Source: Ashley Marcum, Extension Specialist Associate, 4-H Youth Development

Kentucky 4-H Shooting Sports archery has soared to new heights in 2025, blending competitive excellence with youth development. This year, the program proudly represented the Commonwealth at the National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships in Grand Island, Nebraska, and hosted the first-ever Kentucky 4-H Archery Extravaganza, reinforcing its role as a leader in empowering young archers.

At the national level, Kentucky delivered an impressive performance with not only first-time compound and recurve archery teams, but returning muzzleloading and shotgun teams as well, showcasing the depth and diversity of the program and its youth. Kentucky team members competed in the event over three days against more than 700 youth from across the country. 

The compound archery team clinched fourth place overall out of a field of 32 states, while members of the recurve archery team achieved individual successes, including a top-10 finish. Additional highlights included:

• Compound archery team: third place, Day 1 (FITA)
• Compound archery team: first place, Day 2 (field)
• Adam Curran (Bourbon County): seventh place in compound FITA and fourth in compound field
• Solomon Pangallo (Kenton County): seventh in compound field
• Braydon Roberts (Bath County): 10th in compound 3D
• Curtis Bailey (Montgomery County): ninth in recurve field

These achievements reflect the dedication of youth, coaches, and volunteers across the state.

Back home, the inaugural Kentucky 4-H Archery Extravaganza, held in September in Berea, Kentucky, welcomed more than 80 youth from 15 counties. Participants competed in barebow, recurve, and compound divisions, supported by certified instructors and cheering families. Through progressive skill development and hands-on learning, this new and exciting opportunity within the Kentucky 4-H Shooting Sports program encourages youth to pursue their passions, challenge themselves and envision pathways to collegiate and professional archery. 

Kentucky 4-H Shooting Sports is about more than competition—it’s a platform for growth. Grounded in the 4-H Thriving Model, the program helps youth discover their sparks, build lasting relationships and develop life skills like resilience, goal setting and leadership.

As the KY 4-H Shooting Sports program continues to expand its offerings, its success sets a strong precedent for future programming that helps youth become beyond ready to lead, grow and thrive.

For more information or to get involved, contact the (COUNTY NAME) Extension office. 

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