California 4-H Western Heritage team goes to Montana

Aug 23, 2017

This year, for the first time ever, a 4-H Western Heritage team from California attended the National 4-H Western Heritage Conference and Championship Shoot, held August 1 – 3, 2017 in historic Fort Benton, Montana. Seven 4-H members from Kern County and one from Santa Clara travelled to Fort Benton to participate in the program.

Experiencing Old West lifestyles and cultures

The 4-H Western Heritage Project combines a comprehensive study of the Old West with the fastest growing shooting sports discipline in the world – western action shooting. The purpose of this project is to provide an avenue for 4-H members and adult leaders to experience the lifestyles and cultures of the Old West from the period of around 1860-1900 through a living history approach to learning while instilling the concepts of firearms safety and personal responsibility. Members dress in Old West clothing, shoot replica firearms of the frontier period, and expand their knowledge of U.S. history. More information and a video of the event is available on their site, http://www.4-hwesternheritageproject.org/

Preparing for the event

The youth participated in their county project and then attended their state event to prepare themselves. Although the program involves shooting, the emphasis is on education. The 4-H member's entire score for the event is also comprised of how well s/he scores on a history test and their interviewing skills. Museum visits and more than thirty different educational sessions were available for the youth and their families to participate in.
 

California team results

Congratulations to the following 4-H members who placed at the event:

Junior Division - Girls Interview Skills
4th Place        EmmaLee Lindley               Kern County

Senior Division - Girls Interview Skills
3rd Place        Christine Lindley                 Kern County
5th Place        Hope Lindley                       Kern County

Senior Division – Boys Interview Skills
3rd Place        Thomas Aquino                   Santa Clara County

Senior Division – Rimfire Shooting
4th Place        Garrett Hawks                    Kern County

Senior Division – Historical Testing
1st Place        Thomas Aquino                   Santa Clara County

Senior Division – Overall Top Hand
3rd Place        Thomas Aquino                   Santa Clara County
5th Place        Garrett Hawks                     Kern County

Join the California 4-H Western Heritage Team!

California is one of nine states across the country with an active 4-H Western Heritage program. If you are interested in joining this team, please contact John Borba, 4-H Youth Development Advisor, at jaborba@ucanr.edu or (661) 868-6216.