Byline: Kaylea Berry/Reporter
PORUM, Oklahoma – The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Agriculture Youth Program hosted the first All-Indian Trap and Archery Competition on Sept. 27 at the Connors State College Dr. Stuart Woods Shooting Sports Complex. Native American youth ages 14 to 18 from various tribes participated in trap shooting and archery competitions.
Sport shooting and archery have become more popular recently. The Olympics recognizes the two as official Olympics sports, and more colleges are offering scholarships for the sports. The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Division of Agriculture & Natural Resources has an archery program that helps support the kids with their projects and purchasing bows and arrows for students.
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Division of Agriculture & Natural Resources Director Trenton Kissee said that the program came up with the idea for this event in 2019. However, because of COVID, they have not had a chance to do so until now.
“It’s been a long time coming, but we’re looking forward to doing this annual event,” said Kissee. “It’s the only one of its kind that we know of that combines shotgun sports with archery in the same contest.”
The participants had the option to compete in the trap shooting division, archery division, or both for the overall championship. There were 37 archers, 26 trap shooters, and 18 participated in both divisions. The participants supplied their own equipment for the competition, but ear and eye protection were available.
Trap shooting consists of an oscillating device called a “bunker” or “house,” dispersing clay targets that move away from the shooter at unknown angles. The archers shot at stationary (2D) targets in front of hay bales and then proceeded to 3D animal targets in the woods.
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Agriculture Youth Program Manager Billy Haltom said, “This is our first one and not something I’m really familiar with doing, so I was tickled to death that we had the support from Connors staff that we do to put this on.”
“This is our first one, and hopefully, it’s one of many,” said Haltom.
Shooting sports instructor Sierra Walker, Archery team coach Johnny King, and students from Connors assisted the MCN Ag Youth staff in the event. Off duty, Lighthorse officers volunteered their time to ensure gun safety.
There were first, second and third-place winners for the trap shooting, archery, and overall categories.
Overall, Trent Simmons of Jenks took first place, followed by Sutton Grigsby of Jenks and Easton Barclays of Winchester. Caden Shea of Sand Springs took first place in the division for trap shooting, followed by Kalen Putman of Weleetka and Aiden Johnson of Candy in third. Sutton Grisby of Jenks won the archery competition, followed by Trent Simmons of Jenks for second place and Summer Barclays of Winchester for third.
The 1st place winners of each category received a Pendleton blanket signed by Chief David Hill, the trap shoot winners received shotgun cases, the archery winners received bow cases, and the overall winners received camouflage backpacks.
The Ag Youth Program’s 10th annual All-Indian Livestock Show is coming in January 2023.
While pre-entry is not required, pre-applicants receive a free t-shirt. The program also has the MCN Ag Youth Facebook page. For more information on the MCN Ag Youth Program, contact Billy Haltom 918-843-0385 or Jacob Rippy 539-244-2220.
