Montana 4-Hers Do Well at 2013 4-H Western Heritage Championship
Brody Ireland takes aim with an 1878 Colt shotgun on his way to become the 2013 National Rimfire Champion.
Zack Barr of Gallatin County poses with the National Central Fire Championship belt buckle after placing first in raw time, first in the history test, and zero misses for the day.
Lauren Kesner of Gallatin County steadies a Model P Jr. in .22 rimfire to take the gold medal in the Renegade Divison - a category where the heavy recoiling 12 gauge is not required.
Brianna Barr of Gallatin County is the 2013 Best Dressed Lady in a dress that belonged to her great-grand mother.
Living Historian, Will Abbot of Missoula, demonstrates his reproduction 1865 Mountain Howitzer while final scores are being tallied. A Civil War era mortar was also fired by Mr. Abbot.
Mountain Howitzers were often gifted to settlements across Montana to bring peace of mind to pioneers worried about perceived Indian threats.
Zeb Antonioli of Madison County, MT held the lucky ticket for the Colt Single Action Army revolver donated generously by Colt’s Manufacturing Company of Hartford, CT. The revolver is in the original caliber of .45 Colt and is engraved with the words “4-H Western Heritage 2013” on the backstrap. Zeb will take personal possession of this historic firearm when he meets the age and qualifications for legal ownership under state and federal law.
The Renegade Division (Shotgun Not Required)
Young ladies with brains, talent, determination, and a healthy
avoidance of recoil.
The Full Story
A combination of speed, accuracy, and historical knowledge led two skilled 4-H Western Heritage Project members to a National Championship in Simms, MT on August 3, 2013. The 4-H Western Heritage Project, which originated in Montana and has since spread to five more states, combines 4-H Shooting Sports and historical study of the frontier period from 1860 to1900. To compete in the championship match, 4-H members must shoot Old West era firearms, participate in a judged clothing evaluation interview, and take a history test. The shooting portion is timed with penalties added for misses and engaging the targets out of order (called a procedural). The fastest time, after penalties and subtracting bonus points for the clothing interview and test score, wins the championship.
This year’s championship nearly doubled in the number of shooters over the 2012 match with 26 participants from eight Montana counties and six traveling from Missouri. In the Central Fire Division, Zack Barr of Gallatin County, MT won the gold medal. He not only had the fastest time, but also had zero misses throughout the contest as well as the highest history test score. Barry Francis of Gallatin County, MT took the silver medal after also placing second in the clothing interview. Pete Antonioli of Madison County, MT placed 3rd and Austin Witt of Missouri took 4th place and the best clothing interview score.
In the Rimfire Division, Brody Ireland, MT of Gallatin County, MT won the gold medal with zero misses. Steven Eash of Lincoln, MT took the silver medal while Josiah Tomaszewski of Gallatin County, MT and Nicole Gann of Missouri placed 3rd and 4th respectively.
Lauren Kesner of Gallatin County, MT won the Renegade Division (no shotgun) with second and third place going to Kira Meredith and Abby Tomaszewski respectively; both of Gallatin County, MT.
Other notable accomplishments included the history test scores of Matt Bronk of Missouri, Austin Witt of Missouri, and Brianna Barr of Gallatin County, MT tying for second place with a score of 27of 35. Kimball Briscoe of Teton County, MT, Tyler Volkman of Flathead County, MT, J.J. Stark of Lincoln County, MT, and Kirkland Briscoe of Teton County, MT all tied for third place with a score of 26 of 35.
In the clothing evaluation interview, Barry Francis of Gallatin County, MT and Matt Bronk of Missouri tied for second with a score of 75 out of a possible 100 points (50 points are awarded for basic knowledge and a potential of 50 more points are awarded for above average knowledge). Natalie Abbot of Missoula County, MT placed third with a score of 73 of 100 points.
Other awards included Best Hat-Nicole Gann, MO, Best Dressed Gentleman-Matt Bronk, MO,
Best Dressed Lady-Brianna Barr of Gallatin County, MT, Best Attitudes-Brody Ireland and Barry Francis both of Gallatin County, MT, and J.J. Stark of Lincoln County, MT.
The day ended with multiple firings of an authentic reproduction of an 1865 Mountain Howitzer made possible by living historian Will Abbot of Missoula.
Zeb Antonioli of Madison County, MT held the lucky ticket for the Colt Single Action Army revolver donated generously by Colt’s Manufacturing Company of Hartford, CT. The revolver is in the original caliber of .45 Colt and is engraved with the words “4-H Western Heritage 2013” on the backstrap. Zeb will take personal possession of this historic firearm when he meets the age and qualifications for legal ownership under state and federal law.
The 2014 championship is schedule for August 2nd in Montana. Missouri is planning to host the match in 2015.
Complete scores and information about starting a project in your county can be found at:
www.4-hwesternheritageproject.org.
This year’s championship nearly doubled in the number of shooters over the 2012 match with 26 participants from eight Montana counties and six traveling from Missouri. In the Central Fire Division, Zack Barr of Gallatin County, MT won the gold medal. He not only had the fastest time, but also had zero misses throughout the contest as well as the highest history test score. Barry Francis of Gallatin County, MT took the silver medal after also placing second in the clothing interview. Pete Antonioli of Madison County, MT placed 3rd and Austin Witt of Missouri took 4th place and the best clothing interview score.
In the Rimfire Division, Brody Ireland, MT of Gallatin County, MT won the gold medal with zero misses. Steven Eash of Lincoln, MT took the silver medal while Josiah Tomaszewski of Gallatin County, MT and Nicole Gann of Missouri placed 3rd and 4th respectively.
Lauren Kesner of Gallatin County, MT won the Renegade Division (no shotgun) with second and third place going to Kira Meredith and Abby Tomaszewski respectively; both of Gallatin County, MT.
Other notable accomplishments included the history test scores of Matt Bronk of Missouri, Austin Witt of Missouri, and Brianna Barr of Gallatin County, MT tying for second place with a score of 27of 35. Kimball Briscoe of Teton County, MT, Tyler Volkman of Flathead County, MT, J.J. Stark of Lincoln County, MT, and Kirkland Briscoe of Teton County, MT all tied for third place with a score of 26 of 35.
In the clothing evaluation interview, Barry Francis of Gallatin County, MT and Matt Bronk of Missouri tied for second with a score of 75 out of a possible 100 points (50 points are awarded for basic knowledge and a potential of 50 more points are awarded for above average knowledge). Natalie Abbot of Missoula County, MT placed third with a score of 73 of 100 points.
Other awards included Best Hat-Nicole Gann, MO, Best Dressed Gentleman-Matt Bronk, MO,
Best Dressed Lady-Brianna Barr of Gallatin County, MT, Best Attitudes-Brody Ireland and Barry Francis both of Gallatin County, MT, and J.J. Stark of Lincoln County, MT.
The day ended with multiple firings of an authentic reproduction of an 1865 Mountain Howitzer made possible by living historian Will Abbot of Missoula.
Zeb Antonioli of Madison County, MT held the lucky ticket for the Colt Single Action Army revolver donated generously by Colt’s Manufacturing Company of Hartford, CT. The revolver is in the original caliber of .45 Colt and is engraved with the words “4-H Western Heritage 2013” on the backstrap. Zeb will take personal possession of this historic firearm when he meets the age and qualifications for legal ownership under state and federal law.
The 2014 championship is schedule for August 2nd in Montana. Missouri is planning to host the match in 2015.
Complete scores and information about starting a project in your county can be found at:
www.4-hwesternheritageproject.org.