Jacob Meads of North Carolina started getting involved with his local 4-H chapter at five years old by showing livestock. Now age 17, thanks to the help of this father and his shooting coach, Jacob has become a serious 4-H competitor in the disciples of muzzle loading, shotgunning, archery and pistols.

Jacob’s journey as a 4-H competitor actually started about 11 years ago when 4-H shooting coach and family friend Mike Copeland asked him if he’d be interested in “trying it out,” as Jacob tells it.

After that, an entire community of 4-H coaches rallied around Jacob. His father, grandfather and several other men who specialized in rifles and archery began to familiarize Jacob in their respective disciplines.

After Jacob’s father introduced to the finer points of pistol shooting, the coach of the 4-H national shooting team put him through a formal training program. Jacob found himself in the senior division of ages 14 and up and since then has competed in the national competition for pistols. 

Regardless of the discipline he’s competing in, Jacob trains about two-to-three hours per week as district matches approach. 

“My scores have been getting better over the years,” he said. His team has scored wins in compound archery and shotguns. “With pistols, I’d say I’ve done pretty good. The pistols are more demanding than the rifles. You have to really focus. But I like all the disciplines all pretty much the same.” 

However, Jacob will soon age out of the 4-H competitions. “I’ll stay with the team until I’m 19,” he said.

After that, he would like to continue his participation by become a 4-H coach.

Irwin Greenstein is the publisher of Young Awesome Hunter. You can reach him on the Young Awesome Hunter Facebook page at https://tinyurl.com/3wrtm25t

Helpful resources:

The web site for the 4-H Shooting Sports Program

Irwin Greenstein

Irwin Greenstein is Publisher of Shotgun Life. Please send your comments to letters@shotgunlife.com.

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