Monticello, MN AAR - Apr 27-28, 2024

[ProudPapa14]

Fourteen hearty souls showed up to help celebrate a Patriot's Day Weekend Appleseed at Monticello Sportsmen Club.  Weather was typical spring weather - forecasted to rain Friday, part of Saturday and then pickup again Sunday.  The cadre prepared for rain, but persisted.  Fourteen of the fifteen pre-registered individuals showed up and we had an awesome weekend.

Our first hits count showed we had some work to do.  The participants were up to the challenge.  They took in the marksmanship teaching, internalized it, and applied it.  We were able to run two AQTs on Saturday.  The first produced Josh - 1st time Appleseeder shooting for score of 214.  We thought we had two on that first one, but John's double check showed him with an incorrect hit count on one target, negating the score.  He persisted on the second and was able to earn his riflemen patch with a score of 211.

Sunday was predicted to be rain by 10 AM but 12 of the participants returned.  We did a quick hits count followed by review, some squares and then proceeded to shoot our first AQT of Sunday.  Scores were ok, but no new riflemen.  After lunch we posted our second AQT and the rain started coming down.  During the second AQT we awarded two more patches.  Congratulations to Natalie with a 221 and Greg with a weekend high of 227.

A note here - Greg was at last week's Rochester event with a rifle that caused him no shortage of issues.  For the strings of fire he could get off, he knew he was close.  Those gremlins appeared again on Saturday afternoon for both his rifle and a loaner that an instructor provided.  Sunday morning came and Greg knew he had 2 good AQTs in him and his rifle.  Sure enough, he got that good run on the second AQT without any of the "normal" issues he'd been facing and scored riflemen.  On the third AQT the gremlins came back.  Well done Greg - thanks for persisting and overcoming the challenges the weather and rifle presented to you!

We then shot the memorial volley a bit early and a final AQT in the pouring rain.  Thankfully we had a covered shooting line, but even then the 13-16 MPH wind was driving the water under the cover soaking everything and everyone.  As we pulled the third and last AQT of the day one young lady handed her target to TheDestroyer to score and proceeded with the final Hits Count target.

By the time the Hits Count was gathered up and counted, the young lady would be the only one to clear a Hits Count target during the weekend and shoot a rifleman score.  Congratulations Autumn - 215 score on your 5th AQT at your first Appleseed event and to add the cherry on top (as if out shooting an older and younger brother wasn't enough) clear the final hits count.  Awesome Job!

The weekend total: 5 first time riflemen at their first Appleseed event out of 14 participants and an instructor re-qual.  Great job instructors and well done attendees.

Congratulations to all of you.

Sam - we missed you on Sunday - keep bugging your uncle or your cousin to get you out practicing.   
Aaron - keep persisting, work on those rifle issues and you'll get that score your are hoping for
Bob & Bob - way to keep at it.  Working with a shoulder injury for one and a damaged firing pin for the other.
Shawn / David / Mathias / Gideon - you showed good improvement and a willingness to work on your skills. 
Mike - your practice and persistence is showing.  Your first AQT was right there before some cross-targets happened, but keep at it.  I know you will earn that patch if you keep at it.

To all of you, thank you for coming out and I hope to see you at a future event.  Until then continue on with your 7th Stepping.

Fellow volunteers - thank you for giving your weekend to further the mission of Project Appleseed! 

Pictures will follow later this week.

[Taylor]

 

[ProudPapa14]

Group Photo:


Youth Photo:


Riflemen:





Hoping we have an orange hat from this young lady - Pictured with one of her older brothers - see that smile 


neckburn's mobile brass screen


Random Other Photos:

[ProudPapa14]

Greg - thank you for stepping up and volunteering with Project Appleseed.  I look forward to seeing you on the Appleseed Trail.


Huzzah!

[Eagle Keeper]

 

[ProudPapa14]

More photos from heatstroke -