This is what we’re supposed to do as a union. We stick together and take care of each other, and we stick together to take care of our community—and that’s the youth.
A boy beams with pride with his first catch of the day.
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In partnership with the Boilermakers union, the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance raised more than $120,000 in the annual USA Boilermakers Kansas City Sporting Clays Shoot and hosted more than 60 youths at a Boilermakers Get Youth Outdoors Day in separate events this past September.
Now in its third year, the youth event doubled attendance from previous years. Kids enjoyed the day Sept. 15 at Powder Creek Shooting Park in Lenexa, Kansas, learning gun safety, skills, blasting clays and fishing under the guidance of Boilermakers and other union volunteers. All supplies—from fishing gear to protection and ammunition—were provided, as well as lunch for all.
IVP-Northeast John Fultz was among the event volunteers. He spent the day baiting hooks, taking fish off the hooks and watching kids’ smiles light up with each catch.
“I really enjoyed it—it was like being with my grandkids when they caught their first fish,” he said. “It makes you happy to see them so successful and to watch the moms and dads get excited for their little ones.”
Fultz said being covered in worms for a day was worth it. He noted that IBB staffer Mallory Smith volunteered all day fixing fishing poles, baiting hooks, helping kids however she could—and also covered in worms.
“This is what we’re supposed to do as a union. We stick together and take care of each other, and we stick together to take care of our community—and that’s the youth.”
The following Saturday, on Sept. 22, 116 men, women and youth met at Powder Creek for USA’s popular sporting clays competition. Twenty-five teams competed, each firing 100 rounds per person along the course’s stations. Union partners, Boilermaker local lodges and other unions sponsored the stations to offset event expenses.
The 2024 Kansas City shoot winners were:
Highest overall team score: Callender Printing
Class A high score: Boilermakers Local 363
Class B high score: Mark One
Class C high score: IBEW Local 226
Top overall shooter: Austin Post
Top senior shooter: Clinton Shipp
Top youth shooter: Charlie Jenkins
Top female shooter: Kym Savage
“I want to especially recognize Kym Savage for her work organizing Boilermakers, volunteers, donations, and all the effort she put into the youth event and shoot coordination,” Fultz said. “And it was fun to have her on our team to enjoy the hard work she’d put into the event. Winning as the day’s leading female shooter was well earned.”
Profits from the shooting event support U.S.A.’s mission to “unite the community through conservation to preserve North America’s outdoor heritage.” This was the 15th year for the Boilermaker-sponsored event. The Boilermakers union is a charter member of the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance. Free membership is available to all Boilermaker members.
