RATON- The 2019 State 4-H Shooting Sports Championships were held May 2-5 in Raton, NM. Grant County had 30 4-H members in attendance. The state competition had a record number of youth in attendance. One of the biggest counties in attendance was Grant County.

Once again Grant County did very well. Team 1 for archery placed second in the state. The team was made up of Julian Garcia, Bristan Lockett, Mason Lockett and Brye Baptiste. Hunting Team 2, Matthew Garrison, Matthew Tavizon, Connor McDaniel and Ty Holman placed second. Bristan Lockett, Mason Lockett, Levi Dalton and Luke Bower placed fifth on the second Hunting Team. Team 1 for Air Rifle placed third in the state. Clay Lewis, Seth Neal, Ariel Hanson and Sophia Egge-Ogas were the members of that team. Rachel Bobo competed as an individual in Air Rifle as well. The Pistol Team, Julian Garcia, Luke Bower, Xander O’Loughlin and Jacob Marciel placed fifth. Smallbore .22 Rifle Team 1, placed seventh with members Seth Neal, Clay Lewis, Laura Grabbe, and Sophia Egge-Ogas. Seth Neal was fifth high individual in the state. Shotgun Team 1, Ty Dalton, Levi Dalton, Chris Morgan and Jacobi Lockett placed
sixth in the state.

Archery Team 2, Jacobi Lockett, Samantha Jones, Colton Smith and Logan Fretz represented the county very well placing 10 th out of 25 teams in the state. Members of the Smallbore .22 Rifle Team 2, Samantha Jones, Hattie Dobrinski and Matthew Garrison also did well. Grant County had two Muzzleloader teams, Matthew Tavizon, Max Misquez, Cooper Miller, Madison Miller, Shalynn Tavizon, Logan Fretz and Chris Morgan were the members of the two teams. Shotgun Team 2, Max Misquez, Cooper Miller, Connor McDaniel, and Ty Holman also did very well. 

“We are incredibly proud of our 4-H members who competed in senior shooting sports this year” Ag/4-H Agent, Jessica Swapp said. Swapp added, “Preparations are already being made to prepare teams for the competition next year.” Shotgun, Hunting and Muzzleloader coach Brian Miller added, “We are currently getting ready to start practicing for the Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) contest in July.” “We are hoping to do well in this year’s wildlife contest and encourage all senior 4-H members to participate” Swapp said. Practice for the WHEP contest is held Tuesday’s at 6pm at the Grant County Extension Office.