For more information, contact Darnell Holopirek, 620-792-9367.

March 26, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Story by: Linda Jerke

On the heels of its first two successes, Barton Community College Foundation’s Third Annual Sporting Clay Shoot could be even bigger, says Darnell Holopirek, Barton’s Executive Director of Institutional Advancement.

“Last year’s event was the second largest in the state,” she said. “That’s saying a lot for an event that’s only two years old. We had 153 shooters last year when we were planning on 100.”

This year’s event is set for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 18 at LaSada Sporting Clays and Hunting Service, located south of Russell. Having the event at LaSada each year has bolstered its success by heading up registration of participants and getting information out to gun clubs across the state, Holopirek said.

“(Owners Scott and Roxanne Young) have a wonderful facility. They have the expertise, and the show is run well. It makes our job easier and we enjoy our relationship with them.”

As in the past two years, funds raised by the event will support mini grants for Barton’s faculty to enhance their students’ learning. The clay shoot has two major sponsors, Butterfly Supply represented by Gary Burke, who serves on the Barton Foundation’s Board of Directors, and Smith Supply LLC, represented by Ron Smith, who has a strong interest in shooting sports and helping benefit the College.

Burke sees the importance of extra funding for classroom projects and knows the clay shoot is a good way to raise the funds needed. “The faculty mini grants are for projects that don’t always get funded through the budget,” he said. “The Clay Shoot is a chance to be a part of something that I feel is good for the community – and for the College specifically.”

With the clay shoot, Holopirek has found a niche for people who haven’t been involved in fund-raising events for the College, but who are glad to participate in a sport they enjoy and at the same time benefit Barton’s student learning.

“It’s a win-win situation for our participants, sponsors, the Foundation and the College,” she said.

Smith is one of those participants who decided to do more to help by becoming a major sponsor. He will also participate in the event. “I’ve always participated in shooting sports. I’ve been reloading and shooting since I was 10 years old, so I decided it would be good to get some people together who I knew would have fun doing this.”

Smith and his son, Chris, are participating in the shoot this year, and Smith said his two grandsons are enthused about coming with them. “A lot of people in the Great Bend and Russell areas and beyond like to shoot trap and clays,” he said. “It’s a great way to raise money for our College.”

The event has no age limitations. Last year, Clay Shoot attendees ranged in age from 12 to 82, Holopirek said. Burke said he took his grandson Tanner to last year’s clay shoot. “It was a unique opportunity to get together with him, go up and have a day with the guns and shoot some clays. We had a great day,” he said.

The Sporting Clay Shoot will have individuals or three-person teams competing in special shoots, side competitions and prize drawings for all ages. The last round begins at 4 p.m. The entry fee of $50 per person includes lunch, prepared by LaSada, and door prizes. The fee does not include shells; those can be purchased at LaSada. Anyone who wants to come out just to watch the shoot is welcome to buy a $10 ticket for lunch, Holopirek said.

Three college teams are already planning to participate, coming from Kansas State University, Fort Hays State University and Pratt Community College. Members of the FHSU gun club also will officiate during the event.

The clay shoot is a 100-Target Lewis Class Tournament, which is a qualifying event for other competitions. In addition, all participants who shoot a perfect score are eligible for the chance to win a John Deere Gator ATV. This prize is sponsored by Great Bend Farm Equipment and Alliance Insurance/Randy Hayden.

There’s still plenty of time to register for the clay shoot, and in fact, shooters can register on the day of the shoot, but the Foundation would prefer to receive registrations before the event in order to prepare for the approximate number of participants. Anyone wishing to register for the event may contact LaSada Sporting Clays and Hunting Service, 3721 183rd Street, by phone, 785-483-3758; fax, 785-483-3714; or e-mail, lasada@ruraltel.net. All participants who register by April 1 will receive a free T-shirt.

Since proceeds from the clay shoot are aimed at student success in learning, the sponsorship opportunities for the clay shoot have been named in academic terms as follows: President’s Honor Roll, $600 – CPI Qualified Plan Consultants, Farmers Bank and Trust NA and M&M Equipment; Dean’s Honor Roll, $400 – Dakota Dirt Inc., Great Bend Tribune and Montana Mike’s; Academic Honor Roll, $250 – Wally and Deanna Eldridge, Golden Belt Telephone, L&M Contractors Inc. and 10th Street EyeCare Center. In addition, sponsors giving $150 are called Station Sponsors. This year 20 Station Sponsors will be named on signs at the stations of the clay shoot.

Top prizes include orange Upland Strap hunting vests for each member of the top team; a shot gun for high man; a pink Camouflage rifle for high woman; and Steiner binoculars for top youth. Winner of the Lewis Class will receive ammo bags along with money and miscellaneous gifts.

“You don’t have to be the best shot to turn out for this event,” Smith said. “We want everybody to participate, no matter what age or skill level. It’s a way to raise money for a good cause.”

“There are lots of fund-raisers for difference community activities,” Burke added. “But this is a unique event – outdoors, good time, well attended, smiles on faces, the competition was great, and people enjoyed themselves.”

Through this event last year, the Foundation was able to award the following 12 faculty mini grants: a damp-chaser for keyboard, holiday music and resonator bell set, microphone and other computer software, and two ellipsoidal lights for the Music and Theatre departments; four Disney Webcasts for Business Administration; two math bowl buzzer boards and nine Graphics calculators for the Math Department; forensics equipment for Speech and Debate; resuscitation equipment for infants and children for Nursing Education; doctor’s scale for the Medical Assistant Program; and a science foyer aquarium for the Biology Department.