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 3, 2025.
Over 500 archers from 42 counties across the state demonstrated their skills at the match. Representing Decatur County 4-H were Cloverleaf team members (4th-6th grade), Isabella Alvarez, Peter Alvarez, Jax Dollar, Olivia Head, Zy’rion Williams, Sutton Carlisle, Alex Villegas and Michael McClanahan. Gunnar Mcnair participated in the Junior division (7th & 8th grade). Participating in the Senior Compound Bow division (9th-12th grade) were Gavin Hughes, Luke Robertson and Autumn Wiggins.
Gunnar Mcnair
Luke Robertson
Gavin Hughes on left and Autumn Wiggins on Right (black and red shirts)
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 moved to shoot three ends of six arrows each at 40 and 30 meters on 80 cm., 6-ring target faces. Senior archers shot a total of 72 arrows each.
State archery: Back L-R: Coach Charles Wiggins, Zy’rion Williams, Coach Danny Moore
Middle L-R: Alex Villegas, Jax Dollar, Michael McClanahan, Coach Ray Dodson
Front L-R: Olivia Head, Isabella Alvarez, Peter Alvarez
Not pictured: Sutton Carlisle and Coach Sam Hughes
Team members have been practicing weekly since November 2024 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 2024-25 Decatur County 4-H Archery team members are Hunter Blanton, Luke Clements, Bentley Simpson, and Aydon 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.
