First-ever 4H shooting competition held in Trumbull County

For the first time, Trumbull County hosted a 4-H shooting sports competition, drawing young participants from across Ohio to the Fish and Game Club of Vienna on Saturday.

The event featured multiple disciplines, including shotgun, rifle, pistol, archery and muzzleloader, with instruction from Ohio 4-H competition team coaches who train youth for the national competition in Nebraska.

“We typically don’t do competitions in our 4-H because our program is designed to build better kids, not better shooters,” said Nicole Hartill, a 4-H shooting sports advisor and instructor. “But we do want to expose them to the competition world a little bit.”

About 40 shooters and more than 20 volunteers took part, with older competitors mentoring younger participants. Organizers said the goal goes beyond winning medals, focusing instead on skills such as confidence, discipline, teamwork and responsibility.

“We simply use the firearms as a tool to get across some of the life skills we want them to learn — confidence, resiliency, all those things that make you a really good person is what we’re after,” said Lindsey Van Gundy, Ohio 4-H shooting sports coordinator.

Van Gundy said the competition helps fill a gap in the state’s Northeast region, where there has been little representation on Ohio’s national 4-H team. The event also aims to raise awareness of Trumbull County’s long-running 4-H shooting sports program, which has been active since 1993.

“I don’t remember how many bull’s-eyes I shot,” Van Gundy said. “But I do remember the friends I made and the experiences I had. It’s what shaped me into an adult, and I want to give that back to our kids here in Ohio.”

Organizers say the strong turnout and smooth operation mean this year’s event won’t be the last.