Planning for the Next Competition Level; -H National Shooting Sports Invitation
GRANTS – Many of us know of the efforts of 4-H participants in Cibola County, and the first thing that sometimes comes to mind when considering these youth is their involvement with animal-centered activities.
However, a relatively unknown facet of 4-H in these parts is that of competitive shooting – air guns, .22-caliber weapons and archery – but certified Cibola County 4-H Instructor Damon Landschoot and his junior and senior division teams are doing their bit to change that.
Landschoot’s senior air rifle team – Ashley and Jessica Cruz, Cheyenne DuBoise, Chad Roybal and Dorthy Strange – recently won second place in the New Mexico State 4-H Shooting Sports Contest, held at the NRA (National Rifle Association) Whittington Center in Raton, N.M.
“It was beautiful,” Landschoot said, “you’d open the door and see deer eating grass.”
Its enjoyment of the pastoral scene aside, the Team was in Raton on a serious mission, to bring home some hardware, and it could be said that the mission has been underway for a few years, when Landschoot first got involved.
“My boys were already in 4-H, and they got into the shooting program,” Landschoot said. “At the time, the gentleman that was teaching them couldn’t do it, so for a couple of years I have been teaching them independently.”
“Soon, more youngsters wanted to do it, and I finally got certified; our first priority is to make sure participants are not going to hurt themselves.”
In Raton, each participant had 30 record shots to make at 10 meters away with an air rifle: the prone position on the ground, the standing position, then the kneeling position. After a change in rifle, the participants then shoot what’s termed silhouette – they shoot at 1/10th scale chickens, pigs, turkeys, and rams from different distances.
The Cibola County crew finished second overall to Valencia County, a major feat considering that Valencia County competitors are considered among the best in the State.
Now, it’s off to the National Shooting Sports Invitational in Grand Island, Neb., from June 24-29, but the Team is up against a few challenges that Landschoot is trying to solve.
Funds are always an issue, as it will cost approximately $625 for each student to attend. Landschoot has used his own money to purchase air guns that the team uses, and said he wishes he could do more, knowing quite well his monetary limitations.
“Right now, with our training in place, it can come down to equipment,” he said. “Some people will say, ‘If you’re good, you can shoot anything,’ but there’s a reason Olympic guys have great equipment and not shooting Grandpa’s pump-action .22.”
Even training is problematic, though Landschoot commented that he is very grateful that Sergeant Major Emilio Barela at Grants High School allows his teams to use the indoor shooting range when it’s available.
The final problem might actually be a good one to have.
Landschoot’s junior team will be in Farmington for their District contest on June 23 to defend its title. The next day, the Senior team begins competition in Nebraska, and Landschoot can only laugh at the predicament.
“I’m going to be really busy,” he said. “But really, it’s all about the youth. Some coaches will tell their team, ‘Just be safe and sling lead,’ but my goal is to teach the Olympic method. There’s a whole science behind it, and the youngsters are doing great with it.”
Landschoot noted that community members who are interested in helping the Team with its fundraising efforts could call Cibola County Agriculture 4-H Extension Agent Chase Elkins at
287-9266 for more information.
