ROGERS (KFSM) — The 51st Annual Daisy BB Gun Competition came to an end on Monday (July 4) after an extended holiday weekend.
Fifty-nine teams gathered in Northwest Arkansas to show off their BB gun skills while sitting, standing, prone positioning and kneeling.
The Pierre Junior Shooters from Pierre, South Dakota won the four-day-long event, finishing with 2,374 points out of 2,500.
Georgia resident Savannah Barcom was one of more than 400 kids between the ages of 8 and 15 who took part in the Daisy 5-meter contest.
“I think it’s an honor to be able to be able to come here for it,” said Barcom. “My dad has a military background and I just wanted to see what it was like.”
Practice was the name of the game, according to Joe Murfin, V.P. of public relations for Daisy.
“The real reason they’re here is to compete,” Murfin said. “All of them have come in first, second or third in a sanctioned state match in their home state and that’s what qualifies to come here and compete with the best of the best.”
Kevin Grant, a 15 year old from Tigard, Oregon, made the 2,000-plus-mile trip to Rogers with his team, the Oregon Timber Beasts.
“I like just spending time with them, and also doing something that I like, and they like, to be there with me,” Grant said.
The competition coincided with the 130th anniversary of BB gun maker Daisy. Murfin said the event was more than just about who was the best shot.
“Not only does it teach them the mechanics of how to shoot a gun and do it safely,” Murfin said. “It teaches them valuable life lessons that they can use in other areas throughout their work in the future.”
There was a large turnout for the awards ceremony on Monday afternoon (July 4), filling several of the 2,100 chairs event organizers set up for the event, Murfin said.
