyone from your district. ...State is anybody in the state can be anybody from another district (or) county. ...National is the states competing against each other,” Hearne said.
County rifle and pistol club members will be competing next month in the 2025-2026 District 3 Rolling Plains Rifle and Pistol Contest that will be held Saturday, April 25 at the Northwest Texas Field and Stream Daume Marksmanship Facility in Wichita Falls.
Hearne will also be serving on the Compound Archery team for Texas during the National 4-H Shooting Sports national competition this summer. To sign up to be a 4-H member, visit 4honline.com.
Young County 4-H program information can also be found by visiting the organization’s Facebook page where event and activity calendars are posted with contact information for volunteer coaches for each club.
