On Sunday, June 7, 2009, participants in the St. Martin Parish 4-H Shooting Sports Program gathered for their annual end-of-the-year celebration. Poche’s Fish-N-Camp was the setting for this year’s fun-filled event which included a reception honoring the parish’s shooting sports participants and coaches. Ronny Theriot, St. Martin Parish sheriff, was the guest speaker for this event and commended the participants and coaches for their hard work and accomplishments. Hope Guidry and Laura Brumbaugh, St. Martin Parish 4-H agents, awarded medals to all of the shooting sports participants in attendance. Coaches also were presented with thank-you gifts for dedicating their time, knowledge and talents to our shooting sports program. The participants and their family members also took advantage of the surroundings and enjoyed other events such as fishing and swimming during the day. Everyone in attendance had a great time -- enjoying each other’s company, spending time with families and celebrating the many successes of the parish’s program.
The 4-H Shooting Sports Program stands out as a great example of a program that focuses on the development of youth as individuals and as responsible and productive citizens. Youth learn marksmanship, the safe and responsible use of firearms, the principles of hunting and archery, and much more. The activities of the program and the support of caring adult leaders provide young people with opportunities to develop life skills, self-worth, and conservation ethics.
The 4-H Shooting Sports Program relies on grants and other donations to keep the program going. Money that is received through these funding sources is used to purchase equipment for all of disciplines involved in our program. This year, the St. Martin Parish 4-H Shooting Sports Program received an NRA Grant for just over $4,200 and also received generous donations from Wal-Mart and the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office.