Chambana Sun

DeKalb County 4-H members achieved notable success at the Illinois 4-H State Air Rifle Shoot held in Bloomington, Illinois. The event took place at Central Illinois Precision Shooters and saw DeKalb County participants secure seven of the top ten individual scores.

Competitors participated in National Standard Three Position and Standing Sporter events, each firing 60 precision shots from a distance of 10 meters. The top three scorers were Lille Harper with a score of 958, Mark Pritchard with 893, and Reese Harper with 879—all representing DeKalb County.

According to organizers, these results highlight not only technical ability but also the broader goals of the Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports Program. "More than just marksmanship, the program emphasizes responsibility, goal setting, self-confidence, sportsmanship, and team camaraderie—life skills that prepare youth for success beyond the range," according to the release.

The Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports program is available through local Extension offices across the state. It offers training in several disciplines including archery, shotgun, pistol, and rifle. Over 600 certified adult volunteers support more than 3,000 youth who participate statewide.

Illinois 4-H is managed by University of Illinois Extension under the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. The program focuses on hands-on learning experiences to help young people build confidence and leadership skills. Research indicates that participants are significantly more likely to pursue higher education or technical training compared to their peers.

"Through hands-on learning and life-changing experiences, Illinois 4-H prepares youth to be Beyond Ready — ready for college, career, military service, entrepreneurship, and more. Young people build confidence, leadership, and resilience as they explore interests from agriculture to computer science," states information provided by Illinois 4-H.

For further details about this event or other programs offered by Illinois 4-H or University of Illinois Extension services, interested parties may contact Curt Sinclair at sinclair@illinois.edu.