Shooting Competition
Hamilton County Youths compete at 4-H State Shooting Competition
Hamilton County Youths Excel at the 2025 Iowa 4-H State Shooting Competition
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✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍Searsboro, Iowa
The 2025 Iowa 4-H Safety and Education in Shooting Sports State Shooting Competition, held on August 23 at Brownells Big Springs Shooting Complex in Searsboro, brought together over 130 youths from 22 counties across Iowa. This event allowed young competitors to showcase their skills in a variety of shooting disciplines, including archery, air rifle, shotgun, and smallbore rifle. Among the standout competitors were Hamilton County youths who earned top honors in multiple categories, demonstrating not only their skill but also sportsmanship and dedication. In the archery events, Cameron Camp claimed first place in the Intermediate Division for compound archery, while Lane Widick earned third place. In the Senior Division for Genesis archery, Keyla Gomez Alanis finished in second place. These impressive results showed how the competitors had honed their skills, and the overall quality of the shooting was extraordinary. In the shotgun event, Hamilton Countys Reed Larson finished second and Holden Jergens placed third in the Intermediate Division, solidifying the area's strong showing in the competition. Participants in the competition were divided into three divisions: Junior (grades 4-6), Intermediate (grades 7-8), and Senior (grades 9-12). This division structure ensured that youths of all ages had the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities in a fair and competitive environment. The competition spanned various disciplines, with winners emerging across all categories, including archery, air rifle, smallbore rifle, muzzleloader, and wildlife identification. The event also focused on the importance of safety, an essential aspect of the 4-H Shooting Sports program. Sponsors such as Brownells, the Iowa 4-H Foundation, and the Nebraska and Western Iowa VA Suicide Prevention Program donated 200 gun cable locks to promote safe gun storage and suicide prevention awareness. The inclusion of these efforts underscored the commitment to not just competitive excellence but also community responsibility, highlighting the importance of gun safety in young shooters education. Top scorers from each discipline were invited to represent Iowa at the 2026 National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships in Grand Island, Nebraska, from June 21-26, 2026. The invitation to compete at this prestigious event signifies the hard work, dedication, and skill of the top shooters from the state. For many, this marks an exciting opportunity to showcase their abilities on the national stage, gaining recognition and support from the broader 4-H shooting sports community. The 2025 Iowa 4-H State Shooting Competition was an incredible showcase of the future of shooting sports. It not only provided young athletes with the chance to compete but also emphasized the importance of community, mentorship, and responsibility in shooting sports. The young competitors who earned top honors will serve as role models for others, encouraging the next generation of shooters to follow in their footsteps.