Toombs 4-H Shotgun Team Wraps Up Successful Season
After being cut short due to the COVID-19 Virus in 2020, the Toombs County 4-H shotgun team was finally able to attend district and state matches this spring. Youth from Toombs County Middle and High Schools, Vidalia Heritage Academy and Vidalia High School participated on the team. Each member attended weekly practices, receiving training from Georgia 4-H Certified Coaches. All team members qualified to attend the district qualification match with hopes of breaking enough targets to qualify for the state match. The district qualifier was held on Sunday, April 25, 2021. The event was hosted by Toombs County 4-H. Junior team members in 7th and 8th grades participating included Wade Bolden, Ty Foskey, Noah Huey, Alyssa Norfleet, Caroline Page, Alex Patrick, Mason Sikes, Memphis Soles, Jayce Taylor, and Joshua West. Senior team members in grades 9-12 participating included Cheyenne Anderson, Adam Copeland, Tucker Copeland, Jackson Davis, Jazlyn Denmark, Xavier Douglas, Blake Huey, Caleb Jackson, Blake Jones, Dawson McLendon, Ryan Page, Cason Thigpen, Dalton Underwood, Drew White, and Clayton Williamson. At district, seventeen members from Toombs County advanced to the state competition. Members were placed on teams of 4-5 members to compete for individual and team honors. The Toombs County 4-H Shotgun Team finished the 2021 Season by attending the State 4-H Modified Trap State Match at Rock Eagle 4-H Center on May 8, 2021. A total of 603 youth statewide were registered for the event. Junior team members advancing to state included Wade Bolden, Ty Foskey, Alex Patrick, Memphis Soles, Jayce Taylor, and Joshua West. The high score for the junior team came from Josh West, who broke 23 out of 25 targets.
Senior team members advancing to state included Cheyenne Anderson, Adam Copeland, Tucker Copeland, Jackson Davis, Jazlyn Denmark, Caleb Jackson, Blake Jones, Dawson McLendon, Ryan Page, Dalton Underwood, and Drew White. Adam Copeland was the top scorer breaking 24 out of 25 targets.
The Georgia 4-H Shooting Awareness, Fun and Education Program (S.A.F.E.) is sponsored by The Georgia 4-H Foundation. The Toombs County program is in its eleventh year. The team is coached by Project S.A.F.E. Certified Coaches Brett Copeland, Matt Jones, Jeffrey Page, Steve Page, Robert Roberson and Dover Williamson. The team is also assisted by Volunteer Leader Trey Davis. The Toombs County 4-H Program is under the coordination of Cheryl Poppell, Extension Coordinator and Riley Wimberly, 4-H Educator.
4-H is the Youth Development Program of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. For more information about this or any other 4-H activity, call the Toombs County Extension Office at 526-3101 or visit Toombs County Extension online at http://www. ugaextension.com/toombs.
