What The NRA Foundation has done for me, and what I have done to give back

My name is Megan Miller and I’m a 18-year-old Idaho farm girl. From January to April every year, my typical Saturday consists of spending time at the Fremont County Youth Shooting Club helping to teach a boisterous group of youth. All ages of youth with differing skill levels attend to learn shooting techniques for hunting season, and prepare for local and state competitions.

In 2018, I was notified of a new and exciting chance to compete in the Idaho 4-H State Rifle Shootout, which was only three weeks away. Excited for the opportunity, I started training daily with my local sheriff, Len Humphries, and a 70-year-old WWII Mossberg rifle. Three weeks later, I held my own with an outdated firearm, took third place at the state matches, and qualified for the 2019 4-H National Championships.

Later that year, the club received a grant from The NRA Foundation for $8,211, and an additional grant of $8,808 in 2019. With these funds, local leaders were able to buy new air rifles, ammunition, targets, and other needed resources. The funds help to launch another exciting year in 2019, not just for me but also the shooting club. Not only was I successful at the 4-H National Championships, individually placing 3rd in the 3-position match, and 6th overall in my division; but we also had many club members meet their individual goals at the Idaho State match.

This experience opened my eyes to more programs that The NRA Foundation had to offer. This is where I found the NRA Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.). At Y.E.S., I experienced a week-long gathering of rising high school juniors and seniors as I toured our Nation’s capital, made new friends, learned valuable skills, and even visited the National Rifle Association Headquarters building. I learned a great deal that I knew I could bring back to my community to share.

These experiences inspired me to continue to be part of securing our Second Amendment rights. In 2020, I helped organize, sell tickets, and set up for our area’s Friends of NRA banquet. It was such an honor, and I am grateful to help give back to the Friends of NRA after all the help and financial support we have received from The NRA Foundation. I came away from the event with new ideas for the Fremont County Youth Shooting Club, and was able to share my experiences with The NRA Foundation and Friends of NRA! Simply put, being part of the Youth Club led me to compete in State and National competitions, to go to the NRA’s Youth Education Summit, and to become a coach and mentor to other youth that have a spark for learning how to shoot.

With the restrictions from COVID-19, the Fremont County Youth Shooting Club faced many new challenges. We had to find different ways to shoot together and keep practicing. We held our meetings and practices outdoors, with masks, and distanced from each other while continuing to focus on improving our marksmanship. Those days proved quite difficult for me as a coach, but we are back practicing in full swing and evermore grateful for the club camaraderie.

Thanks to the generosity of The NRA Foundation and Friends of NRA, our little shooting club is able to provide more opportunities to share in the shooting sports and respect for the Second Amendment in our community. Being involved in this capacity has been a joy for me, and I am grateful that I can share my love for this sport and serve my community at the same time.