Hawkins County 4-H Archery Club
The Hawkins County 4-H Archery Club is spreading the archery bug in their Tennessee community, thanks in part to the Lancaster Archery Foundation.
The club, which formed in Rogersville, Tenn., in 2023, was the recipient of a $5,000 grant from the foundation in 2024. Club organizers used the money to buy an array of archery equipment, including Genesis bows, arrows, targets, backstops and related gear with the goal of expanding the club’s ability to host more kids for their archery programs.
Emily Barton, an extension agent with the Hawkins County 4-H, reported the club sent 12 members to compete at the Tennessee State 4-H Archery Jamboree, held April 11-12, 2025, in Cookeville, Tenn.
“That’s double from last year,” Barton said.
The Hawkins County 4-H Archery Club will be hosting its first County Archery Jamboree and Awards Banquet in late April, and there are plans in place for day camps in the summer that will feature archery.
During the school year, the club meets weekly to provide range time for recurring members and to teach basic foundation skills to new members. Club members are eligible to compete in regional and state 4-H archery tournaments held each year.
“This grant did exactly what we hoped,” Barton said. “It allowed us to expand our group size and partner with our school NASP program for staying power in our community.
“We are talking with our neighboring county groups to host small tournaments - like a park-and-rec league - as well.”
One mission of the Lancaster Archery Foundation is to provide grants to grassroots organizations like the Hawkins County 4-H Archery Club to help them introduce kids to the sport of archery.
“We’re thrilled we were able to help Hawkins County 4-H expand their archery program,” said Rob Kaufhold, president of the foundation’s board of directors.
“It’s through organizations like 4-H that the foundation can reach out to a wide audience of people to give them the chance to experience archery, where they might otherwise not have that opportunity.”
Based in Lancaster, Pa., the Lancaster Archery Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to expand, develop and promote 3D and target archery to help people improve their confidence, discipline and leadership skills through participation in competitive archery.