Codington County 4-H Sees Rise in Shooting Sports Participation and National Qualification
- Steve Jurrens
- Apr 9
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Following a statewide conference of 4-H educators in Rapid City, Codington County 4-H Educator Jodi Loehrer returned to the Board of Commissioners this week with a report.
State and National Momentum
The local shooting sports program, which holds regular sessions every Tuesday and Thursday night, is currently entering its peak season. Loehrer revealed that Codington County will be out in full force at the State 4-H Shoot in Fort Pierre, scheduled for April 24–26.
“At this time, we have 57 youth registered for the state shoot,” Loehrer informed the board. “With registration ending on April 16, we expect that number to hold strong. Some of those youth are doing multiple events; some are doing two or three different archery areas as well.”
The program’s success has already extended beyond state lines. Loehrer proudly announced that a local team of youth has qualified for the prestigious Daisy National Shoot in Arkansas, which will take place July 10–13. The qualification is particularly notable given the stringent eligibility rules for the national event.
“This will be the second time we’ve sent a team there,” Loehrer explained. “You can’t go two years in a row, so they had to take a year off, but they’ve qualified again.”
Community and Volunteer Support
Loehrer was quick to credit the backbone of the program: the local families and volunteer instructors who manage the logistical and safety requirements of shooting sports. She noted that raffle tickets—a vital funding source for the program—are currently available for purchase through 4-H families or at the Extension Office.
“A big thank you to our 4-H shooting sports volunteer coaches,” Loehrer said. “They put in a lot of time with our youth.”
Beyond the Range: “Adopt a Cow” and Early Education
While shooting sports often grab the headlines, the report also detailed significant strides in the classroom. Loehrer has been active in local schools teaching the “Adopt a Cow Dairy” curriculum, a specialized SDSU Extension program designed for students in Kindergarten through 2nd Grade.
The program is currently being delivered to students at Waverly and Mellette School. This foundational curriculum aims to connect young students with the region’s agricultural roots through interactive, age-appropriate lessons.
Looking Toward Summer
The 4-H calendar shows no signs of slowing down. As the “Cloverbud” after-school meetings wrap up this April, Loehrer is already transitioning to summer programming. A Cloverbud Camp is officially scheduled for June 24, and planning is already underway for one of the year’s biggest events.
“I met with my leaders last night to kind of go through some planning for Achievement Days and all the things associated with that,” Loehrer said.
With high registration numbers and national-level talent, Codington County 4-H continues to serve as a vital pipeline for skill development and agricultural education in the Watertown area.
