Johnson County 4-H Shooting Sports

09/30/2025

The popular 4-H Shooting Sports BB Gun and Air Rifle projects return for another season starting in October. Youth (and parents!) can learn to safely and responsibly use fi****ms, promote sportsmanship and ethical behavior, get acquainted with the fundamentals of competitive shooting, and foster shooting as a fun, family recreation.
Here’s how to join us.

If you have already participated as part of the competitive squad in years past, do the following:
Step 1. Go to www.4honline.com and re-enroll in 4-H as soon as the new enrollment year opens in October. This is important! If you show up for practice and are not officially enrolled in 4-H, you will not be permitted to shoot. Please complete your enrollment as soon after October 1 as possible. Remember to select the BB Gun and/or Air Rifle project, as appropriate.
Step 2. Send an email to [email protected] and let us know you plan to return this year and which discipline(s) you plan to participate in.
Step 3. Watch the Shooting Sports website calendar, at www.4-HShootingSports.com for updates on scheduled practice dates and times. At this time, the first practice for returning shooters is scheduled for November 11. Returning participants please note: If you would like to volunteer to help teach new participants during the introductory sessions explained in the next session, please plan to attend. However, live firing at those introductory sessions will be reserved for new shooters only.

If you have not participated as part of the competitive squad in years past, do the following:
Step 1. Be aware of the following requirements for the Shooting Sports program:
a. BB Gun is open to youth between age 9 and 15 as of Jan. 1, 2026.
b. Air Rifle is open to youth aged 12 to 18 as of Jan. 1, 2026, who have successfully completed at least one season of the BB gun program (unless over age 15).
c. Successful completion of at least one season of the Air Rifle program is a required prerequisite for participation in the advanced shooting disciplines of smallbore rifle (.22 caliber) and muzzloading rifle, which will begin in Summer 2026.
Step 2. Plan to attend the initial introduction to 4-H BB-Gun safety classes scheduled for 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. October 15, October 16, October 21, October 22, and October 28. For new participants, participation in these classes is required if you are interested in joining the competitive match season shooting with the Johnson County 4-H BB Gun and Air Rifle squads. Participation in 4-H Shooting Sports with the competitive squad is by invitation only. Invitations will be extended by the 4-H instructors based on student performance in the introductory classes and available resources.
Step 3. As soon as possible, send an email to [email protected] to introduce yourself and let us know you plan to participate.
Step 4. Enroll in 4-H as soon as the new enrollment opens on October 1, at www.4honline.com. Be sure to enroll in the BB Gun and Air Rifle projects as appropriate to your participation plans. This is important! If you show up for practice and are not officially enrolled in 4-H, you will not be permitted to shoot. Enroll as soon after October 1 as possible, as your enrollment must be accepted by Johnson County K-State Research and Extension before your enrollment is official, and it may take several days for your enrollment to be processed. You will only be permitted to shoot if you can demonstrate your enrollment is official—no exceptions will be permitted.
Step 5. Watch the Shooting Sports website calendar, at www.4-HShootingSports.com for updates on scheduled dates, times, and locations for the introductory safety class and regular practices.

08/18/2025

Save the dates... Introduction to 4-H BB Gun will begin in early October. It's the foundation for graduation into the more advanced shooting sports disciplines. If you have kids between 8 and 18 who may be interested, leave us a message, or email [email protected].

02/29/2024

Please share:

On the night of February 28, Denise lost her barn and all but two does and kids to fire… Mike Smith needs your support for Denise King and Family Barn Raising

06/27/2023

Congratulations to Jacob S, who represented Johnson County 4-H Shooting Sports as an individual participant at this year's Civilian Marksmanship Program National Three-Position Sporter Air Rifle Championship, June 22 through 24, in Camp Perry, Ohio. Jacob placed 34th overall out of 164 entries from across the nation.

03/20/2023

Last regular season match this weekend. Missing a few faces from the post awards pics, but proud of all the sportsmanship and skill shown by the competitors. Congratulations to all shooters who have qualified for the state match next month!

02/20/2023

Hunting skills class in action. Participants learned about fur harvesting and how to set traps.

