The Black Creek 4-H Arrow Slingers competed at the National 4-H Shooting Sports Invitational in Grand Island, Neb., during the week of June 24-28. The group competed in the disciplines of Compound Archery and Hunting Skills. A total of 540 youth represented 35 states from around the country competed in the invitatioanl.
The state champion compound archery team of Brett Bowen, Tanner Stimpson, Noah Thrower and Kacey Farmer finished seventh at the event.
The foursome competed in the Field Round, FITA and 3-D events. Amidst extreme wind conditions on Day 1, the team finished ninth in the Field Round competition. Tanner Stimpson had the 11th best individual score from the Day 1 action.
On Day 2, the compound archery team was awarded second place for its superb shooting in the FITA event. Noah Thrower was awarded ninth place as an individual for his efforts in the FITA competition on Day 2.
Day 3 saw the compound archery team from the Black Creek 4-H Arrow Slingers finish in sixth place. Brett Bowen was the 11th place individual in the 3-D event. After three days of archery events, Brett Bowen and Tanner Stimpson finished 15th and 19th in the nation, respectively, in the overall individual competition.
The Hunting Skills team of Casey Blackwell, Andrew Fricks, Michael Glenn and Bethany Roberts finished eighth at the National Invitational. The group competed in the 3-D archery, small bore rifle and sporting clays events. In addition, the team’s knowledge was tested in the areas of wildlife identification, game management, hunter decision-making and general hunting skills. The team finished eighth on Day 1, eighth on Day 2 and sixth on Day 3. Casey Blackwell was awarded eighth place as an individual for his performance in the general hunting skills events on Day 3.
The Black Creek 4-H Arrow Slingers and Alabama 4-H wish to thank the following donors who enabled the young people of Etowah, DeKalb and Cherokee counties to represent the state of Alabama at the 2013 National 4-H Shootings Sports Invitational: Tyler Farms, Buffalo Rock, ALFA Farmers Federation, Playcore DBA Gametime, Black Creek Quail Farm LLC, Senator Shadrack McGill, Town of Sand Rock, St. Clair Primary LLC, Alabama Power Service Organization, Wal-Mart, Representative Todd Greeson, Heil Environmental, Odell’s Outdoor Archery, Lookout Mountain Goat Ranch, Lancaster Archery Supply, Victory Archery, H.M. Freeman Motors, Coca-Cola, Tractor Supply, Lowe’s, Alpen Optics, ALFA Insurance, Representative Becky Nordgren, Regions Bank, Builder’s Supply, Inc., Victor Hall, Brent and Sherrie Ellison, Andrew Lowe, C&C Rentals INC and Cherokee Electric Cooperative.