Key Leader

Dennis Rinebarger

Program Description

The Western Heritage project is a combination of 4-H Shooting Sports and a living history of the frontier west from 1860 to 1900. It combines a comprehensive study of the Old West with the fastest-growing shooting sports discipline in the world: western action shooting. The purpose is to provide an avenue for 4-H members and adult leaders to experience the lifestyles and cultures of the Old West from the period of around 1860–1900 through a living history approach to learning while instilling the concepts of gun safety and personal responsibility. Members dress in Old West clothing, shoot replica firearms of the frontier period, and expand their knowledge of U.S. history.

Find more information about the project and rules on the 4-H Western Heritage Project website. Click here for the Western Heritage rules and overview.

IMPORTANT: Additional Requirements for Western Heritage

To participate in any live-shooting portion of the Western Heritage Project, members must be 9 years old 4-H age at the start of the current 4-H year. Members must have completed at least one project year of 4-H Shooting Sports that includes firearm and range experience. (Participation in Archery does NOT meet the firearm and range experience requirement.)

Members must be 12 years old 4-H age to use handguns. Members must have written permission from parents or legal guardians to participate in this project in compliance with the Gun Control Act of 1968 and the Youth Handgun Safety Act of 1994.

A Youth Safety Handgun Form must be completed, given to the key leaders, uploaded to v2.4HOnline.com, and a copy kept in the member’s pistol case.

Participation is at the discretion of the extension specialist and the discipline key leaders.