The 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships is held each June in Grand Island, Nebraska, at the Heartland Public Shooting Park.

The event is hosted by Nebraska 4-H with youth from across the country competing in compound archery, recurve archery, air rifle, air pistol, .22 rifle, .22 pistol, shotgun, muzzleloading, and hunting skills. This is like the Super Bowl for 4-H youth in Shooting Sports and Mineral County will have a representative.

James "Jimmie' Kelly is 14 years old and has been flinging arrows for 5 years.

 "My family has always been archery hunters and my older sister started archery before me so I wanted to try," she said. 

She's a busy young lady throughout the year raising chickens and hogs for 4-H. She enjoys horseback riding and competing in omoksee's but broadens her interests with art and the love of painting plus running track for Superior School.
Kelly takes the sport seriously. 

"To prepare for competition, I try to keep
a calm emotional state. Coach Rusty (Parkin) won't let me drink caffeine or
eat sugar," she smiles. "I take notes on distances and focus on my form."

Rusty Parkin has been the 4-H Archery Leader for 13 years, he thinks. 

"I was fortunate to have Chris Loraas as another leader helping with the program this year. He has two kids in the program himself." 

They practice at the Mineral County Shooting Sports Association building near the Lozeau Exit on I-90 and Parkin said the average group size per year is between 8 and 12 kids and with ages between 9 and 18 years old. 

"James (Jimmie) is the first archery kid to make it to 4-H Nationals," he explains. "But there have been a number of them that have made it there in the air rifle program. Jimmie is not afraid to put in the time at practice to help her achieve her goals. She combines that with a winning mindset and a great attitude and a competitive spirit. It makes her tough to beat. She has achieved this milestone in her first year of eligibility, which is quite remarkable."

Kelly said, "I will compete at nationals with 2 other kids, both are 18 and
they live in the Dillon, Montana area. I would like to thank Rusty for the
countless hours he has dedicated himself to my sport and coaching me.
Especially this year because we are well beyond our normal season.

Registration and equipment check in for the 25th 4-H Shooting Sports
National Championships is Sunday, June 22. Monday is set aside for practice, pictures and coaches' meetings with the competition beginning at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, June 24.

    4-H Archery Coach, Rusty Parkin, give's 'Jimmie' Kelly a hug during a practice shoot last month. (Photo provided)