When it comes to 4-H activities and the county fair, most people’s thoughts likely turn first to livestock. However, today’s 4-H encompasses a wide array of events and activities appealing to many different interests and skill sets. One event that has been gaining a great deal in popularity in recent years is shooting sports.

The 2025 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships were held at the Heartland Shooting Park and at the Heartland Event Center in Grand Island, June 22-27.

The .22 Small Bore Pistol team, a 4 person team, was chosen last October at the Nebraska State Qualifying shoot. Team members were: Zane Meyer, son of Darin and Melissa Meyer of Milford, member of the 10X 4-H Club in Seward; Kaygan and Kelynn Witthuhn, daughters of Jeff and Nicole Witthuhn of Callaway; and Josie Lehmkuhler, daughter of Mike and Ann Lehmkuhler of Arnold. All three girls are members of the South Loup 4-H Club.

This year’s Championships were the 25th Anniversary of the competition to be held in Grand Island. There were a total of 40 states represented, with a record number of competitors entered at 740 participants from across the United States.

There were 76 Small Bore Pistol shooters making up 19 teams representing 20 states.

Results for the Day 1 Slow Fire event were: Kaygan with a score of 352 / 5 bulls, ranking 18th; Zane with a score of 345 / 2 bulls, ranking 22nd; Josie with a score of 343 / 6 bulls, ranking 24th; and Kelynn with a score of 241 / 1 bull, ranking 47th.

Overall, the team scored 1040 points, ranking 8th for the day.

Results for Day 2 Silhouettes were Zane scoring 16, tying with six other shooters for 14th place; Kelynn, Kaygan, and Josie each scored 10, putting them into a 9-way tie for 20th. The team scored a 36, ranking them 12th for the day.

Results for Day 3 Camp Perry were Zane scoring 306 / 2 bulls, ranking 29th; Kaygan scored 262, ranking 40th; Kelynn scored 248, ranking 44th; and Josie scored 243 / 1 bull, ranking 46th. The team scored 1816, ranking 13th for the day.

Overall results for the week were Zane scoring 669, ranking 33rd; Kaygan scored 629, ranking 37th; Josie scored 602, ranking 47th; and Kelynn scored 499, ranking

cont. PAGE 8: Fair Time 57th. The team placed 10th overall for the week.

This Nebraska Pistol team was coached by Mike Lehmkuhler, Kylee Lehmkuhler and Jeff Krivohlavek.

With the National Championships behind them, the girls are now busy preparing for the Custer County Fair competition. The shooting competition is always one of the first events at the fair, and this year it will be held on Friday, July 25, beginning at 7:30 a.m. The categories competing on Friday include Precision Air Rifle, Sporter Air Rifle, Smallbore, and .22 Sport Pistol. The BB Gun and Air Pistol competition will be held on Saturday, July 26, beginning at 7:30 a.m.

The Richard Still Family is sponsoring a Top Shot Award in memory of Willard and Lorraine Still. The recipient of the Top Shot Award will receive an embroidered jacket. The Top Shot Award will be awarded to the shooting contestant with the highest combined percentage score from three different disciplines. Awards for Precision Air Rifle, Sporter Air Rifle, Smallbore, and .22 Sport Pistol will be presented following the competition on Friday. Awards for BB Gun and Air Pistol will be presented following the competition on Saturday.

The Superintendent for the 4-H Shooting Sports/Firearms competition is Cliff Badgley. Assistant Superintendent is Matthew Haumont, and Advisor is Ron Carda.

Josie Lehmkuhler has been in 4-H for eight years. During that time she has been involved in dog, horse, shooting (BB gun, .22 pistol, .22 rifle, air pistol, air rifle), sewing, and cake decorating. Josie also participated in the 2025 CWF trip in June prior to competing in the National Shooting Championships.

“I’ve been shooting since I was a little girl. I’ve shot every year in 4-H. My interest came from my family; both of my parents are 4-H shooting leaders/coaches. Also, one of my older sisters was very big into shooting,” Josie shared.

When asked how she prepares for competitions, Josie responded, “I make sure to practice and mentally work on always having fun.” She said of all the activities she has done in 4-H, shooting sports is her favorite.

“Being in 4-H has given me so many opportunities for new things. I’ve met so many new friends and learned about many different cultures,” said Josie. “I've learned valuable life skills and been given the opportunity to travel the East Coast. All these things are valuable resources that I will be able to look back on in the future.”

Callaway sisters Kelynn and Kaygan Witthuhn have been in 4-H for nine years, all of them as members of the South Loup 4-H Club. They both started shooting sports under Cliff Badgley, Jeff Witthuhn, and Mike Lehmkuhler on the Oconto Shooting Sports team for eight years, and began with the South Loup Shooting team a year ago.

During her years in 4-H Kelynn has participated in shooting, baking, sewing, photography, goats, hogs, design decisions, child development, shopping in style, quilt quest, steers, and showmanship.

Kaygan has been active in shooting, baking, sewing, design decisions, photography, horticulture, floriculture, breeding, beef, steers, heifers, hogs, goats, cake decorating, special garden projects, vegetables and herbs, Showmanship, bucket calf, quilts, and Shopping in Style. The girls said they grew up watching their three older sisters shoot, and their dad was an instructor for many years. “I started shooting because my family grew up hunting and I wanted to be able to do what they did,” Kaygan explained. Kelynn echoed the same sentiment. “My sister‘s always did it and I wanted to do it, so I did and have.” Asked how they prepare for competitions, including the upcoming county fair shoot, the sisters responded, “Practice, practice, practice! Getting the guns sighted in, cleaning the guns, preparing to shoot with a good mindset, working on breathing, and getting free of distractions.” Both list shooting sports as one of their favorite 4-H activities. Kaygan added showing cattle to her list, while for Kelynn it is showing goats.

“Being in 4-H has given me opportunities to try new things, gain several leadership skills, and learn about Parliamentary Procedure and how that works, which will help me in being on future boards,” said Kaygan.

She is currently president of the South Loup 4-H Club and is active in several other school organizations and extracurricular activities. She is also involved in the Nebraska Junior Hereford Association. “I have gained many friends through participating in the Citizen Washington Focus group of Custer County 4-H, where I was able to take a two-week trip and go to the National 4-H Center,” she shared.

Both said they have learned fundraising skills and what it takes to plan a trip like the CWF for youth. “We have also learned how to get along with others, to be kind, and that all people live differently. This trip gave us that experience,” Kaygan added.

Kelynn is currently the secretary for the South Loup 4-H Club and is involved in several extracurricular activities at school. She also credits her recent CWF trip for providing her with new friendships. “I was able to learn communication skills that will benefit me in the future,” she added.

“I’ve also been able to give back to the community through our community service projects, such as cleaning up the cemeteries, doing yardwork at the nursing home, and working at the Seven Valley Rodeo cook shack,” Kelynn continued. “I’ve learned that it takes people to be involved and to give back to your community, and that’s one of the huge things 4-H has taught us.”

Kelynn is also working on an idea for providing some type of specific class for 4-H competitors who have special needs, that would allow them to participate in events based on their own merits. “This would be different project areas that I am just in the beginning stages of,” she explained. “This is something that I am looking forward to working on this next year throughout my senior year, meeting with the 4-H Council and the extension board to get this up and going in Custer County!”