We had a great day at the Emerald Empire Gun Club. Twenty-two shooters showed up this morning to participate in this great event. We had wonderful weather at this shoot (compared to the shoot back in June) and the smiles on the faces of the shooters were more common this time. I was very happy with the progression the shooter made throughout the day, as they all had great teachable attitudes. It was a thrill for the instructors to witness the shooters during the carding the sights exercise. The average group size shrank quite rapidly as the shooters started trusting NPOA and shot by the numbers.
I would like to thank Steve for offering to step up and offering to help us out, but we really need you to focus on helping you get your Rifleman patch. We are all looking forward to you getting your Rifleman patch as we already have an Orange Hat with you name on it, we are just waiting for you to claim it.
The shooters made great progress today, and we had some students that were knocking on the Rifleman's door on Saturday. Hopefully the shooters that are returning on Sunday will earn their patches. Their proficiency was evident in the final Red Coat targets, as we had 5 shooters with head shots, and one student who was one shot away from clearing the target. We took a few targets with us, to score in the evening, from the final AQT of the day. We discovered that Witt had shot a 211 and had become Oregon's newest Rifleman. Congratulations Witt!
These shooters showed real dedication by showing up to the range today, even when the Oregon Ducks were playing at home. Springfield is a really enthusiastic college football town, but these shooter know what they are all about, and came to the range instead.
On Sunday, we started the day with 8 less shooters. The shooters that did come were all stiff and sore, and anxious to start their day of hammer on the AQT anvil. Their first Red Coat of the day reaffirmed their aches and pains, but they quickly regained their marksmanship skills as the morning progressed.
I was very proud of our Junior Shooters this weekend. We had an enthusiastic group this weekend and they were very open to learning and practiced the skills they were being taught. Our 11 year old shooter, Robert, has been telling his dad that he is planning on becoming an instructor as soon as he earns his Riflemen. We will graciously welcome you into the ranks of instructors in the NW.
What a great shoot! A good time was had by all, great weather and just a bunch of happy people that it was a pleasure to be around! Congrats to Whit for earning his patch, Hope to see everyone again soon on the Appleseed trail, remember, a Rifleman/woman persists! I've got some photos posted below.
Here is a facebook photo album I put together of the Springfield, Oregon Appleseed.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1985605441392.2097401.1280961904&l=9d49fe7060&type=1 (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1985605441392.2097401.1280961904&l=9d49fe7060&type=1)
Shooters, you were great! Teachable attitudes. Persistent and striving for that coveted rifleman's patch. You kept safe and worked hard to improve your skill and the skill of others at the shoot. Well done!
Whit - you mastered the AQT and are no longer a cook - you are a rifleman! Huzzah, huzzah, huzzah! It was a pleasure meeting you and your lovely wife. I'm glad it looks like there is an orange hat in the near future for you and Michelle improved so much. Well done both of you.
Reise and Becky - you two were great. Reise, I appreciate your love of the history and your support for what we do at Appleseed. I hope you come out again - you did great. Even though you are a military and law enforcement veteran, I'm thrilled there were some new things you took away from Appleseed. You were very teachable. Becky, you improved so much. I'm sorry we didn't figure out how to get you a sling working until Sunday morning, but once you had that sling, your accuracy and confidence took a hearty jump.
Steve - you are knocking on the door. Thank you (and your sons) for being so teachable. You and Andrew have all of the knowledge to earn your patches, you just have to put all of the pieces together at once. Also thank you so very much for approaching us and asking to help. I can't wait until you get your orange hat, but for now you need to stay focused on your own growth as a marksman. You are *so* close!
Angela and Austin - it was a treat watching you two work together and improve your skill. Continue to dry practice at home. I know you will continue to improve. Austin, watch your mother's trigger control. Breathe in, breathe out, reset, fire. She had that down.
Chip, thanks for coming out. It was a pleasure to meet you and I appreciate your safety awareness. Remember not to white knuckle that rifle. Keep your support hand open and your elbow underneath the rifle and you will do well.
Jan (sp?) - it was a pleasure meeting you and your family. You and Jason destroyed those peppermints. I'm sure bags of peppermints will tremble in fear when you walk down the candy aisle of grocery stores.
