NewsPosts posted on July 06, 2017 16:07
The Lake County Board of Commissioners honored the 4-H Club members and Nancy Kochevar, one of the founders of the shooting club, with a certificate of recognition for their success at Nationals and for their continued growth and innovation. The recognition took place during the July 6, 2017 Commissioners Meeting.
Nancy Kochevar, Chris Kochevar and Randy Brewster started a
shooting sports club, Young Guns in our county in 2013. This was a vision
the 3 had and they executed it.
In these 4 short years the club grew from 7 members to
almost 60 members (which they had to cap as a result of a long waiting
list). Their first year the club was able to send youth to nationals, not
1 youth, but 4 youth were eligible in 2015. They have had returning
members in 2016 and this year they sent 8 youth to nationals. One youth from
the club placed and took stage at nationals. This same youth is now taking what
he learned from this club and is starting a shooting sport club up by him at
college. His goal is to help teach youth and college mates the importance
of firearm safety, what he learned from being in the Young Guns.
They have increased the amount of advisors in their club
from them (the founding 3) to 11, and have had these advisors trained in their
perspective disciplines. As a result of that they now are able to offer
archery, pistol, rifle, air pistol, steel rifle, steel pistol, shotgun, and
muzzle loading. Youth members are taking multiple disciplines to expand their
knowledge of firearms, because of this. The Young Guns, club under these 3
advisors supervision, completed service projects where they helped build
a range at one of our metro parks, they also helped boots and saddle (where
they meet and practice) expand and build a range. The club has successfully
held fund-raisers every year, car washes, and a turkey shoot (which is
their biggest fund-raiser). They have also obtained many sponsors and
grants. With these funds obtained they have been able to purchase or have
donated for the club, bows, rifles, pistols, ammunition, travel expenses for
the Ohio team to travel to nationals, range time, a facility as well as a
shooting trailer.
The impact of this innovative activity is that Lake County
now has a very active and successful shooting sports club. Young Guns is
our fastest growing club in Lake County. They have been able in these 3
years to obtain resources and materials so Lake County youth can have the
opportunity to be learning about shooting sports in a safe and successful
manner.
The club has and continues to look at how they can expand
with their ongoing fundraising and recruitment of donors, which assists the
club in accommodating the rapid growth. This vision and planning has
assisted the club in being so successful.
They have been a great addition to our 4-H program and have
brought a heighten awareness to shooting sports and the Lake County's 4-H
program. Nancy, Chris and Randy have been huge innovators for the shooting
sports program in Lake County and nationally. They have done a great deal in
just 4 short years with plans to continue to grow in the future!
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