LSU AgCenter teaches safety skills through the 4-H Shooting Sports Program

The Evangeline Parish 4-H Program and the LSU AgCenter sponsored two educational programs for the youth to learn safe and responsible use of firearms, archery and related equipment. The 4-H Shooting Sports Program’s purpose is to assist young people in personal development, in establishing a personal environmental ethic and in exploring life-long vocational and non-vocational activities through hands-on experiences and positive interactions with youth and adult role models. The Louisiana Shooting Sports Program offers educational programs in shotgun, rifle, hunting, muzzle loader and archery.
“Many youth in Evangeline Parish are involved in hunting and shooting activities at an early age, making it critical that they learn the proper use of firearms and related equipment. Through the Evangeline Parish 4-H Shooting Sports Program, youth are educated in this area and through participation they are introduced to life-skills such as decision- making, self-discipline, concentration and social responsibility. Another important aspect of the program is to strengthen families through participation in lifelong recreational activities,” according to Todd Fontenot, associate extension agent with the LSU AgCenter.
The Evangeline Parish 4-H Shooting Sports programs were held on Saturday, January 18, and Saturday, February 22, at the Chauncey Pitre Multipurpose Building. Special thanks to John McClelland, shotgun and rifle instructor; and John Michael Fontenot, Jody Fontenot and Glenda Fontenot, archery instructors, for volunteering to conduct these educational programs for the youth of Evangeline Parish.
Winners at the Evangeline Parish Shooting Sports Match in the Jr. B.B. rifle competition were: Jazmine Hall, Mamou 4-H Club, first place; Kevin Hall, Mamou 4-H Club, second place; Hayden Clark, Bayou Chicot 4-H Club, third place; Callie Pitre, Sacred Heart 4-H Club, fourth place; and Anne Marie Bieber, Mamou 4-H Club, fifth place.
Winners in the Evangeline Parish Senior Shotgun competition were: Kellie Barnes and Brannon Pitre, both Sacred Heart 4-H Club, tied for first place.
Winners in the Evangeline Parish Junior Shotgun competition were: Hayden Clark, Bayou Chicot 4-H Club, first place; William Barnes, Sacred Heart 4-H Club, second place; and Nicholas Fontenot, Sacred Heart 4-H Club, third place.
Winners in the Evangeline Parish Archery competition were:
Recurve Bow Junior Division: Bo John Armand, Sacred Heart 4-H Club, first place; Anne Marie Bieber, Mamou 4-H Club, second place; and Hayden Clark, Bayou Chicot 4-H Club, third place.
Recurve Bow Senior Division: Kellie Barnes of Mamou High 4-H Club, first place.
Compound Bow Junior Division: Andrew Bieber, Mamou 4-H Club, first place; Wyatt Welch, Bayou Chicot 4-H Club, second place; and Wesley Launey, Sacred Heart 4-H Club, third place.
The Southern Region Shoot was held in Port Allen on March 13-18. Winners were:
Junior Modified Shotgun: William Barnes of Sacred Heart 4-H Club placed fifth and qualified for state.
Sr. Archery (Bare–Bow): Josh Castille, Sacred Heart 4-H Club, sixth place, and qualified for state.
Jr. Archery (Bare-Bow): Bo John Armand, Sacred Heart 4-H Club, sixth place; and Evyn Soileau, Sacred Heart 4-H Club, 10th place, and both qualified for state. Daniel Paul, Bayou Chicot 4-H Club, also qualified for state.
Jr. Compound Archery: Wyatt Welch, Bayou Chicot 4-H, qualified for state.
Placing at Southern Region in B.B. gun was: Callie Pitre, Sacred Heart 4-H Club, placed ninth and qualified for state.
The State Shooting Sports Shoot was held April 24-27, in the Shreveport area. Winners were:
Junior Bare Bow Archery: Bo John Armand of Sacred Heart 4-H, second place in state; and Evyn Soileau of Sacred Heart 4-H, ninth place in state.
The Evangeline Parish 4-H Shooting Sports Program is open to youth between the ages of nine and 19 and students can join 4-H at the beginning of the school year.
For more information on the LSU AgCenter’s 4-H Outdoor Skills Program or any 4-H youth development Pprogram, you can contact Mr. Todd Fontenot at 337-363-5646.