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On April 14, 2022, Decatur County 4-H hosted a Southwest District 4-H Modified Trap Qualification Match in Bainbridge. Over seventy-five 4-H students from Seminole, Grady, Early, Lee, Echols, Irwin, and Decatur counties participated in the prerequisite shooting bout to determine eligibility for the 4-H State Target Challenge Weekend to be held at Rock Eagle 4-H Center on May 6-7, 2022. Qualification requirements for junior members (seventh and eighth grade) include breaking 16 out of 25 clays and senior members (9th -12th grade) hitting 20 of the 25 targets.

Decatur County 4-H senior team members of Landon Harrell, Nate Cannon, Holten Dollar, Kaden Smith, and Evan Hutto won 1st place for the senior team division. The team was tied for 1st place with Grady County with a score of 95 and then won after shooting doubles for the tie-breaker. Nate Cannon represented the team for doubles and hit 9 out of 10 targets for the team win.

Bainbridge Middle School 4-H’er, Kelan Newsome, received the award of Junior High Individual, breaking 25 out of 25 targets.

Middle school 4-H’ers competing at the Southwest District 4-H Modified Trap Qualification Match were: Langston Bennett and Kelan Newsome. Both junior team members will advance to the 4-H Target Challenge at Rock Eagle in May.

High school 4-H’ers competing were: Nate Cannon, Shelby Copeland, Parker Cox, Jackson Davis, Holten Dollar, Caden Godwin, Tyler Godwin, Grayson Griffin, Marshall Harper, Samuel Haire, Landon Harrell, Evan Hutto, Brannon Parker, Michael Rich, Logan Rich, Kaden Smith, and Christopher Staples.

High school 4-H’ers that qualified for the state match by breaking 20 out of 25 targets include: Nate Cannon, Shelby Copeland, Parker Cox, Jackson Davis, Holten Dollar, Caden Godwin, Tyler Godwin, Grayson Griffin, Samuel Haire, Landon Harrell, Evan Hutto, Brannon Parker, Michael Rich, Logan Rich, and Kaden Smith. Bainbridge High School 4-H’er, Holten Dollar, hit 25 out of 25 targets and advanced to the finals to shoot doubles. Team members have been practicing diligently each week since February under the guidance of dedicated volunteer coaches. Coaches for the Decatur County 4-H Shotgun Team are Jim Griffin, Lee Godwin, Tony Cox, Jeff Rich, and Todd Martin.

The Georgia 4-H Shooting Awareness, Fun and Education Program (S.A.F.E.) is sponsored by The Georgia 4-H Foundation. 4-H is the youth development program of the University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. For more information about Decatur County 4-H, call the Decatur County Extension Office at (229) 248-3033.