The Oklahoma Youth Expo hosted the largest single day shotgun sports contest September 7, 2022, at the Oklahoma Trapshooting Association in El Reno, Oklahoma, and Silverleaf Shotgun Sports in Guthrie, Oklahoma.
Hosting both trap and sporting clays contests, 65 individuals and 109 teams totaled more than 600 7th through 12th grade Oklahoma 4-H and FFA members.
“The most exciting part of the Inaugural Shotgun Sports Contest was seeing a completely different group of competitors,” OYE’s President of the Onward Foundation, Tyler Norvell said. “These are students who are rooted in agriculture, but they pursue other opportunities within the industry rather than showing livestock, and I believe it’s our job at OYE to provide events for as many students in agriculture as possible,” Norvell said.
The event was created to not only inspire competition but also to promote proper gun safety. Prior to competing, all contestants were required to have passed a Hunters Safety course and have practiced with a supervisor for a minimum of eight hours.
Several organizations showed their support of the event through sponsorship, including: Ducks Unlimited, The Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma, Hilliary Communications, Oklahoma Oil & Natural Gas, Farm Credit, Bank of Western Oklahoma, and Express Ranches. Additionally, students from Connors State College and Redlands Community College served as volunteer collegiate partners.
The event finals are set to occur September 28, 2022, at Silverleaf Shotgun Sports in Guthrie, Oklahoma. There, the top individuals and teams from the trap and sporting clays contests will shoot for the champion title.
“All of us at OYE are very excited for the future of our Shotgun Sports Contest, and we invite everyone to join us September 28th in Guthrie for the finals,” Norvell said. “The skill these students have is incredible, and we are glad to put their hard work, dedication and discipline to their craft under the spotlight for all to see.”
To support the next generation of leaders and support the Oklahoma Youth Expo’s Shotgun Sports Contest, contact Tyler Norvell at tyler@okyouthexpo.org
For more information on the Oklahoma Youth Expo and the Shotgun Sports contest, visit okyouthexpo.com.
The Oklahoma Youth Expo is the largest youth event in the state of Oklahoma. As a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization, more than 7,000 exhibitors, their educators and families travel to Oklahoma City each spring from all of Oklahoma’s 77 counties to exhibit their livestock projects. Throughout the course of the ten-day event, OYE has a $25 million impact on Oklahoma City. For more information about the Oklahoma Youth Expo visit okyouthexpo.com.