Dear Friends

The Arkansas Youth Hunter Education Challenge which was held June 8-10 at the C.A. Vines 4-H Center in Little Rock was a tremendous success. We had over 200 youth attending the competition. It was very exciting in the fact we had several new youth attending the competition for their first time. Weather cooperated with us and each of the eight events went off without any issues or problems. We awarded over 300 trophies, plus dozens of awards and door prizes. Arkansas YHEC is very proud of the fact we are one of the largest and most successful YHEC programs in the United States today.

I want to thank the Arkansas Chapter of Safari Club International for your loyal support of YHEC. It is with great supporters and sponsors such as you that we are so successful in youth shooting sports. YHEC greatly appreciates the “Sponsorship” of a team that will be advancing to the National YHEC later this month. The Faulkner County Team “Abandoned Mallards” won 1 st Place in the Senior Team Division and will be representing SCI and Arkansas at the National Match. They are very exciting about advancing to this national level of competition, where youth from all across the United States will be competing. They should be contacting you soon with pictures and information regarding their team.

I also want to thank the SCI members that prepared the food for our “Volunteers” on Friday and Saturday. The food was great and appreciated by our volunteers. Your efforts in providing these meals, allow the events to continue without having to stop and move 100+ volunteers from the events sites to the cafeteria. (More importantly the volunteers enjoy your lunches better than the 4-H Center). A great big “shout out” and “thanks” to Jeff and Allie Nicholas, Gary Accord, Bryan Fitzgerald and Amanda Gore. Please make sure they are recognized and commended for their efforts.

My attention now is focused on the National YHEC event. Tina and I are planning on feeding the entire group for 4 days, so we are very busy collecting food and preparing for the meals. We have about 60 youth that will be advancing to the NRA’s YHEC National Championship at the Whittington Center in Raton, New Mexico at the end of the month. With coaches, parents, volunteers and family/friends we have over 160 people representing Arkansas at the event. I will make sure that we take some pictures of the SCI Team and send to you. Our youth are among some of the best competitors in the nation today, so we are expecting to bring back some trophies and awards for Arkansas. Please wish us well as we prove “Kids and Guns Do Go Together When Given The Right Training and Opportunity.”

Sincerely,
Gary Jobe
State Director, ARYHEC