Altus and Apache teams take top honors at the 5th annual FFA Sporting Clays Championship

                More than 400 students, parents and teachers attended the 5th annual Oklahoma Future Farmers of America (FFA) Sporting Clays Championship Jan. 11 at the Oklahoma Trap Association Gun Club near El Reno.

                “We had kids from every corner of the state. The event was a great success, it just seems to get bigger every year,” said Ed Cunnius, Shotgun Training Education Program (STEP) coordinator for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. “There were some very talented young shooters in the competition.”

                High school juniors and seniors earned the right to attend the state championship by competing in FFA tournaments one in of the five districts around the state. Students participated both as teams and as individuals. Trap machines, engraved shotguns and shooting apparel will be presented to the winners at the state FFA convention held at the Cox Convention Center later this spring. 

                One of the goals of the STEP program is to encourage participation in shooting sports and hunting among kids and adults alike.  More than 400 school districts and hundreds of students are involved in this innovative school participation program.

                According to Cunnius, the FFA Shooting Sports Championship is a one-of-a-kind event.

                “There’s nothing else like this in the United States for the Future Farmers of America program. This started out as a pilot program, but has already exceeded our expectations. I’ve received calls from several other states wanting to know how they can duplicate what we have accomplished here,” Cunnius said. “It is so encouraging to see so many kids in this program, especially knowing that without this school participation program many of them may have never learned to shoot a shotgun. Now they have a safe hobby they can enjoy for the rest of their lives and have the ability to pass their skills and education on to future generations of sportsmen and women.”

                The FFA Sporting Clays Program would not have been possible without the support of the Wildlife Department, the Wildlife Conservation Commission and donations from several special organizations and private individuals who had a vision for the potential success of the program, said Cunnius. 

                “For example the National Rifle Association (NRA) Foundation, one of the first sponsors of the STEP program, has donated more than $40,000 to Oklahoma FFA chapters for their shooting sports program in the last two years alone,” Cunnius said.

                The Oklahoma Station of the Safari Club International has also been a strong supporter of the program.

                “The Oklahoma Station of the Safari Club International donated a very nice trailer to the STEP program which allows us to take equipment to schools and events all around the state,” he said.

Cunnius added that a private individual made a $5,000 donation to the Oklahoma FFA Foundation which was used to provide awards for top scoring teams and individuals at the state championship. Kendall Brashears, activity coordinator for the Oklahoma FFA Foundation, said that the introduction of the FFA Shooting Sports Program has been the best thing that's happened to the FFA program for a long time.

                Additionally, Dr. Gary and Suzie Rouse donated shooting safety glasses for the participants valued at $500.

                The Wildlife Department’s STEP program offers seminars free of charge for groups of 25 or more people. Guns, ammunition and targets are provided through the program and there is a different seminar for every skill level. The STEP program has seven trailers located statewide fully equipped to conduct shooting seminars. 

                “We have 105 certified instructors made up of Wildlife Department personnel dedicated to promoting gun safety, hunter ethics and sportsmanship.  Their effort is the key to success for the program in which over 80,000 citizens have learned new or improved shooting skills and safety awareness,” Cunnius said.

                For more information about the STEP program log on to wildlifedepartment.com or call (918) 625-3955.

                Following are the winning teams and individuals for the 2006 FFA Sporting Clays Championship.

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