Everyone - you were great. What a wonderful weekend to be an American rifleman.
Prescott - you were awesome as a shoot boss. If Appleseed does SB evaluation forms, please have them send one my way - I have nothing but good things to say and I look forward to working with you again.
Ducko - it was a pleasure meeting you and working with you for the first time. It was a treat meeting another Washington State Appleseed Project comrade who lives just down the road from where I live. See you on the Appleseed trail, my friend.
Although I don't have the artistic flare like Western Rose and Evenstar, nor do I have the skill of capturing those tender moments at an Appleseed like Joni, I gave it my best shot and took a lot of pictures. Please check out my facebook gallery of pictures. (Joni and Theophilus - we missed you! Please come home soon...)
- ShadowMan
Here are some of the pictures to prove that it all really happened.
Our fearless shoot boss leader, Prescott, welcoming 22 teachable patriots to the event on Saturday morning.
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Hmmm, target backers - check, shooting mats - check, what's missing from this photo?
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Ah yes, rifles! No Appleseed would be complete without them.
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Check out that chicken wing on Ducko during the beginning of position instruction!
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At lunch, Prescott delivers the story of the first strike of the match that began the Revolutionary War.
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Ducko teaching the sitting position and relevant steady hold factors.
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Students card each others' sights. Amazingly, they shot much better when they couldn't see their targets and they had to trust their natural point of aim.
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Andrew deep in thought and studying the target as he prepares to shoot the anvil that produces riflemen - the AQT.
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Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah! Well done, Whit, for earning your rifleman's patch. You barely missed an Appleseed baptism with a score of 211.
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Our shoot boss got in the dirt to help a shooter with the ball and dummy drill. He is modeling our credo that instructors are willing to get down in the dirt if it means helping a shooter improve their marksmanship. By the way, once Becky started working the sling on Sunday, she became far more accurate.
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Although the cameraman briefly caught Prescott's attention, he continued the storytelling of the story of ol' Samuel Whittemore without skipping a beat.
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Below, we finished out the Appleseed by presenting two persistent young shooters their Young Patriot's Patch for their dedication and hard work. Well done, Jason and Austin!
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Hope to see you all on the Appleseed trail in the future!
- ShadowMan
QuoteAlthough I don't have the artistic flare like Western Rose and Evenstar, nor do I have the skill of capturing those tender moments at an Appleseed like Joni, I gave it my best shot and took a lot of pictures. Please check out my facebook gallery of pictures.
ShadowMan, Looks to me like you did a
very good job. O0
Looks like a great event. Hope I can make it over there someday.
My son and I had so much fun and learned so much Thank you to our great instructors. We are looking forward to our next shoot already.
We had a great time. Looking to keep practicing! I took some Pictures that need to be posted! -steve
More Pictures. It appears to limit me to three per post. -steve
Next to last batch.
Last batch. -steve
Howdy all...I just snowshoed out to the internet and what do I see? just a bunch of Riflemen teaching good folks how to shoot their rifles....Good Great job PacNW Appleseeders...Great job Prescott.. I know that the PacNW is in good hands.
W44
It is exciting to me to see repeat shooters come back! I see several familiar faces and I hope next time I will be there to see them get their rifleman patches!!
Vacation was great, worked an AS in Knob Creek, KY with Mudcat and his crew, and the next weekend with Ratchet and her crew in Piqua, OH. Always so much fun to meet new friends on the Appleseed Trail!
Prescott, Ducko and Shadowman, you did great! Thanks for all the pictures, they are great! and thanks Steve for your pictures. My next AS is Labam's Ladyseed, Are there anymore camping spots??
Ducko,
Thanks for the loaner rifle and all the great instruction.
Prescott,
It was great to meet you and I look forward to more shoots in Oregon. Let's find another range in the Portland area.
George,
Thanks for the good instruction and heartfelt history lessons. I learned more than I imagined and came away a changed man.
Hope to see you all soon.
Whit
Quote from: whit on September 30, 2011, 01:46:02 AM
Hope to see you all soon.
Whit,
I look forward to seeing (and working with) you on the Appleseed trail. You and your wife were a pleasure to teach.
- George (aka ShadowMan)