Helping youth gain confidence and seeing the dedication of adult volunteers have been the highlights of Wisconsin 4-H Shooting Sports Coordinator Doug Thompson’s 50-year career. He retires in June.
“I’ve had many parents be thankful over the years that Shooting Sports was there for their child. It’s safety education, but it’s also giving kids the opportunity to really build self confidence,” Thompson said. “The program gives kids a place where they can start a project and be successful. You can just compete and keep trying to beat your personal best.”
Thompson was 27 when he started his 4-H career as a camp director in Jacksonville, Illinois, after four years in the air force. He joined Wisconsin 4-H in 1997 as an educator in the Brown County Extension. Then he transferred to work as a county extension director in Iowa for seven years. Thompson retired once before, but started working part-time with Wisconsin 4-H’s Shooting Sports coordinator in 2005. He took over the role in 2009.
Thompson got his start with firearms with his family, hunting and fishing in rural Central Illinois.
“It was very common to do rabbit hunting and as I got older and was able to have my own shotgun, dad and my brother and I raised our own hunting dogs. We’d go quail hunting, waterfowl hunting and some pheasant hunting,” Thompson said.
Fun fact: Thompson can hit a bullseye with a longbow.
Thompson's Career Accomplishments
- Developed and implemented the process for Wisconsin 4-H Youth to attend the National Shoot in Grand Island Nebraska. Nine teams attend annually, each with a certified instructor
- Setting up adult leader certifications workshops in a rotation with the State 4-H Shooting Sports Committee and the 33 volunteers who teach at the certification workshops. The workshops rotate locations around the state annually so adults in all regions have the opportunity to take part.
- Prioritized safety education and a statewide Shooting Sports curriculum.
Inspired by Volunteers
One of the most gratifying parts of his Shooting Sports leadership has been watching the life-changing mentorship adult volunteers give to youth along with proper firearms safety.
“Volunteers realize that this is more than pulling a string back on a bow or pulling a trigger on a gun. This is truly a life skills-building opportunity for youth to grow,” he said.
Shooting Sports volunteers Norb and Barb Yogerst met Thompson more than 15 years ago at the annual Wisconsin 4-H Shooting Sports Training Team Meeting. Since, they’ve worked with him on projects from planning certifications, training workshops and annual meetings to setting up and revising the shooting sports guidelines and bylaws, shooting sports leader certification and county-wide shooting sports activities.
“Doug is very welcoming and open with all volunteers. They know that Doug appreciates their time and effort,” the Yogersts said in an email. “He is always looking for ways to make the program stronger. He willingly takes suggestions and ideas from all involved and works to develop or improve the program.”
Inspiring Youth
Thompson’s leadership has had an impact on youth both on and off the range.
Holly Elsinger, a core youth leader in Washington County and National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships competitor, said she’s learned a lot from Thompson.
“He’s really helped me learn the ropes of competing,” Elsinger said. “The thing that you have to learn about these competitions is that every single competition is different and you have to be able to adjust on the fly.”
Elsinger has also presented about Shooting Sports with Thompson at Fall Forum for the last three years.
“He’s been a good role model for learning different ways to speak to people and how to be a better presenter and how to connect with a bunch of people you normally wouldn’t talk to,” she said.
A Lasting Legacy
Thompson said the 20 years he’s worked with the “absolutely wonderful people” on the 4-H staff in Wisconsin has been the highlight of his career.
“I sit back and I see some of the things that they’ve done that just greatly impact the lives of the 4-H kids and volunteer leaders we’re able to work with. It was indeed an honor to work in the 4-H program and in the state,” he said.
Thompson’s work will continue to have an impact on Wisconsin 4-H youth and adults long after his retirement.
“Doug Thompson leaves a strong foundation for our Wisconsin 4-H Shooting Sports by centering our program on building relationships with young people and their families, creating inclusive, safe spaces for participants and volunteers to engage in hands-on learning experiences and supporting youth skill building in archery and other disciplines with a team of certified, capable instructors,” said Annie Lisowski, Wisconsin 4-H Positive Youth Development associate institute director. “His legacy will continue to impact generations of 4-H shooting sports members.”
