WTU Supports 4-H Shooting Sports Workshop; WTU Press Release

Whitetails Unlimited Continues Support of 4-H Workshop

Whitetails Unlimited continues to be a sponsor of the 4-H Shooting Sports program, one of the country’s most prominent and active youth shooting activities. WTU’s unique partnership with 4-H goes back over two decades, to 1991 in Ames, Iowa, when WTU first joined forces with the 4-H Shooting Sports Foundation.

As in the past, WTU’s recent support focused on sponsoring the 2011 National 4-H Shooting Sports State Coordinator Workshop, enhancing volunteer recruitment, and supporting state resource development. State Coordinators are the folks who provide the leadership for the 4-H shooting sports in their particular state.

The 2011 leader-training workshop was held on September 26-29 at the Stoney Creek Inn in Columbia, Missouri. The 4-H workshop was well attended and had adult leaders from almost 40 different states. It was also sponsored through the generosity of Larry and Brenda Potterfield and Midway USA.

“Whitetails Unlimited sponsors the program because we recognize that 4-H is in a strategic position to offer a positive gun safety message to the youth of our nation,” said Pete Gerl, Whitetails Unlimited’s executive director. Currently there are over 300,000 young people actively taking part in the shooting sports program, and an established core of over 15,000 trained adult volunteer instructors. The program teaches youth the safe and responsible use of firearms, and the fundamental techniques of using air guns, .22’s, blackpowder, rifles, and shotguns. The basic principles of hunting and archery are also taught as disciplines of the program.

The 4-H Shooting Sports program is active in nearly all states and continues to be one the organization’s fastest growing projects, with over 100 programs currently being offered to 4-H participants. With over 6.5 million members in 4-H nationally, the potential for growth in firearm safety is tremendous.

WTU Press Release