Some local kids are likely to be seen wearing cowboy hats and brandishing six-shooters next year.
That’s because Texas County 4-H Shooting Sports plans to add a new project option: Western Heritage and Cowboy Shooting.
“It’s a combination of 4-H shooting sports and a living history of the frontier west from 1860-1900,” said project developer Todd Kesner. “The project combines a comprehensive study of the Old West with the fastest growing shooting sports discipline in the world – western action shooting.”
Kesner said the purpose of the project is to provide an avenue for 4-H members and adult volunteers to experience the lifestyle and culture of the U.S. in the late 1800s through a living-history approach to learning, while simultaneously conveying the concept of gun safety and personal responsibility. Participants dress in Old West clothing, shoot firearms including replicas of guns from the frontier period and expand their knowledge of U.S. history.
To begin preparation, Texas County 4-H Shooting Sports coordinator Susan Ford and instructor Robert Johns attended a three-day instructor certification workshop, April 22-24 in Bolivar. The event included participation by 11 volunteer instructors and 38 youth in a learning and competitive situation in which instructors set up a shooting range with staging, and youth were divided into “posses” that competed against each other.
“The ‘practicum,’ or tests at 4-H Shooting Sports workshops normally have adults teaching adults – like the shotgun people teach the rifle people and then the rifle people teach the shotgun people,” Ford said. “But this one had children and we got to teach children. And there were all types – older ones and younger ones, and some who had been in the Western Heritage program in counties where it was already in place and others who were completely new to the project.
“Obviously, it’s very different talking to a child than to an adult. I thought it was very good to do it like that.”
Texas County will be the ninth Missouri county where Western Heritage and Cowboy Shooting is included in its 4-H Shooting Sports program.
“My son was one of the youth who participated in the workshop,” Ford said. “When it was over, we were both like, ‘oh my gosh, this is so exciting!’”
The project is designed around the use of not only revolvers, but rifles and shotguns, too.
“Since it involves three types of guns, you basically have three shooting sports in one project,” Ford said. “Plus you have the period clothing and replica firearms; it’s going to be great for everyone. I’m very interested – I’ve actually ordered some books online to go with all this.”
Missouri will host the 2016 National 4-H Western Heritage and Invitational Cowboy shoot, Aug. 2-4, in Branson. This family-oriented event will include workshops, tours, special activities and 4-H member competition.
The 4-H Western Heritage youth competition has three components: Cowboy action shooting, period clothing and character evaluation, and Old West knowledge. Only 4-H members enrolled in Western Heritage project can compete, and the project is available to youth ages 9 to 18.
“We are in the initial stages of making this project available,” Ford said. “We will need to obtain Old West guns and/or replicas, appropriate steel targets and other supplies necessary for the project. We want cowboys and cowgirls of good character who want to share their love of the Old West with a new generation. If you fit this description, please consider helping Texas County 4-H with the development of this new project.
“It will be fun and make learning about history fun.”
Ford said she is also seeking project sponsors and other people interested in providing assistance.
For more information, call her at 816-805-6927 or email the3fordsfarm@gmail.com.