Local 4-H Shooters Aim for Nationals

Meet the local members of the 2026 Missouri State 4-H Shooting Sports Teams. Missouri has 9 shooting sports disciplines teams which are Air Pistols, Air Rifle, Smallbore Pistol, Smallbore
Rifle, Muzzle loaders, Shotguns, Compound Archery, Recurve Archery and Hunting Skills. Tryouts were hosted back in the fall and the top 4 scores for each discipline compile the teams from members across the state. You’re only allowed to compete on a team for one year and then can tryout other years for other disciplines but cannot be on the same team discipline you have already been on a team for. The members practice with their teams all year once a month if not more. They are Heading out to Grand Island Nebraska at the end of June to compete with shooters from across the United States at the National 4-H shooting sports Championships.
Alden Meyer, incoming Junior at Palmyra High School is the son of Michael & Amanda Meyer of Palmyra. Alden is the Vice President of Mt.Zion Country Clovers 4-H club, a member of Palmyra FFA and on the Palmyra Trap team. He has been involved in the Marion county shooting sports program
for 9 years and has focused on Air Pistols, Smallbore Pistols and shotguns. This is his second year heading out to Nationals, last year he had the honor of competing on the 4-H State Air Pistol Team. This year he is a team member on the 2026 Missouri State 4-H Smallbore Pistols Team coached by Chesly Manning (Cooper county). The team practices monthly and focuses on slow fire, timed fire, rapid fire and silhouettes. As part of the team Alden is excited to represent Missouri along with Marion County at Nationals along with his teammates Boaz Grimstead(Lincoln county) , Warner Wright & Joe Wright (Linn county)

Kooper Hall, in coming Sophomore at Palmyra High School is the Son of Matt and Amanda Hall of Palmyra. Kooper has been a 4H member for 9 years, currently a member of Mt. Zion 4h Club, he shoots Air Pistol, .22 Pistol, .22 rifle and air Rifle. He is a member of Palmyra FFA and PHS Band.
This is the 1st year Kooper was eligible to tryout for a state team, and he made the 2026 Missouri 4-H Pistol team. He has spent the last 9 months traveling to Columbia Mo. To meet with his 3 other team mates and Coach to get ready for the National competition in Grand Island Nebraska
Emily Bowman of Taylor, a member of the Fabius 4-H Club, has been selected as the alternate for the 2026 Missouri 4-H Recurve Archery Team, earning recognition among the state’s top young archers.
Her selection places her on standby for the 2026 National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships in Grand Island, Nebraska, where more than 700 youth from across the country in disciplines ranging from archery and air rifle to shotgun, muzzleloading, and smallbore events the last week of June. Bowman trains in both recurve and compound archery, demonstrating the focus, consistency, and discipline needed to compete at a high level. Her dedication has helped her stand out in Missouri 4-H
Shooting Sports.
As the 2026 alternate, Bowman will continue training with Missouri’s top recurve archers and will be prepared to step in at nationals if needed. The honor marks an important milestone in her 4-H Shooting Sports journey.
For Bowman, representing Taylor, Fabius 4-H Club and Marion County is a source of pride. Her family, coaches, teammates, and local supporters continue to encourage her as she prepares for the
upcoming weeks and year ahead.