The Brown County 4H members that participated in the Minnesota 4-H State Shooting Sports & Wildlife Invitational from Sept. 5-7. Front (l-r): Lydia Reinhart, Hunter Kohn, Ridley Price, Ryan Reinhart, Brittney Lilleodden, Lillian Brandes, Natalia Frederickson, Apollo Saari, and Brody Helget. Back (l-r): Landon Frederickson, Calleigh Frederickson, Cindy Jensen, Ethan Feucht, Mckenzie Lilleodden, and Tyson Goold.

Submitted by Madeline Clark

ALEXANDRIA – The Minnesota 4-H State Shooting Sports & Wildlife Invitational was held in Alexandria September 5-7, 2025. 755 youth from 58 counties participated in the following events with 2,009 entries: Archery, 3-D Archery, BB gun, Standard Air Rifle, 3 Position Air Rifle, Air Pistol, .22 Rifle, Muzzleloading, Trap, Silhouette, Wildlife Calling, Skillathon, and Cast Iron Cooking. Brown County 4-H had members participating in every discipline except for Muzzleloading.

Brown County 4-H sent 15 youth this year, Lillian Brandes, Ethan Feucht, Calleigh, Natalia, & Landon Frederickson, Tyson Goold, Brody Helget, Cindy Jensen, Hunter Kohn, Brittney & Mckenzie Lilleodden, Ridley Price, Lydia & Ryan Reinhart, and Apollo Saari.

Youth had the opportunity to showcase the skills they have learned throughout the past year, having spent a minimum of 15 hours working with a trained instructor in their discipline of interest and 8 hours of wildlife education. Each county also has planned and implemented a conservation project at the local level. These projects are brought to the event and judged as a group.

Bows & Triggers 4-H Club Key Leader Crystal Frederickson said this about the program, “I’m so proud of the hard work and dedication these kids showed. Week after week for months these kids show up and give it their all to learn more about their discipline. I’m also beyond grateful for the adult volunteers that have come forward to help instruct the next generation and the community and other organizations that have donated funds to help make this program a success. I look forward to the next year of learning and involving youth in wildlife conservation and shooting sports.”

The Minnesota 4-H Shooting Sports & Wildlife Program began in the 1980’s and has grown to more than 5,000 youth members and over 1000 adult leaders. Adults can become certified discipline instructors by attending a weekend workshop and instructing youth in their local community