Decatur County 4-H S.A.F.E. teams recently participated in state shooting sports competitions at Rock Eagle 4-H Center.

Several members of the Decatur County 4-H Archery Team participated in the 4-H Target Challenge Weekend on April 27-28, 2018.

4-H Cloverleaf team members (4th-6th graders) competing were Abram Austinson, Kinsey Ward, Hunter Black, Aden Black, Shelby Copeland, Langston Bennett, Dawson Cross, Imari Tomlin, Cain Worthington and Landon Temples. Seventh grader, Mile DeRocco, participated in the Junior division (7th & 8th grade). Abby Bennett competed in the Senior Division for 4-H students in ninth through twelfth grades.

The 2017-18 Decatur County 4-H Archery Team members are Abram Austinson, Abby Bennett, Langston Bennett, Hunter Black, Aden Black, Ty Brown, Kaylee Grace Buchanan, Shelby Copeland, Dawson Cross, Miles DeRocco, Grayson Griffin, Abby Grubbs, Hunter Harris, McKenzie Harris, Katelyn Johnson, Christian Knight, Parker Lowe, Cait Taylor, Landon Temples, Imari Tomlin, Kinsey Ward, Cain Worthington and Luke Wright.

Team members have been practicing twice weekly since December 2017 in preparation for the state contest. 4-H’ers, parents and coaches have put much time and effort into being good representatives of Decatur County. This opportunity would not be possible without the dedication and hard-work of volunteer coaches, Rick Landeen, Wink Grubbs and Mike Webster.

The Decatur County 4-H Shotgun Team competed in the 2018 State 4-H Modified Trap Target Challenge Weekend on May12, 2018.  Over 900 4-H students from across Georgia participated in the Georgia 4-H Modified Trap state match.

Decatur County 4-H Senior Shotgun team members (9th-12th grade) participating at Rock Eagle were Hudson Barber, Blake Daughtry, Taylor Barber, Cameron Bennett, Tristan Cochran, Brannon Fagan, Brenden Mitchell and Dawson Jackson. Ashton Aldridge, Blake Fagan and Brent Miller represented the Decatur County 4-H Junior team (7th-8th grade).

Junior and Senior Decatur County 4-H team members Hudson Barber, Dawson Jackson, Brenden Mitchell, Cameron Bennett, Tristan Cochran, Blake Daughtry, Brannon Fagan, Weston Powell, Haydyn Martin, Stokes Moore, Jackson Conley, Austin Aldridge, John Taylor, John Maples, Katelyn Ward, Carlton Lynn, Kaitlin Cone, Brent Miller, Ashton Aldridge, Blake Fagan Brannon Parker and Cotton Barker.

Team members have been practicing diligently each week since February under the guidance of dedicated volunteer coaches. Coaches for the Decatur County 4-H Shotgun Team are Bobby Barber Jr., Tim Cochran, Aric Adridge, Todd Martin and Jule Powell.

Georgia 4-H Shooting Awareness, Fun and Education Program (S.A.F.E.). Project S.A.F.E. is an active program, attractive to youth and adult audiences. The program is curriculum based and designed to assist young people in personal development, establish a personal environmental ethic and explore life-long vocational and avocational activities. The program uses experiential learning and positive interactions with youth and adult role models to help young people develop self-concept, self-assurance and a positive self-image. Teamwork, cooperation, self-responsibility and character are among the many life skills gained by participating in the S.A.F.E program which is sponsored by the Georgia 4-H Foundation.

4-H is the youth program of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. For more information about Decatur County 4-H, please contact the Decatur County Extension Office at 229-248-3033.