Isabella Alvarez, Alex Villegas, Peter Alvarez
Members of the Decatur County 4-H Archery Team participated in the 4-H Target Challenge Weekend at Rock Eagle 4-H Center on May 2, 2026.
Over 600 archers from 42 counties across the state demonstrated their skills at the match. Decatur County 4-H Cloverleaf team members (4th-6th grade) competing were Isabella Alvarez, Peter Alvarez, and Alex Villegas. Mason Burke participated in the Junior division (7th & 8th grade). Participating in the Senior Compound Bow division (9th-12th grade) were Gavin Hughes and Gunnar McNair.
Isabella & Peter Alvarez
Mason Burke
Compound bow archers in the Cloverleaf division shot three ends of six arrows each at 30 meters with a 122 cm. target face and three ends of six arrows each at 20 meters on 80 cm., 6-ring target faces. Cloverleafs shot 36 arrows total. Junior compound archers started the contest shooting four ends of six arrows each at 50 meters with a 122 cm. target face. Then moved to four ends of six arrows each at 40 and 30 meters on 80 cm., 6-ring target faces. Junior contestants shot 72 total arrows. High-school aged, senior compound bow archers began the contest shooting three ends of six arrows each at 60 and 50 meters on a 122 cm target face. Then seniors moved to shoot three ends of six arrows each at 40 and 30 meters on 80 cm., 6-ring target faces. Senior archers also shot a total of 72 arrows each.
Gunner McNair
Team members have been practicing weekly since November 2025 in preparation for the state contest. 4-H’ers, parents and coaches have put much time and effort into being good representatives of Decatur County. This opportunity would not be possible without the dedication and hard-work of volunteer coaches, Charles Wiggins, Sam Hughes, Danny Moore and Ray Dodson. Additional 2025-26 Decatur County 4-H Archery team members are Hunter Blanton, Luke Clements, Jax Dollar, Kenan Reffitt, and Bentley Simpson.
The 4-H Archery Program is a part of the Georgia 4-H Shooting Awareness, Fun and Education Program (S.A.F.E.). Project S.A.F.E. is an active program, attractive to youth and adult audiences. The program is curriculum based and designed to assist young people in personal development, establish a personal environmental ethic and explore life-long vocational and avocational activities. The program uses experiential learning and positive interactions with youth and adult role models to help young people develop self-concept, self-assurance and a positive self-image. Teamwork, cooperation, self-responsibility and character are among the many life skills gained by participating in the S.A.F.E program which is sponsored by the Georgia 4-H Foundation.
4-H is the youth program of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. For more information about Decatur County 4-H, please contact the Decatur County Extension Office at 229-248-3033.
