Mission Statement:

To create supportive learning environments in which youth and adults reach their fullest potential as capable, competent, and caring citizens.

To implement a county wide strategy for supporting the lives of families and youth through a wide variety of social, educational, recreational, and personal development activities.

To enhance the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of youth through safe educational and socially acceptable involvement in shooting related activities. 

• To teach safe and responsible use of firearms and archery equipment.  This is to include sound decision-making, self-discipline, and concentration. 
• To promote the highest standards of safety, sportsmanship, and ethical behavior. 
• To encourage an understanding of NYS’ natural resources and the development of a personal environmental stewardship ethic by young people through participation in shooting, hunting, and related activities both consumptive and non-consumptive in nature. 
• To strengthen family, personal, and professional relationships through life-long learning activities. 
• To expose participants to the broad array of vocational and lifelong avocational activities related to natural resource activities (i.e., shooting, hunting, fishing, forestry, etc.). 
• To complement and enhance the impact of previously existing safety and hunter education programs.  In NO way is 4-H shooting sports meant to replace these programs. 

The Tioga County 4-H Shooting Sports program will: 

• work with the NYS 4-H Shooting Sports Program staff and the South Central region staff and shooting sports volunteers to host an instructor training in the spring of 2009.  The plan will be to offer training for 4-H rifle, shotgun, air rifle, archery, black powder and NRA certification.  Coordinator and Living History can be added if trainers are available. 
• continue to find funding to purchase archery equipment so that an archery program can be added.
• continue to work with the local Cowboy Action Group to create a program for youth that will introduce them to another venue that will combine rifle, shotgun and living history.
• continue to seek funding support from our county.
• add a natural resources project to the program.
• work with the local American Legion chapter to develop a 4-H Air Rifle Team.

2008 Program Highlights

2008 Members = 34 total - 14 (rifle, shotgun & black powder) / 20 (living history)         

2008 Instructors = 3 rifle / 2 shotgun / 2 black powder / 2 living history / 1 junior rifle

Rifle Safety – 7 new members / 2 instructors:  The rifle safety classes were held in September 2007.  The members were introduced to firearms safety, care of firearms, the firing range and range commands.  This is held at the Tioga County Sportsman’s Association.

4-H Sporterifle Team – 14 members / 2 instructors: The 4-H Sporterifle Team began their season in September 2007 and completed it in March 2008.  The team participates through the Tioga County Sportsman’s Association with the NYS Sporterifle Association.  The members participated in a minimum of 11 out of 21 postal matches.  The instructors work with the members on all of the safety elements and improving skills.  Participants are invited to participate on the after they have completed the Rifle Safety Course.

At the annual awards event for the NYS Sporterifle Association, the Tioga County 4-H Team won 2nd place Junior Team. In individual placings:  Sam Tatich won 2nd place Junior Expert (3rd in state overall); Brent Conklin won 2nd place Junior Sharpshooter; Devon King won 1st place Junior Rifleman; Donald Castellucci won 2nd place Junior Rifleman; and Sam Tatich won 1st place Junior Rifleman Iron Sights.  The team also participated in a fun day shoot, community service, and some of the members participated in the NYS 4-H Fun Shoot in Chemung County.

The 4-H Sporterifle Team meets at the Tioga County Sportsman’s Association.

Shotgun – 5 members / 2 instructors:  A 2-day, 10-hour course was held in May 2008.  The members learned about shotgun safety, firearms care, and had lots of time to practice skeet and trap. This is held at the Tioga County Sportsman’s Association.

Black Powder – 4 members / 2 instructors:  The members participated in 2 days (6 hours) of black powder safety and practice.  After the introductory course, the members participated in a Black Powder Shoot at the local rendezvous event.  This is held at the Bement-Billings Farmstead in Newark Valley, NY.Living History – 20 members / 2 instructors with 2 assistants:  The members did research to help them decide on their persona.  They made period correct clothing; grew food; learned basic woodworking and leatherworking skills; and made other accoutrements for their character(s).Powder Horn Workshop – 16 members / 2 instructors:  The members learned how to make their own powder horns.  Some of the returning members did additional work on powder horns from the previous year, while others decided to try making a new, more intricate horn and design.  The new members began working on their first powder horn.  Many of the powder horns were exhibited at the Tioga County 4-H Youth Fair.  This workshop was held at the Bement-Billings Farmstead in Newark Valley, NY.4-H Shooting Sports Certification Workshop in Ballston Spa:  A new leader for the Tioga County 4-H Living History Program attended and completed the workshop held in Ballston Spa.

Tioga County 4-H Youth Fair:  Several demonstration areas were set up during the Tioga County 4-H Youth Fair.

• The 4-H Shooting Sports Program had a booth with an interactive animal track ID board and information about the program.  Members were on hand to talk to visitors.
• The Living History program set up an area in the Youth Building complete with a tent, a “campfire”, a loom, and activities for visitors to try.  The member’s living history projects were on display here.
• The Living History members also had a real campfire outside where they prepared meals (stew & pie) on two days of the fair. 
• The Living History members had a second display area in one of the barns.  At this location one of the instructors set up a frontier “camp site” complete with a horse.
• The Shooting Sports members operated the 4-H Air Rifle trailer – both as a fundraiser and to introduce the program to the public.

Fundraising:  In addition to the county fair, the 4-H Air Rifle Trailer visited two other local events. 

Funding:  The Tioga County 4-H Shooting Sports Program received funding for the rifle and shotgun programs from the Tioga County The Tioga County Sheriff’s Association and the Tioga County Corrections Officer’s Association.

Equipment:  New hearing and eye protection was purchased. 

4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Certification Workshop:  Tioga County hosted a NYS 4-H Shooting Instructor Certification Workshop on April 5 and 6, 2008 at the Tioga County Sportsman’s Association.  Classes were offered in rifle, air rifle, shotgun and archery.  The NYS 4-H Shooting Sports Program supported this workshop.  The instructors were:
Ray Olsen – archery    
Al Leaderhouse – rifle   
Walt Monroe – shotgun  
Jack Mazur – shotgun

There were a total of 20 participants:  8 in rifle / air rifle; 8 in shotgun; and 4 in archery.   The participants came from Tioga, Oswego, Genesse, Broome, Cortland, Chemung and Sullivan counties.

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