WINNERS … Pictured holding their shot guns is Fayette FFA Class that took first place at the Fulton County Trap Shooting contest.
By: Lindsay Phillips
Trap shooting is a form of competitive Clay Pigeon Shooting, which is shooting shot guns at clay targets.
The sport was created as a form of bird hunting that traces its roots all the way back to the 1800’s.
With a goal of hitting clay targets that are traveling away from the shooter, five shooters will stand in a horizontal line in their predetermined spots.
These targets are moving about forty-two miles per hour in order to simulate a bird fleeing from a hunter.
One at a time, the shooter gets one shot to hit the disk with their bullet. This continues for five rounds, standing in the same spot.
Once they have each shot five times at their first location, they will move a spot over to the right.
Each of the five shooters on the team will shoot 5 rounds at 5 different spots in the horizontal lineup.
Points are determined by successfully shot disks including those that are partially shot as they are still considered “dead.”
Each clay target that is shot equals one point and the team with the highest number of points wins.
Although there is no uniform for trap shooting, each player must wear eye and ear protection. Participants use a twelve- or twenty-gauge shotgun.
Fayette High School and Junior High Future FFA program began using this sport in school when the chapter was reestablished in 2006.
In the fall of 2007, the chapter began participating in the County Contest amongst other FFA chapters in the county.
They practice at Fulton County Sportsman Club, which is also where the contests take place.
Recently, on October 19, the team took first place at the Fulton County Trap Shooting Contest among five other FFA Chapters. Other schools participating in the competition were Wauseon
Fayette’s FFA class is taught by Kalley Kessler and Maggie Pollard. During interview with Fayette High School FFA Teacher, Maggie Pollard, she shared “This is my first year teaching and I am very excited to see what the future holds here at Fayette.”
“They are a very hard working and intelligent group of kids.” Mrs. Kessler has taught FFA at Fayette for five years.
Pollard also stated, “We are very proud of the kids and the comradery between them. They were always very encouraging to one another.”
“This year was a learning year for a lot of them from working on their shooting skills, but also getting a feel for which type of gun to use for their shooting style.”
“We have many students returning next year and look to see some more participants come out. It is always a fun 6 weeks preparing for the contest by attending the open shoot nights at the sportsman’s club on Thursday nights.”
“Students that participate look forward to it throughout the week, and sometimes hold us accountable! We wouldn’t do what we do if it wasn’t for the kids, so if they want to be there, so will we.”
Lindsay can be reached at lindsay@thevillagereporter.com