10/19/2022

BB Gun introductory classes are underway. Gun safety and fundamental skills are being emphasized to set a strong foundation for participants.

07/20/2022

Kansas 4-Hers Win National 4-H Shooting Sports Competition for the First Time Ever
https://ksre.k-state.edu/tuesday/announcement/?id=83495

10/18/2021

If you are interested in participating in the winter 2021-2022 BB Gun or Air Rifle programs or more advanced 4-H Shooting Sports disciplines, please read this post carefully; it contains information you need to know if you want to shoot.

THIS SECTION APPLIES TO YOU IF YOU HAVE NOT PARTICIPATED IN THE COMPETITIVE PORTION OF BB GUN OR AIR RIFLE IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

Because safety is the No. 1 priority of this program, we require a few conditions for all new participants.

You must be enrolled in 4-H before you may attend any live-shooting meeting. If you are not enrolled, do so now at https://v2.4honline.com
To shoot BB Gun, you must be between age 9 and 15 as of January 1, 2022.
To shoot Air Rifle, you must be between 12 and 18 as of January 1, 2022.
To shoot either BB Gun or Air Rifle, you must attend the first safety and fundamentals orientation at 6 p.m. October 26, in the Green Building on the Johnson County Fairgrounds, in Gardner.

This orientation class will introduce you to the BB Gun and Air Rifle discipline of the 4‑H Shooting Sports project. Emphasis will be given to safe gun handling and safe shooting-range procedures, along with introductory fundamentals of shooting, which will form a foundation for safe shooting of any firearm.

No equipment fee is charged for the orientation class, no experience is necessary, and you don't have to bring any equipment except two pairs of safety glasses—one for you and one for a parent or other adult coach, who must attend with you.

Attending the orientation does not commit you to continue to the competitive program, so it's a great opportunity to try it out and see what shooting sports is about.

If you plan to join us at 6 p.m. October 26, please send an email to [email protected] so we have an idea of how many participants to plan for. See you there!

THIS SECTION APPLIES TO YOU IF YOU HAVE ALREADY PARTICIPATED IN THE COMPETITIVE PORTION OF BB GUN OR AIR RIFLE IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

You do not have to attend the October 26 orientation class.
You must be enrolled in 4-H before you may attend any live-shooting meeting (including volunteering at the October 26 class. If you plan to volunteer, please email [email protected]). If you are not enrolled, do so now at https://v2.4honline.com
If you have not participated in the competitive Air Rifle discipline before, you must have successfully completed at least one season of the BB gun program before advancing to Air Rifle.
Practice will begin for all returning shooters on November 2 in the Green Building on the Fairgrounds. Setup will begin at 6 p.m. with class beginning at 6:30 p.m. Regular practices will be on Tuesdays again this year throughout the season.
An equipment fee will be charged for participants who participate in the competitive portion of either BB Gun or Air Rifle.
Please send a quick email to [email protected] to let us know you are returning, so we have an idea of how many competitive squad members will be returning.

READ THIS SECTION FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE BB GUN AND AIR RIFLE DISCIPLINES

Even though this program advances youth to a competitive shooting program, it is also an exploratory, elementary course in air-gun shooting. New shooters with no experience are encouraged to attend.

You do not have to own your own equipment to participate. The 4-H Rifle Club has sufficient safe and proper equipment to outfit most youth who are interested in participating. The only equipment required is a pair of safety glasses for youth participants and any adults who will be on or near the shooting line.

The Shooting Sports project is operated by a team of adult volunteers who are experienced in shooting and youth instruction, who have been recommended and background-screened by the county Extension office, and who have received mandatory intensive training and state-level certification in the rifle shooting discipline and in youth development training techniques.

The Shooting Sports project consists of a combination of live-fire gun shooting instruction, combined with classroom instruction covering general gun knowledge, proper gun handling and procedures for conducting airgun competitions.

Research has proven that 4-H shooting is far safer than other youth sports, and Johnson County 4-H Shooting Sports has never suffered an injury related to shooting.

We look forward to seeing you on either October 26 or November 2. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]