Page 32 - January/February 2023 Outdoor Oklahoma

smiled back. Unbeknownst to me, he could tell I was struggling, and he
knew I needed to smile and have fun—and that was what he was trying
to get me to do.
“Once I realized what he was trying to do and I gave him a genuine smile
back, he winked and gave me a thumbs up. No words exchanged, just a
couple of gestures and I understood that I just needed to smile and have fun.
“That one unselfish gesture from him changed my whole demeanor and
flipped the switch inside. From there till the final target, we were not only
competitors vying for a top position, but also each other’s cheering squad,
pushing one another on each target with smiles
ODWC ARCHERY PROGRAMS AVAILABLE and fist bumps.”
At the conclusion of the second day, Butts
Teachers or students who are inspired by Shiloh Butts to
found himself in first place, with the final match-
become involved in archery are invited to learn about the Wildlife
es to follow in a few days. “Just seeing my name
Department’s Oklahoma National Archery in the Schools
on the leader board, much less in the No. 1
(OKNASP) Program, Varsity Archery program, and Explore
position after the two qualification days, was
Bowhunting program.
a win in my mind and a true honor, proving to
OKNASP is a part of the National Archery in the Schools Program
myself I did represent everyone who’s helped
(NASP), a coordinated effort and partnership between schools,
me along the way to the fullest of my abilities.
state wildlife agencies and the nation’s archery industry.
“No matter how it shakes out, I now know for a
In Oklahoma, OKNASP promotes physical education by provid-
fact it doesn’t matter where you’re from or what
ing archery target training to state youths. Designed as an intro-
language you speak, friendships built through
ductory program for
this great sport are what the real prize is.”
grades 4-12, the cur-
Then came the championship rounds. As
riculum covers archery
reported by USA Archery:
history, safety, tech-
“Shiloh Butts went head-to-head with Italy’s
niques, equipment,
Giulano Faletti, losing the match 36-31. He then
mental concentration,
went on to face Austria’s Alfred Muhlburger in
and self-improve-
the bronze-medal match. It was a tough match
ment. The Wildlife
as Butts found himself three points behind
Department has part-
after the first target. He then made an incred-
nered with almost 700 schools in Oklahoma to introduce archery
ible shot on target 2, scoring a 10 to close the
education to students.
gap to only 1 point. On the third target, Butts
ODWC recently started an exciting new archery education
again was able to make a strong shot to take
opportunity in the schools with the Varsity Archery program. Using
the lead. On the final target, at close to the
more challenging and sophisticated equipment, Varsity Archery is
maximum distance for the longbow division,
designed to take archery education to the next step to help propel
Butts found himself in a position to win the
prospective archers into the world of archery after school. This pro-
match. All he had to do was shoot a 5, and he
gram is now offered only to grades 9-12 and promotes target shoot-
did to win the bronze medal, 28-26!”
ing, hunting, and many more archery opportunities.
Butts said his chance to represent the U.S.
OKNASP gives students the chance to excel today, tomorrow
was an incredible journey with lots of twists
and throughout a lifetime in the sport of archery. To learn how to
and turns. “Knowing I had support from so
bring this exciting program to your school, contact
many folks, both far and near, absolutely
OKNASP Coordinator Kelly Boyer at (405) 919-1623
helped propel me to where I ended up. My
or e-mail kelly.boyer@odwc.ok.gov.
goal from day one was to go out, shoot my
To learn more, scan the code.
best and see where I stood.
30 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMA