Youth shooting sports training programs in schools, gun clubs, County 4-H organizations, and American Legions are expanding in Indiana due to support by the host organizations and significant monetary support through the Friends of NRA, Midway Foundation, and the Indiana Youth Shooting Sports Foundation. Today, we would like to focus on the American Legion Youth programs supporting air rifle air rifle programs and on 4-H programs supporting a variety of shooting sports. Both programs provide safety and marksmanship training opportunities for boys and girls in grades 3 through 12 and provide opportunities for dedicated and talented youth to compete in state and national matches. On March 7, the Indiana American Legion will partner with Indiana 4-H shooting sports to conduct the 30-shot 3 position state championship sporter air rifle competitions for both organizations and a 40-shot 4-H state air pistol competition at the Hancock County Fairgrounds in Greenfield, Indiana. All three championships are to qualify for respective national competitions.
American Legion Junior Shooting Sport programs focus on sporter air (pellet) rifle shooting. While only a few Legion posts have developed dedicated training programs additional posts have partnered with 4-H programs, schools, or gun clubs to sponsor teams for advanced shooting competition. Additional information on developing junior shooting sports program at your American Legion Post or signing up to compete on March 7 can be found at https://www.indianalegion.org/jssp.
Indiana 4-H shooting sports includes disciplines such as archery, rifle, shotgun, air rifle, and air pistol. Volunteer instructors are organized through the Purdue Agricultural Extension Service in many Indiana Counties. You can find your county Ag Extension Service at https://extension.purdue.edu/about/county-office.html. The focus of programs among counties is quite variable. Some focus only on basic safety while others promote marksmanship to compete at state and national levels. If your county does not offer a 4-H shooting sports program or does not include the disciplines of greatest interest to you, feel free to join one in an adjacent county.
For those interested in becoming instructors, 2026 training will occur April 10-12 or September 11-13 at Ross Camp near West Lafayette, Indiana.
Statewide 4-H shooting sports competitions began in Indiana only five years ago. It would be great to qualify more shooters to compete in the national matches. If interested, please sign up for air rifle or air pistol at https://in4hstateshootairpistrif26.4honline.com , archery at https://in4hstateshootarchery26.4honline.com , rimfire rifle or pistol (or muzzleloading at https://in4hstateshootpistrifmuz26.4honline.com, or shotgun at https://in4hstateshootshotgun26.4honline.com . A portion of the registration fees for the Indiana state 4-H championship matches will be used to help defray the costs associated with travel to the national 4-H competition in Grand Island, Nebraska June 21-26, 2026.
Bill Jordan, Vice President ISRPA Youth Activities
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