Hinckley, MN 9/11-12/2021

[Taylor]

I was privileged to spend another great Appleseed weekend at Hinckley Conservation Club's Rifle Range in Hinckley, MN. It was a wonderful way for 20 other Americans, my 5 fellow instructors and myself to honor the memory of those lost on September 11, 2001.

Never Forget!

Our students arrived with loads of teachable attitude and eagerly absorbed the spot-on instruction. The MN Instructor crew is gelling into a well-oiled machine.

Our new Riflemen were Jeffrey 216 and Doug 215. Congratulations for your hard work and Rifleman's persistence! Requalifying were Danny 224 and Ben 213.

Knocking on the door were Ellie 208, Paul 207, Adam M 196 and Mikey 195 among others whose high scores I missed. Jesse, Inga, Kailynn, Colin, Evelyn, Adam S, Chris, Stephanie and Jeff can all do it with continued Rifleman's persistence!

We had one student who merits a paragraph all his own. Steve Z aka Eagle Keeper came up from TN to attend our Appleseed with his family Stephanie, Jeff and Jeffrey and in the process put on a one-man show in precision rifle marksmanship. All of his AQTs scored 232 or better with the best being a 242 which earned him another Distinguished Rifleman rocker. And for icing on the cake he cleared all four Redcoats! Congratulations Eagle Keeper. Speaking for all your Brother Instructors it was our pleasure to meet and spend the weekend with you. You are welcome to come up and show us Northerners how to run a rifle any time.

Everyone felt the Spirit of The American Revolution in their hearts as The Three Strikes Of The Match were told.

My sincerest thanks to my fellow instructors attist178, m14man, ProudPapa14, TheDestroyer and Schweddy B. You guys made this event the success that it was, I'm just the gear hauler.

Congratulations m14man and ProudPapa14 on your well deserved promotions to Instructor! Huzzah!

Pictures to follow.

[Taylor]

Pics...

[Taylor]

Pictures...

[Taylor]

Last of my pictures...

[Eagle Keeper]

There is no better place to be on 9/11 than with my family and my Appelseed family.
Jeffrey Z getting his rifleman patch at his first Appelseed on 9/11 with a custom rifle that I tuned for him,  was a goal achieved.  Awesome weekend!  Thanks guys.   

[Taylor]

There is no better place to be on 9/11 than with my family and my Appelseed family.
Jeffrey Z getting his rifleman patch at his first Appelseed on 9/11 with a custom rifle that I tuned for him,  was a goal achieved.  Awesome weekend!  Thanks guys.   

Come on up North any time Eagle Keeper for some Northern hospitality!

[martin]

Congratulations to m14man and ProudPapa14 on becoming Instructors!   

[singhcr]

Thanks for the photos! I took a quick video if anyone is interested:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ssfAsZdeRMjHcu7c9

As an aside, I wanted to take the opportunity to again thank the instructors for their time, expertise, instruction, and plain old kindness.

Many times how a person is doing is hidden underneath, and you really don't know how good or bad they are feeling at the time and what impact your actions have on such a person.

I've been to two Appleseeds prior to this, but this was the first time that I finished one as previously I was so frustrated at my lack of progress that I quit. One thing I've always struggled with is self-confidence, and while other shooters are certainly helpful folks, I can't help but be self-critical and beat myself up. I noticed that the instructors were constantly reinforcing progress over perfection, and going out of their way to say things like "we aren't trying to pick on you" when my target was shown to the class as an example of when someone uses their muscles to switch targets instead of their NPOA. Again, to many this may be a minor thing but to a very self-critical person like me who was having a bad few weeks (depression, a recent break-up etc) that type of thing means the world to me.

The second day especially I got a lot of instruction, feedback, and encouragement from the instructors. Let me tell you that it really boosted my spirits and confidence and I was mentioning that to my coworkers on Monday. The second day I believe I was dehydrated and shaking while in the prone stage, and the instructors taught me to take extra breaths, and eventually suggested I sit out for a bit and recover. Multiple instructors checked up on me, offered me drinks and snacks and even a chair to replace the one that broke on me. I had the confidence boost to finish the last AQT and during the last redcoat target I wanted to improve on the 200 yds I got on day 1 and before I even got off my mat I knew I had done just that as I had improved to 3 hits at the 300 yd target. Externally I wasn't hooting and hollering but internally you better believe I was jumping for joy.

I know now that if I keep practicing, I can get that Rifleman's patch. It is important to me not only from a skill perspective but proof that despite my frustrations and lack of confidence I am a good shooter and if I keep believing in myself and keep going, I'll prove it to myself.

I may not be with these same fine folks when I do, but I'll definitely let you know when I get my badge.

[Taylor]

Thanks for the photos! I took a quick video if anyone is interested:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ssfAsZdeRMjHcu7c9

As an aside, I wanted to take the opportunity to again thank the instructors for their time, expertise, instruction, and plain old kindness.

Many times how a person is doing is hidden underneath, and you really don't know how good or bad they are feeling at the time and what impact your actions have on such a person.

I've been to two Appleseeds prior to this, but this was the first time that I finished one as previously I was so frustrated at my lack of progress that I quit. One thing I've always struggled with is self-confidence, and while other shooters are certainly helpful folks, I can't help but be self-critical and beat myself up. I noticed that the instructors were constantly reinforcing progress over perfection, and going out of their way to say things like "we aren't trying to pick on you" when my target was shown to the class as an example of when someone uses their muscles to switch targets instead of their NPOA. Again, to many this may be a minor thing but to a very self-critical person like me who was having a bad few weeks (depression, a recent break-up etc) that type of thing means the world to me.

The second day especially I got a lot of instruction, feedback, and encouragement from the instructors. Let me tell you that it really boosted my spirits and confidence and I was mentioning that to my coworkers on Monday. The second day I believe I was dehydrated and shaking while in the prone stage, and the instructors taught me to take extra breaths, and eventually suggested I sit out for a bit and recover. Multiple instructors checked up on me, offered me drinks and snacks and even a chair to replace the one that broke on me. I had the confidence boost to finish the last AQT and during the last redcoat target I wanted to improve on the 200 yds I got on day 1 and before I even got off my mat I knew I had done just that as I had improved to 3 hits at the 300 yd target. Externally I wasn't hooting and hollering but internally you better believe I was jumping for joy.

I know now that if I keep practicing, I can get that Rifleman's patch. It is important to me not only from a skill perspective but proof that despite my frustrations and lack of confidence I am a good shooter and if I keep believing in myself and keep going, I'll prove it to myself.

I may not be with these same fine folks when I do, but I'll definitely let you know when I get my badge.

I'm glad we were able to help you get over our personal hurdles singhcr. Appleseed is all about individual self-improvdement in several different forms and you are traveling that road. I speak for all the instructors in saying that we are proud of your accomplishments at Hinckley and we hope to be there when you do score Rifleman. Thank you for the kind words, they mean a lot.

PS-Awesome video. Thanks!