Safety top priority for archery club

CULBERTSON -- The 4-H archery club in Hitchcock County celebrated its fifth anniversary with an official name and a competition at the county fair Wednesday.

Merlin Shaffer, the group's co-leader with Russ Weidner, said the club's target range has grown from 11 targets to 38, and the group is now known as the "Southwest Shooting Sports 4-H Club."

A total of 31 4-H'ers competed in the county fair Wednesday. "Have fun, and be safe," Shaffer told club members before each stepped up to the firing line.

"Everybody ready? Line clear?," he shouted. "Line's hot!" And the arrows flew.

Shaffer, like other judges, ran score cards on just two shooters at a time, but he kept a watchful eye on all his 4-H'ers.

"You slow down," he admonished one girl. "You're just slingin' arrows."

To another, he said, "Relax ... take a deep breath ... breath ... "

And he was always quick with a pat on the back, a word of praise: "Great shot!"

Shaffer, who has taught hunter safety and bow education for 15 years, said safety is his club's utmost concern.

Club members who have shot at other ranges have been praised for their safe shooting habits, Shaffer said. "Our extra-high safety standards carry over to other shooting events," he said.

Merlin and his wife, Rita, are dedicated to their 4-H'ers. They have a bear (a target bear) in their backyard, and Merlin is sometimes seen walking around his neighborhood carrying an alligator (another target) for 4-H'ers to practice on. Yet their dedication goes beyond teaching shooting skills; they want the kids to have fun and enjoy themselves.

So, when all the shooting's done and all the scores are tallied, the cookies come out -- and Rita serves 10 dozen homemade chocolate chips cookies to 31 hungry archers.

The Hitchcock County fair continues through Sunday. Highlights include 4-H events each day and entertainment in the evening.

Today's schedule included log hoggers at 5 p.m., but the stock car races, scheduled for 8 p.m., were postponed for a week because of overnight rain.

The sale of the chain saw art will follow LaNise Kirk's performance Saturday at 8 p.m. in front of the grandstand. Sunday's highlights include a demolition derby at 2 p.m. and a gospel show at 7 p.m.