Help Us Remove Barriers for Young Shooters

As a veteran, 4-H leader, and certified shooting sports coach, I’ve seen how youth shooting sports can truly change a young person’s life.

But I’ve also watched too many talented kids walk away—not because they lacked skill or passion, but because their families couldn’t handle the $1,000–$2,500 a year it can cost for equipment, training, and competitions. I first witnessed this while shadowing another coach to learn from their program. It opened my eyes to the real financial barriers some families face.

That experience shaped how I run Red Dirt Shooting Sports today. I have—and always will—make sure no young shooter is turned away because of equipment costs.

I’ll never forget Sarah, a 12-year-old from a single-parent household in rural Oklahoma. She had natural talent with an air rifle and a genuine passion for the sport, but when her mother learned about the costs involved, she quietly said, “We just can’t continue.”

That conversation changed everything for me.

Thanks to community support and generous donors, Sarah received loaner equipment, had her competition fees covered, and even got help with travel. Three years later she not only qualified for state-level matches and earned a scholarship, but also saved up from her first job to buy her own bow—gaining the confidence, discipline, and independence to succeed far beyond the shooting range.

Your support helps us keep that door open. Together we’re building stronger communities, one young shooter at a time.

“A tip for other coaches and soon to be coaches. If you are training after school then bring snacks. And let them eat. You never know which one of those kiddos that your snack might be all they get to eat till they go back to school. So please let them have the last cookie or bag of chips.” -Coach P