Shooting Sports in South Dakota relies heavily on volunteers, those volunteers give tremendous time to promote and teach about their chosen discipline. To celebrate the efforts of those volunteers, and the visionaries who helped start the program and guide it through the years there was a Shooting Sports Hall of Fame established.
The 4-H Shooting Sports Hall of Fame was started in 2015. It was created to recognize those who played a role in bringing shooting sports to the South Dakota 4-H Program and those who have helped it to grow on the state and regional levels. It is also a place to recognize participants who have participated and excelled in contests, beyond South Dakota and 4-H.
Inductees have been involved as Level 2 state instructors, have shown leadership in the development of disciplines, national championship range officers, national championship crew members, coaches for the national teams, participants who have gone on to excel past 4-H involvement, and those who have gone above and beyond to further the state program.
Nominations are accepted all year. Current, former, living or non-living volunteers are eligible to be inducted into the South Dakota 4-H Shooting Sports Hall of Fame. The new class will be selected after July 1 each year. SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Development celebrates 4-H Shooting Sports Hall of Fame recipients Sunday evening during the South Dakota State Fair in Huron.
To nominate someone for the Shooting Sports Hall of Fame, fill out the form on the 4-H Volunteer Recognition Awards page. If you have questions about the South Dakota 4-H Shooting Sports Hall of Fame Award, please contact the State 4-H Office.
2024 Honoree
Ken Nelson - Harding County
Starting in 1984, Ken Nelson helped establish funds and laid the groundwork for the South Dakota 4-H Shooting Sports program. Four years later, he established one of the first county programs in Harding County and later organized the first State 4-H trap shoot in Pierre in the mid-‘90s. Nelson was also instrumental in South Dakota hosting the National 4-H Shooting Sports Invitation in Rapid City. Even after leaving South Dakota to accept an Extension job in Montana, Ken returned to Rapid City and served as the shotgun referee. From 1992 through 2023, Ken conducted two or three shotgun volunteer training per year, resulting in hundreds of 4-H volunteers becoming certified to conduct 4-H shotgun programs. He is recognized for his tremendous contributions to the shooting sports program.
Past Honorees
2023
View photos from the recognition ceremony
Terry Wendt (Brookings Counties) and Jim Slunecka (Faulk)
2022
View photos from the recognition ceremony
Dawn Foiles (Clark and Brookings Counties), Angie Kinsley (Jones County), Rose Kraft (Marshall County) and Keith Hespe (Jones County)
2021
View photos from the recognition ceremony
Art and Audrey Kneen (Sanborn County) and Tom Smith (Lawrence County)
2019
View photos from the recognition ceremony
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Doug Kittelson (Hamlin County), Dale Foiles (Brookings, Clark and Beadle Counties), Dean Balsiger (Brookings County), Bruce Eldridge (Tripp County), Mark Rowen (Turner, Lincoln, Stanley, Hughes and Sully Counties) and Mike Kraft (Marshall County)
2018
View photos from the recognition ceremony
- Kathryn Reeves (Pennington County), Don and Nina Fromm (Hughes County), Tim and Tammy Withers (Hughes County), Larry Kerr (Hyde County) and Harlan Hilleson (Marshall County)
2016
- Don Guthmiller (Hamlin County), Marlin Davis (Faulk County) and Jerry Opbroek (Davison County)
2015
- Kenneth Nelson (Brookings County), Bob Fillingsness, Jr (Lincoln County), Dennis Hardy (Lincoln County), Dan Jones (Stanley County), Michelle Scarborough Julian (Hughes County), Marlin Scarborough (Hughes County) and Bill Shattuck (Hughes County)
