Thanks to Nicole McMahon for the following:

The University of Wyoming’s shotgun team, Cowboy Shootout, recently received a grant for $10,000 from The NRA Foundation. Wyoming NRA Field Representative Dave Manzer was on hand this past weekend at the Invitational Match held at Cheyenne Trap Club to present the grant. Ten other teams from throughout the country were in attendance to witness the grant presentation, which Manzer says helps spread the word about The NRA Foundation’s grant program to provide much needed funding to youth shooting sports.

“Our grant presentation last year to the [Cowboy Shootout] shotgun team spawned a grant request from Colorado State University to the Colorado Friends of NRA,” said Manzer. “Their team eventually was awarded about $8,000. They never would’ve received that money if it weren’t for our grant presentation to Cowboy Shootout.”

Supporting teams like the Cowboy Shootout is a win-win situation for the Wyoming Friends of NRA. It experiences the satisfaction of helping develop and support a youth shooting team and the team comes out to Friends of NRA banquets where extra help is always appreciated.

“The team travels to about two or three events a year to help out and show their gratitude,” Manzer said. “They’ve been to our banquets in Laramie, Cheyenne, and Saratoga. They are not required to come, but they understand that their funding comes from these banquets and are willing to assist wherever needed.”

Like all grant recipients of The NRA Foundation and Friends of NRA, the Cowboy Shootout team has shown immense improvement. Manzer says that since its first grant of $10,500 was awarded a year ago, he has watched the team grow tremendously. Grant money has been used to fund trips to matches, purchase equipment, and even buy new shooting vests with the Friends of NRA patriot logo proudly displayed.

Support youth shooting sports by attending a Friends of NRA banquet! Visit www.friendsofnra.org/National.aspx?cid=0 to find an event near you.