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The LC Open Trap Shoot competition raises funds and awareness for a local clinic that supports young men and women.
The fourth-annual LC Open Trap Shoot event is set for Sept. 9, at the High Lake Outdoor Alliance shooting range, located north of Afton near Three Mile Lake.
“LifeCare Resource Center. Oh yeah, that’s the motivating force here,” said Rick Ramaeker of Creston.
The event will kick off around 9:30 a.m. and will run into the early afternoon. The range will open at 8:45 a.m. for any who wish to get some practice rounds beforehand.
The event is open to anyone 12 years of age and older.
The competition will be broken down into age divisions with 12-, 13- and 14-year-olds making up the younger division, 15-,16- and 17-year-olds qualify for the middle division and anyone 18 years and older will be in the top division.
Ramaeker said each division will be broken into two separate experience levels, novice or experienced.
Participants can also form teams to compete for prizes as well, and are not required to be in the same age or skill division to shoot together.
“We plan on doing teams,” said Ramaeker. “And those guys that won it last year think they’re going to win it this year.”
Trophies and prizes will be handed out to the top three places of each division around 1:30 p.m. when the competition is expected to end.
“Some of the things we are going to have are a turkey feather painting by Chancy Walters,” said Ramaeker. “He’s donating one of his paintings which is kind of a famous thing for a sportsman. Then, there are going to be hitch covers with Creston, Mount Ayr, Southwestern Community College and East Union mascots for their schools.”
Other prizes will be donated by local businesses such as Creston Farm and Home, True Value and Wal-Mart.
Participants will need to bring their own gun and ammunition. They will also need to bring their own personal safety equipment, including eye protection and ear plugs.
Ramaeker said some personal protective equipment will be made available to anyone who forgets.
Participants will also have to go through a safety meeting before the shoot.
“You got to go through the safety meeting and have the range officer explain the processes and procedures before you can go out and shoot,” said Ramaeker.
The competition has seen its numbers continually grow, reaching a peak of approximately 45 contestants last year.
Ramaeker has seen the ages of participants vary greatly since the event first started.
“There were like 76 years old and the youngest, I think, was 12,” said Ramaeker.
Competitors are mostly from Union County, but Ramaeker said some have traveled from as far as Des Moines and Nebraska.
The event will cost $25 for participants who pre-register by Saturday. After Saturday it will cost $35 to enter the shoot.
For more information about the event or to sign up, contact Ramaeker at (641) 782-5264. Entry forms can be found online at http://www.iowalcclinic.org/
Proceeds from the event will go toward helping young women and men inolved in the LifeCare Earn While You Learn program.
The event also tries to bring awareness to the clinic. Workers at the clinic will be at the range to answer questions and explain more about the services the clinic provides.