Fuchtmans Aim To Grow Shooting Sports

To say the Fuchtman family is good at shooting sports is right on target.


After all, the four children took home ribbon after ribbon at the Knox County Fair, winning in bb, shot gun and air rifle divisions.


“You may go to competition and not get a good ribbon, but at least you had fun,” said Eric Fuchtman, who is a shooting sports superintendent. Eric is certified in teaching rifle for 4H and also leads bb and air rifle shooting. 


Ethan, Johanna, Jorgia and Jenna Fuchtman — children of Eric and Janelle Fuchtman of Creighton and members of the Lucky Lads and Lassies 4-H Club — all excel at shooting.


“It’s a great way to introduce the kids to shooting and to teach them gun safety,” Janelle said. “Kids learn to respect the gun and what it does, but they can still have fun while learning their rights.”


Ethan was the first to try shooting sports in 4-H after his grandfather gave him a bb gun. After shooting sparrows, someone suggested he try competitive shooting with 4-H. Not only did it stick for him, but it carried on with his siblings.  


“He kind of had a natural talent,” Janelle said about Ethan. “It’s something the family really enjoys.”


Johanna said she started shooting after learning from Ethan,and since she’s younger, “it’s something if I beat him.”


He added, “She did that one year.”


The duo were in the same division again this year. Early results showed Johanna as the winner, but Ethan rescored the target and discovered he actually won by a mere one point.


“I was the winner for a day,” she said with a laugh.


Younger siblings Jorgia and Jenna are following in their footsteps. They both placed in the top five in the novice division. 
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“They know what scores they need to beat their brother and sister,” their mom said with a laugh. “We’re just starting to see the competitiveness between them because the girls want to beat the scores their siblings had when they were their age. They remember the scores.”