Making the Best Better with a BANG!

                                               

It's probably not surprising that there would be a bang or two associated with the Dirty Dozen 4-H Shooting Sports Club meeting.  As a matter of fact you might expect it.  But this month the bang was bigger than usual.  Club President Dillon McCartney called the meeting to order and the members talked about their community service projects, upcoming programs, and range expansion.

Range expansion?  you ask.  Yes.  Club leader Larry Russ with the help of club parents Tony Bullard and Mike Herndon have been working to expand the current range so they can incorporate an archery range and expand the club's shooting opportunities.  Even during the meeting construction was going on as Mike used his auger to drill holes in areas that were too difficult for a shovel to get through.  As part of this expansion telephone poles were cut and placed to mark out where the new range would be, separate the shooting range, and designate a parking area.

As part of the master plan, club member Anthony Bullard is work on erecting two shelters as part of his Eagle Scout Project that would allow the parents and members to get out of the sun during meetings.
   Besides range construction the group practiced with their rifles, then got to try something really new, shooting black powder.  Black powder is a throw back to the pioneer days of actually learning how to measure black powder and load a lead ball into the barrel of the firearm.  This was the first time for all the members to shoot a black powder rifle and they had a lot of fun.  Although they did admit it took an awful lot of time to load the weapon for one shot and can see why modern conveniences have been created.

Working on the same principal of the black powder rifle, club leader Larry Russ had a special surprise for the group, a cannon.  Built by hand this cannon didn't shoot cannon balls but wads of paper and glitter to give a loud boom and sparkly effect.  The cannon made an appearance at this club meeting for more than a giant lesson in black powder.  It was there to help us shoot our county video for 4-H Congress.
  For those of you not familiar with Congress it is a state 4-H leadership opportunity that happens on N.C. State University's campus and is the culmination of 4-H events state wide.  As part of this event youth representing their county bring their flags in as part of the flag ceremony.  Instead of walking the flag in this year the state officers asked each county to send in a video.  The video had to be less than 15 seconds, include the county name, include the phrase "we are 4-H", and everyone in the video had to wear some sort of 4-H attire.  The members of the Dirty Dozen 4-H Shooting Sports Club were kind enough to shoot our video for us that will be played at Congress this year.
  The club's next meting will be held in June.  For more information about this club or other club opportunities please contact the 4-H staff at (910) 671-3276.