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Members of the Decatur County 4-H Archery team participated in the Georgia 4-H State Indoor Archery Match at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry on January 22, 2022. Over 600 archers from across Georgia participated in the 2-day event.

Decatur County 4-H Cloverleaf team members (4th-6th grades) competing were Preston Day, Bryan Doss, Gavin Hughes, Gunnar McNair, Corbin Keaton, Jacey Murray, and Luke Robertson. Autumn Wiggins competed as a Junior member (7th-8th grade) and Miles DeRocco competed on the Senior level (9th-12th grade).Decatur County 4-H was well represented by these young people.

Team members have been practicing twice weekly since November 2021 in preparation for the state contest. This opportunity would not be possible without the dedication and hard-work of volunteer coaches. The 2021-22 coaches include head coach Charles Wiggins and Sam Hughes. Skye Clements is also a 2021-22 Decatur County 4-H Archery team member.

Additionally, team members Day, Doss, Hughes, Keaton, Murray, Robertson, Wiggins and DeRocco participated in the Early County Indoor Archery Tournament on January, 15, 2022. Gavin Hughes placed 2nd in the Cloverleaf Compound division and Autumn Wiggins was 3rd place in the Junior Compound division and Miles DeRocco was 4th in the Senior Compound division.

The 4-H Archery Program is a part of the Georgia 4-H Shooting Awareness, Fun and Education Program (S.A.F.E.). Project S.A.F.E. is an active program, attractive to youth and adult audiences. The program is curriculum based and designed to assist young people in personal development, establish a personal environmental ethic and explore life-long vocational and avocational activities. The program uses experiential learning and positive interactions with youth and adult role models to help young people develop self-concept, self-assurance and a positive self-image. Teamwork, cooperation, self-responsibility and character are among the many life skills gained by participating in the S.A.F.E program which is sponsored by the Georgia 4-H Foundation.

4-H is the youth program of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. For more information about Decatur County 4-H, please contact the Decatur County Extension Office at 229-248-3033.