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, muzzleloader 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, Jan. 31, and Saturday, Feb 28, at the Chauncey Pitre Multipurpose Building. Special thanks to Michelle Bieber, shotgun instructor, and John Michael Fontenot, Jody Fontenot and Bo Soileau, 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: Olivia Guillory of Vidrine 4-H, first place; Emily Deshotel of Vidrine 4-H, second place, Collin Estilette of Sacred Heart 4-H, third place; Caden Lejeune of Sacred Heart 4-H, fourth place; and Anne Marie Bieber of Mamou 4-H, fifth place. Sr. B.B. competition: Callie Pitre of the Sacred Heart 4-H, first place.
Winners in the Evangeline Parish Senior Shotgun competition: Brannon Pitre of Sacred Heart 4-H, first place and William Barnes of Sacred Heart 4-H, second place.
Winners in the Evangeline Parish Junior Shotgun competition: Silas Fontenot of Sacred Heart 4-H, first place; Benjamin Romero of James Stephens Montessori 4-H, Nicholas Bourgeois of Bayou Chicot 4-H and Trey Bieber of Mamou 4-H, all three tying for second place.
Winners in the Evangeline Parish Archery competition were:
Recurve Bow Junior Division: Daniel Paul of Bayou Chicot 4-H, first place; Jonathan Deshotels of Sacred Heart 4-H, second place.
Recurve Bow Senior Division first place winner was Bo John Armand of Sacred Heart 4-H; and second place is Evyn Soileau of Sacred Heart 4-H.
Compound Bow Junior Division first place winner was Anne Marie Bieber, a Mamou 4-H’er, Nicholas Bourgeois of Bayou Chicot 4-H, second place and Wyatt Welch of Bayou Chicot 4-H, third place.
Compound Bow Senior Division first place winner was Isaiah Ardoin of the Good Shepherd Homeschool 4-H, and Andrew Bieber of Mamou 4-H, second place.
The Southern Region Shoot was held in Port Allen on March 26-29.
Placing in the Junior Modified Shotgun: Kade Johnson of Bayou Chicot 4-H placed first and qualified for state.
Placing in the Senior Modified Shotgun: Brannon Pitre of Sacred Heart 4-H placed first and qualified for state. William Barnes of Sacred Heart 4-H placed twelfth and qualified for State. Cole Foret of Sacred Heart 4-H also qualified for State.
Placing in the Senior Archery (Bare–Bow): Evyn Soileau of Sacred Heart 4-H, second place and Bo John Armand of Sacred Heart 4-H, fourth place and both qualified for state.
Placing in the Jr. Archery (Bare-Bow): Daniel Paul of Bayou Chicot 4-H, fourth place and qualified for state.
Placing in the Junior Archery (Compound Bow) was Wyatt Welch of Bayou Chicot 4-H, 10th place and qualified for state.
The State Shooting Sports Shoot was held April 23-26, in the Shreveport area.
Junior Bare Bow Archery: Daniel Paul of Bayou Chicot 4-H, 13th place in state.
Senior Bare Bow Archery: Bo John Armand of Sacred Heart 4-H, second place in state and Evyn Soileau of Sacred Heart 4-H third place in state.
Junior Modified Shotgun: Kade Johnson of Bayou Chicot 4-H, seventh place in state.
Senior Modified Shotgun: Brannon Pitre of Sacred Heart 4-H, fourth place in state and Cole Foret of Sacred Heart 4-H, seventh 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 Program, you can contact Mr. Todd Fontenot at 337-363-5646.