The excitement level at the 2024 Daisy Nationals will be at all-time highs as competitors compete for continuing education money for the first time in the 57-year history of the event. And this year’s special guests are pretty cool, too.
The Daisy Nationals brings teams of youth ages 8 to 15 from around the country to the Rogers Convention Center to compete for the National Championship of BB Gun Shooting. Teams consist of five shooters and two alternates. These teams have practiced and competed all year for the chance to qualify for the Daisy Nationals and must place in the top three positions in a state match to get an invitation. In the match, competitors shoot at an official target placed at 5-meters. They shoot 10 shots in each of the four positions – Standing, Sitting, Kneeling and Prone. All competitors shoot a Daisy Model 499B, touted as the most-accurate 5-meter BB gun in the world.
Each shot is worth up to 10 points, for a total of 400 possible, but each competitor must also take a test that covers gun safety and general gun/match knowledge. The test is worth 100 points, so each competitor is shooting for 500 points. And these kids can shoot – the Daisy Nationals high-score record score was set two years ago by South Dakota’s Zoe Dissing, who shot an incredible 494.
This year competitors will be shooting for a chance to win funds intended to defray higher education costs with the new Top Gun Shoot Off. At the end of the regular Daisy Nationals match, the top 10 individual scorers will shoot a 10-shot match, standing position only, for a chance to win up to $3,000 in continuing education money. Each competitor in the Top-Gun Shoot Off will take home at least $500. The top three Individual Aggregate scorers in the regular Daisy Nationals match will also win funds in addition to advancing on to the Top Gun Shoot Off – top scorer will get $1,500, second nets $1,000 and third $500.
The top three teams in the 2024 Daisy Nationals will also benefit. The 2024 National Champion team will receive $3,000 in Daisy credit, Silver Medal team will win $2,000 in credit, and the Bronze team gets $1,000. These funds will allow these top-performing teams to get the equipment they need to compete or expand their clubs at no cost.
As if that’s not enough incentive to get pumped up, the Daisy Nationals always has a few special guests stop by. This year, Scott Stuhr, National Program Coordinator for the 4 H Shooting Sports program will be on hand to speak and commune with the competitors. Most teams competing in the match originate from this program, which teaches the safe and responsible use of firearms, shooting competition, the principles of hunting and archery, and much more.
Also, the big news is that the new NRA President and former Georgia Congressman Bob Barr will make an appearance and speak at the Opening Ceremony. The state of Georgia is consistently the most represented at the Daisy Nationals.
But it’s not just the competition and special guests that make the Daisy Nationals a hit with these young competitors. Events and fun make these three days all about the kids. There are costume, car decorating and other contests sponsored by Academy Sports & Outdoors and Bass Pro Shops, Barter Bar (an evening of trading items brought from their area) and a night at the Rogers Aquatic Center.
As usual, teams are coming from as far away as Oregon to compete, and South Dakota, Virginia and Georgia are also among the 15 states represented. Many of these teams have been competing in the Daisy Nationals each summer for the past decade.
“Some coaches bring their teams every year,” said Daisy Public Relations Director Lawrence Taylor. “I’m not sure the exact count, but I know that Coach Howard Baker has brought his Oregon Timber Beasts to the Nationals for 18 or 19, maybe 20 years in a row.”
Registration begins June 30, then competitors get their practice time at the line and take the Safety Test on July 1. Competition commences for the next two days with Closing Ceremonies wrapping up on July 3 just in time to head to the Rogers Aquatics Center for the end-of-competition party.
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