4H Sport Shooting club started BY RUTHANN CARR CORRESPONDENT About 20 kids from <strong>Fluvanna</strong> and Louisa gathered with their parents Sunday (Feb. 26) in a room at Zion Methodist Church to hear about a 4H Sport Shooting Club. Kaleb Rinaca, 15, of <strong>Fluvanna</strong>, is inte<strong>res</strong>ted in joining because he “just wants to see what it is like.” His dad, Todd Rinaca, is a former member of the military and shoots recreationally. Jerry Reimers, of <strong>Fluvanna</strong>, sat with his daughters, Jordan, <strong>12</strong>, and Megan, 9, listening to the p<strong>res</strong>entation. He said both have been inte<strong>res</strong>ted in shooting ever since he took them to a shooting range about a year ago. SAVE ENERGY AND FUEL COSTS We’re Local-Come See Us Now Offering Expert Tire Service at Great Prices • ENGINE - TRANSMISSIONS • EXHAUST SYSTEMS • COMPUTERIZED 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT • FUEL INJECTION • A/C CERTIFIED SERVICE • ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS • TRANSMISSION FLUID EXCHANGER • VA. STATE INSPECTION ALL MAKES & MODELS Home of All Star Auto Parts Ben Smith and his son, Ty. Since 1978 22 | FLUVANNA REVIEW | March 1, 2<strong>01</strong>2 “They asked me to take them out and they loved it,” Reimers said. “Jordan got a bulls eye the fi rst time out.” Ben Smith, of Louisa, brought his camoufl age-clad son, Ty, 9, who likes to hunt. Virginia Cooperative Extension Agent Jenny Thompson told those gathered that the main goal of the shooting program is to teach the <strong>res</strong>ponsible and safe use of fi rearms. Thompson showed the prospective marksmen a video that said shooting is one of the fastest growing sports. More than 300,000 are involved in 4H shooting sports, according to the video. Kids between the ages of nine and 18 can join the club. Travis Cash, who is a former member of the U.S. Army, will teach rifl e shooting while <strong>Fluvanna</strong> Extension Agent John Thompson will teach shotgun shooting. He said they’ll be using 20-gauge shotguns and air rifl es. “Because shooting is inherently dangerous, we’re going to have a safety review before every practice,” John Thompson said. Safety is key, he said. Even when shooters bring a gun in a case, he will expect them to know which end the muzzle is pointing. Shooters will be given ammunition as they need it and not before each bullet is accounted for, he said. “It’s like Barney Fife – you get one round at a time,” John Thompson said referring to the much loved but hapless deputy on the Andy Griffi th Show who had to keep his one bullet in his pocket to avoid an accidental shooting. Jenny Thompson said the group plans to begin with rifl e and shotgun and will add other disciplines, such as archery and muzzle-loading as the group grows. Cash said the marksmen will learn to shoot in four positions: prone, seated, kneeling and standing. “This is the junior version of the shooting sports you see in the Olympics,” he said. “We’ll be teaching you high-quality marksmanship skills.” Eventually, the group could take part in 4H regional marksmanship competitions. Shooters can use their own guns, John Thompson said. He put in for a grant, but he hasn’t heard yet • TOWING • COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC ANALYZER • TUNE-UPS • SHOCKS & STRUTS • HOSES & BELTS • CERTIFIED ASE TECHNICIANS • BRAKES & BATTERIES • LUBE & OIL CHANGE AUTOMOTIVE CENTERS Hours: M-F 8:00 - 4:30 • Most Major Credit Cards accepted 434-589-1405 Lake Monticello 107 Crofton Place 434-589-8652 Zion Crossroads 9654 Three Notch Road “Because shooting is inherently dangerous, we’re going to have a safety review before every practice.” – John Thompson Jerry Reimers and his daughters Megan and Jordan. Photos by Ruthann Carr. what form it will take – whether he’ll get a check to buy what the group needs, or if materials will be provided. It is possible, he said, that the grant will al<strong>low</strong> him to buy guns if students need them. 4H will provide eye and ear protection, but shooters can bring their own. Megan may want to bring her own. Her dad said she had to have pink earmuffs and pink safety glasses. The next meeting for those inte<strong>res</strong>ted will be held at 2 p.m. March 11 at Zion Methodist Church on Zion Road. Shooting will begin March 25 at a location yet to be determined. For more information call the Cooperative Extension Offi ce at 434-591-1950.
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