Nelsonville Mini

[Luna]

I want to thank everyone who participated in the mini event Saturday. I truly enjoyed having everyone at the property, even considering the conditions.

If ever I had witnessed the definition of Rifleman it was during this event.  The conditions we very challenging, raining all day, cool, and cloudy.  The mud was so deep and engulfing we didn't have to pick up brass at the end of the shoot.  The mud swallowed it all.  Dryfires tarps were well employed.

We had 3 new shooter at the event and a number of Orange hats lead by Dryfire, many working on PC's. 

Kenny and his daughter Kensie (sp). During the course of instruction a little competition developed between the 2 of them.  Sorry dad, Kensie beat him on the AQT and the final red coat, which she was one shot short of shooting clean.....did I mention this was the first time she had shot a rifle.  One of the keys to her success was the full attention she received from a Young patriot and orange hat Ishy.

Our 3rd new shooter showed great progress through the conditions.  His groups tightened with each course of fire.  Great job Steve.

I should also mention one other new shooter that day.  She consistently shot 4 MOA groups, using a bolt action, bi pod, fighting the mud and conditions without a complaint all day.  She will be the next Rifleman in the tradition that is the DOF.  By the way, she is 8 years old.

Outstanding effort by all.

[Ratchett]

Luna,

Only being able to visit for a short while was torture for me! I wish I could have spent the entire day. It was a first rate shoot that you and Dryfire had under super adverse conditions (when we left the foot path to the range area was a foot creek ). My brother really enjoyed seeing what his little sister has been doing in her spare time and is ready to try the AS COF. He was very impressed with your history and the sitting demo of RPD and Dryfire. He told me he could not believe how much he learned in the little bit of time we were able to be there. He was amazed at the one- on-one attention shooters were able to have and to see how shooter positions were corrected on the spot (ex RPD and Steve.) The DOF inspired him, as did the young orange hats calling the line. He talked about Goldfish, "I love to call the line" all evening.

Great job to everyone

Ratchett

[MeanStreaker]

Great job everyone!  Wish I could've been there.  The radio studio was way too dry and climate controlled for my tastes.

[RedNekEngr]

What a great day!  In some of the most miserable conditions possible.  The students did so well considering the cold, rain, and just pure mud on the range.     It is so rewarding to see my friends there.  I would have bet my paycheck that no one would have shown up in these conditions.  Steve drove up from Ravenswood, WV and Kenny and Kinsy came from Zanesville, OH.  That's makes for a very early and long day.  And to see Kinsy's smile everytime we walked down to look at the targets was priceless.  Everyone did so well and made steady progress throughout the day.  Kinsy was flat out awesome.  By the way, she kicked her dad's rear too.   I can't wait to see everyone at a full Appleseed with better conditions.  I am certain they will shoot a rifleman's score. 

I'll attempt to post some pictures of the day here.

[DryFire]

I was one wet DryFire by the end of Saturday It was great to have everyone together again, and to get this AS season kicked off right. Who knows guys with the amount of rain and mud we suffered this weekend, the weather may smile upon us for the rest of the season    Our three new shooters were great to have and Kinsy really shined out there. Her first target looked like she hit it with a shotgun and buckshot, but by the end of the day she missed clearing the redcoat by 1 shot  Those Richardson kids better watch out they have some competition on the line.

I am really looking forward to April in Athens, I know I have one great crew to count on. RedNekEngr's presentations were spot on and I have no problems seeing him promoted to an IIT3. Our young IIT's ran the line safely and professionally. My wife perservered through weather and a spot that sloped both down and to the left to make me very proud. I am also proud to say that Goldfish will be promoted to IIT2. Since the purpose of this mini was to reduce the number of PC's that I would have to do in April as SB those from the Athens IBC I decided who would go for PC checks this weekend vs in April. Well Ishy so impressed me that I gave her back her IIT2 PC and asked if she would be willing to go for her IIT3 in April. Looking forward to seeing you in April Ishy, the whole Ohio crew knows you will do well  To all the IITs you will hopefully get your IEF pm's soon, Angie and I just picked up two 7 week old puppies on Sunday so they are requiring a bit of my time at the moment 

To everyone on the line, thank you so much, and a huge thanks to Luna for letting my wife and I sleep in the cabin on Fri night and for letting all of us be guests on your awesome property.  Nothing like sleeping in a log cabin first errected in 1875 the night before we give the history of 1775. Luna let me know if you need help out there sir, I will gladly lend time and manpower to a friend.

[GoldFish]

Fantastic event.  This was my first whole Saturday as an IIT doing "instructor things" and I loved it. 
Steve, Kenny, and Kinsy, way to go for sticking with it even in all that mud.  The stuff was EVERYWHERE!!!    Richardson family, you guys do an exceptional job at recruiting/inviting and getting people to Appleseed shoots, and that's a lot easier said than done.   
Thank you DryFire and Luna for being RHing so that this event could happen, and thank you Luna for donating the use of your land all day Saturday. 

See you all on the Trail again soon!

---GoldFish