From press release:
One of the fastest growing programs in 4-H is the shooting sports program. In Putnam County, youth receive training in the archery discipline, learning about safety and shooting techniques. Putnam County 4-H members recently competed in the state archery jamboree held at Hyder-Burks Ag. Pavilion in Cookeville. Youth compete in target shooting in the genesis compound, open compound, and recurve divisions. Around 200 youth from across Tennessee competed in the event. Individual awards were given for top scorers in each discipline and age level for target shooting. There was participation limits due to COVID-19 restrictions.
In the compound division, youth may use any type of bow. Sights, stabilizers, and other equipment is allowed and the youth purchase their own bows based on their wants and needs. There are two sub-divisions, open and hunter. In the junior hunter division, William Trobaugh placed 4th. In the senior high hunter division, Ruby Young placed 6th and Savannah Peterson placed 10th. Jared Shepherd placed 2nd in the open compound division. These youth also competed in the central region postal shoot. In the junior division Will placed 6th, in the senior division Jared placed 2nd, Ruby received 4th and Savannah placed 7th.
In the recurve division, youth use a bow that has no cams or pulleys. The bows are selected by the youth to fit their strength and height. Garrett Bohannon placed 7th and Steven Clark placed 8th in the junior high division. Noah Jones received 1st place in the central region postal shoot.
In the genesis compound division, youth shoot a bow with 10-20 pounds of draw weight and are not allowed to make any modifications to the bow. In the junior high division, Cameron Grunau was the state champion and Jake Nelson received 8th place. Others participating in the jamboree included Garrett Bohannon, Steven Clark, Makaylah Castle, Dakota Frye, and Savannah Peterson. The youth also participated in the central region mail-in postal match. Cameron placed 3rd and Jake received 4th place.
Another part of the archery program is the skillathon, which is a test of general archery knowledge. In the junior division, Dakota Frye was the county winner. In the junior high division 1st place went to Garrett Bohannon, 2nd place to Jake Nelson and 3rd place to Steven Clark. In the senior division, 1st place went to Ruby Young, 2nd place to Savannah Peterson, and 3rd placed to Jared Shepherd.
The Putnam County U.T. Extension Office offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion or disability. For more information about the 4-H archery program contact Melissa Henry at 526-4561 or mhenry1@utk.edu.