Posted: June 30, 2025
Pennsylvania 4-H'ers from across the state participated in several shooting sports contests held recently at Penn State's Ag Progress Days site, at the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Scotia Range in Centre County and at the Shenecoy Sportsmen Association in Huntingdon County.
The 4-H shooting sports program focuses on positive youth development and is designed for youth who enjoy the outdoors and hunting. The project covers firearm safety, responsible handling, and use. 4-H'ers practice and compete under the supervision of trained instructors.
The state shooting sports contests provide 4-H members with the opportunity to compete at the state level. Contests are designed to challenge a 4-H member's skill and knowledge and to recognize demonstrated safety, abilities, marksmanship, and concentration.
In the recent contests, participants competed in muzzleloader, air pistol, air rifle, compound archery, shotgun, and smallbore rifle.
Muzzleloader: In the junior division, Isaiah Snyder, of Blair County, earned first place. Alivia Snyder, of Blair County, won the senior division. Blair County 4-H Sharpshooters won the junior and senior team categories.
Smallbore Rifle: In the junior division, Blake Cousins, of Armstrong County, earned first place. The Armstrong Junior Team took first place in the junior team category. In the senior division, Madison Cousins, also of Armstrong County, earned first place as an individual, and the Armstrong Senior Team won the senior team category.
Air Pistol: Wyatt Hancock, of Susquehanna County, earned first place in the junior individual contest. In the senior division, John Bruner, of Indiana County, took first place. The Indiana County Air Pistol Senior Team earned first place in the senior team division.
Compound Archery: Cooper Steele, of Indiana County, earned first place in the junior individual division. The Indiana/Cambria Junior Team won the junior team category. In the senior division, Ronin Calsam, of Montgomery County, earned first place, and the Blazing Arrows Senior Team, of Erie County, won the senior team category.
Air Rifle: Isaiah Snyder, of Blair County, won first place in the junior division. The Blair County 4-H Sharpshooters won the junior team category. In the senior division, Karlie Lynn, of Bedford County, earned first place. The Blair County 4-H Sharpshooters also took first place in the senior team category.
Shotgun: Tyler Aluisia, of Lawrence County, earned first place in the junior individual category. In the senior division, Brendan Cole, of Greene County, earned first place. The Greene County Shotgun team won the junior and senior team categories.
The Pennsylvania 4-H shooting sports program focuses on safe and responsible use of firearms and archery equipment, fostering sound decision making and promoting safety, sportsmanship, and ethical behavior.
Administered in Pennsylvania by Penn State Extension, 4-H is a nonformal educational youth-development program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that helps young people develop knowledge and skills to become capable, caring, and contributing citizens. To find your local program, visit the Pennsylvania 4-H website.
