It was a warm spring day in south Logan County, and on this beautiful day, the Magazine High School trap shooting team dedicated a new trap shooting facility.
RNN Sports Photos / Jim Best
RNN Sports would like to thank the Magazine School District and Mrs. Vicky Parrish for inviting us to attend the dedication. On this day, parents of the students, and their sponsors and coaches hosted an outdoor lunch and a demonstration for us to share with our readers.
The Magazine program that has been in existence for a little more than ten years, began the process of securing their new facility in 2019. According to Mrs. Parrish, “In 2019 we had a trap shooting coach and her husband got a job in Branson (Missouri). She resigned, so the superintendent helped secure a coach because we had two students at the time who were shooting. Then, COVID hit (forcing the interruption of school and extracurricular activities), so we kind of practiced whenever we could. We didn’t have a field; the one we had used in previous years was underwater. So, we had nowhere to go. We called Booneville (Lance and Teresa Brown and Jim Tanner) and they told us they would help. So, they let us use their trap field for the first few weeks of the trap shooting season that starts in January and ends at state in June. Then, COVID sent us all home. We were only able to get three or four practices in. So, the next year we shot at Booneville on their trap field. They (Booneville) were very gracious to us.”
Although the Magazine team was and continues to be very grateful to the Booneville program for allowing them use of their facilities, it was a drive for Magazine parents to drive from the north side of Logan County to the south of Booneville for practice sessions. That is when Mrs. Parrish began to make phone calls. “I began to make phone calls to see if anyone had land to donate for a Magazine shooting field. We got nibbles here and there, and finally, I called Leona Cleveland and asked her. Mrs. Cleveland responded by saying “Yes, I believe we have some land, and you know Herchel (Cleveland) you know he will do anything for kids.” So, this is how we came (to having the new shooting field) and their was nothing but the gas well (that is located on the property). We lease the land and the gas company build the small building.””
RNN Sports Photos / Jim Best
So the program began fundraising as the next phase of development for the shooting range. “The gravel, trap shooting house, and the Magazine program would dedicate all of it to the Cleveland family in honor of their deceased son, Jason. The shooting lanes were also dedicated to my father, David Beeler, for his large donation to the project. And that is kind of how we got here today in 2023.”
RNN Sports Photos / Jim Best
The Magazine program includes students in grades 6-12. In addition to their winter and spring schedule, they also participate in a fall competition each year. The FFA has a team, and the Magazine trap shooters can choose to compete with both groups. The team had 42 students as registered participants last year. Approximately 32-36 participated in competitions.
Trap shooting is not a sanctioned high school sport by the Arkansas Activities Association. The sport is organized and sanctioned by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. The Magazine program has a handbook of its own policies and eligibility requirements for students that, in the words of Mrs. Parrish, “are stricter than the AAA. This is because it can be a life-or-death situation (the nature of the sport). If you (students) cannot follow rules and stay out of trouble in school, then we do not want to put a gun in your hands. I tell my kids that, and when we have a parent meeting at the start of each season, I tell them that.”
Congratulations to the Magazine trap shooting team and all of the community members who made this program possible. The addition of this new facility will ensure growth and stability for the program that is of high interest to students at Magazine High School.
RNN Sports thanks Mrs. Vicky Parrish and all persons associated with the Magazine program for their hospitality and invitation to cover this great story. Best wishes for a successful future for the Magazine Trap Shooting team!
