We had a small (9), but enthusiastic group of 4H'ers from Guilford County Shooting Sports for a one-day blast from the fire hose of heritage and marksmanship. The kids and parents soaked up the marksmanship training, while Lawrence regaled them with the three strikes. Lawrence is the "Michael Jordan" of Appleseed history. Everyone should definitely hear Lawrence do the three strikes.
The day was hot and muggy, as it is supposed to be in the Carolina's in July, but the shooters pushed through. Unfortunately, we lost some shooters as the day progressed to other obligations, but we had three (hail and hearty) individuals who completed two AQTs by days end.
It was a pleasure having families who were intently interested in both the heritage and marksmanship. These were the kind of people that should give us a glimmer of hope for the future.
My thanks go out to Lawrence, Kardiak Kid, Creeky Knees, and Laertes - they are a solid, professional crew, and they made my job easy.
Thanks to everyone who was involved. You are right, these folks are our future. :bow:
Can you give us a thumbnail sketch of the 4-H Appleseed day on the range?
I am a certified 4-H rifle, shotgun, and soon to be pistol instructor who went to an Appleseed to be a better 4-H instructor and ended up with an orange hat and a pile of history books on the night stand.
Earlier this year I was working on a 4-H tournament line with another RO. Three of the shooters had serious questions and challenges, like "What should my sights look like on the target?" The other RO and myself immediately went to the mats and got out pencils working quickly with the overwhelmed shooters. We were kneeling on both sides of a shooter when I looked up at the other RO and asked, "Appleseed?" OutaAmmo replied, "Appleseed."
This weekend I will have our county 4-H coordinator on an Appleseed line. I am formulating an agenda. >:D
The personnel in both the RWVA and the 4-H Shooting Sports communities have a lot in common regarding concern for the future of our youth and our way of life.
What did you include in the one day course? How did you promote the event? Did you encounter any significant difficulties, and how did you overcome them?