Whew! The state of Kansas is finally on the Appleseed map and has hosted their first Appleseed. It was a good one, with a great group of shooters that came out despite the threatening weather. Providence smiled on us, and we never actually got rained on (maybe drizzled a bit Saturday morning).
Our host Joe is just an amazing guy. Despite health problems that limited his ability to participate, he did everything he could (and more) to make the shooters and instructors comfortable and the shoot a success. Plus he has offered his land as a DAR, which will be a huge boon for Kansas.
Saturday I believe we had 35 shooters. It was cloudy and dreary, but almost no wind, which is pretty rare for Kansas. Dad got them kicked off, and we proceeded steadily through the day. The shooters paid attention and had a great attitude, which made our job as instructors much easier. Dad did history, we got our drills done and were ready for the 3pm shoot honoring those that gave the ultimate sacrifice that day. After that we had plenty of time to shoot some AQTs and make a Rifleman. The final redcoat showed dramatic improvement through the day. Our new rifleman was barely on paper at the beginning of the day. How's that for improvement?
Saturday night it rained something like 3 inches, and when I showed up Sunday morning about 1/3 of our line was under water. Dad insisted no one would show and I should just head home, but I had faith in those Kansans and 15 dedicated individuals showed up. We put down some tarps and were good to go.
We pounded out AQTs and mixed it up with a few drills and special exercises, trying to get those shooters who were on the cusp over the hump. We managed to make 2 more Riflemen and one Riflewoman who personified persistence. She shot a 210, and decided to take the orange hat rather than be thrown in the abundance of water nearby.
As the visiting instructor, let me say that I was very impressed with this group of shooters and I think this shoot is going to be a launchpad for Appleseed in Kansas. Once they get the word out, Kansas is going to be cranking out some serious Riflemen (and women). Even the kids that showed up did an outstanding job.
The future looks good for Kansas, and now hopefully Dad and his clan will have some help.
I'm sure I'll be seeing you guys again!
Greg
Hey, I just wanted to say thank you to Pat, Cindy, and Greg for putting on an outstanding Appleseed in Oxford this weekend! They really personalized and drove home the sacrifices the colonists made to free this country we all take for granted today. I also wanted to thank them for taking a special interest in helping my wife succeed in getting her Rifleman patch on her very first Appleseed (and before me)! If the rest of the Appleseed instructors are anything like these three, this program is guaranteed to reach the hearts and minds of America. We look forward to being at the next Appleseed and getting my rifleman's patch and orange hat to match my wife's! O0
Wow! What a great weekend I had. I learned so much from my instructors this weekend. I want to say thank you again to Greg, Cindy, and Pat for all of your help. Without your continued support and feedback I would not have made it to Riflewoman. I was so frustrated Sunday morning after improving Saturday afternoon. With a rifle change, patience, and continued instructions I was able to obtain what I thought would be impossible. I just wish my husband could have made Rifleman this weekend too. We will work together over the next 2 months and he will succeed in June. I hope that those of you who are on the fence about going do go. It was so much fun. I wasn't too sure about going myself, but figured...go this time and I can get out of the rest. I don't plan on getting out of anything now. I am sore, but extremely proud of what I accomplished this weekend and now plan on becoming an instructor myself to help future Appleseeders! Thanks again to everyone who helped, to Joe for allowing us to use his land...it was beautiful, and to the rest of the shooters out there who are helping this program expand. We are the future and must pass on what we have learned and bring back the tradition of marksmanship.
* Not sure how I posted under my husbands username...but this is what I have to say...not him! :)*
Wow! What a great weekend I had. I learned so much from my instructors this weekend. I want to say thank you again to Greg, Cindy, and Pat for all of your help. Without your continued support and feedback I would not have made it to Riflewoman. I was so frustrated Sunday morning after improving Saturday afternoon. With a rifle change, patience, and continued instructions I was able to obtain what I thought would be impossible. I just wish my husband could have made Rifleman this weekend too. We will work together over the next 2 months and he will succeed in June. I hope that those of you who are on the fence about going do go. It was so much fun. I wasn't too sure about going myself, but figured...go this time and I can get out of the rest. I don't plan on getting out of anything now. I am sore, but extremely proud of what I accomplished this weekend and now plan on becoming an instructor myself to help future Appleseeders! Thanks again to everyone who helped, to Joe for allowing us to use his land...it was beautiful, and to the rest of the shooters out there who are helping this program expand. We are the future and must pass on what we have learned and bring back the tradition of marksmanship.
Sounds like a successful Appleseed kickoff for Kansas.
I'd love to attend a shoot in Kansas, and I have friends and family out that way that I've been unsuccessful in drawing to a Missouri shoot... perhaps a little closer to home!
Congrats to our new Rifleman from Kansas!
Lil Lady,
Good people like you and your husband are the reason I drive hours to instruct at Appleseeds. Watching you guys progress and seeing your determination to succeed really makes it all worthwhile for us instructors. I am very much looking forward to working with you two on the line in the near future.
Check your PMs...
Greg
Kansas had it's first Appleseed. As Greg said, 35 shooters ranging in age from training band to alarm list. Our first Rifleman on Saturday persisted through a serious disability, then returned to shoot on Sunday.
18 shooters on Sunday. As always, it's amazing to watch the change in the shooters from Saturday to Sunday when things really come together. A husband and wife team ( and they were a team, they encouraged and coached each other all weekend ) will make a great addition to the the Kansas instructor corps.
Our range owner and hosts, Joe and Joanna, not only graciously provided a great range, they went " beyond the call of duty" to make sure we lacked nothing to make our shoot a success.
I'm looking forward to many more Appleseeds at Oxford.
Hi Guys:
I just signed up for the forum and wanted to post a big thanks to everyone who has worked to make this happen. I had a great time at the Oxford shoot and learned so much. Everybody was very helpful and friendly, both the shooters and the instructors.
I would encourage anyone who is on the fence and undecided about going to an appleseed event to just do it.
once again
Thanks for everything
If it wasnt for my own shoots in Oklahoma ...I would have been there with dad but I did get the next best thing .His son Smiley Dan and he was a wonderful Red hat too...So dont just sit there and say I might go to the shoot just go you will be suprised of the skills you will walk away with for little to nothing .....I can see a rifle line of more than 100 shooters coming soon why not be apart of it....Seeya in jun and jul in Kansas better sign up now before the slots are all gone folks....
I didn't make Rifleman this time. But I'm sure I will at the next Appleseed. Thanks to the great instruction of our VERY ABLE teachers. Cindy, Pat & Greg did a fantastic job! Joe's place is perfect for these events, and a BIG THANK YOU for inviting us to use it. I really enjoyed the history that Pat & Greg shared with us, and am looking to hearing more next time. Congraulations to everyone who attended, & especially to the folks that made Rifleman. Lil' Lady, you did a fantastic job in earning your badge! Kinda' like starting in the last row of a NASCAR race & winning. GOOD JOB!
I did come home with the tools to practice with to make me a better rifleman in the future.
Thanks again to Dad, Cindy and Greg*. It was a great weekend--I'm impressed with the people who showed up for day 2 under the forecast of rain after a night of non-stop rain and storms.
Thanks again to Joe for making us all feel at home.
*from Missouri. ???