St. Jude archery event continues to set records

Even with a smaller number of sponsors this year, organizers of the the 9th annual St. Jude Archery Shoot were able to exceed their fundraising goal.

“I’m blown away, honestly,” said Poplar Bluff St. Jude Heroes Team Captain Miranda Fickert.

Members of Agee Fellowship Church’s Centershot Team youth group compete in the St. Jude archery shoot Saturday in Poplar Bluff. DAR/Paul Davis

The two-day event, with a Friday night banquet and Saturday archery shoot, grossed right at $140,000, topping the organizers’ goal of $135,000 and easily surpassing last year’s $125,000.

Neelyville’s Shalynn Hanna takes aim during Saturday’s St. Jude archery shoot. DAR/Paul Davis

“I was nervous going into it as to whether we’d make our goal, so I’m just in awe,” Fickert said.

Friday night’s VIP banquet had 850 guests, far more than any previous event.

“I felt like the entire night went smoothly. It was better organized and ran smoother. There was always something happening,” she said.

Ryan McKee makes an adjustment to his son Colton McKee’s bow before starting the 20-target course Saturday morning. DAR/Paul Davis

At this year’s event, all 300-plus silent auction items were given away Friday night, a break from the traditional split with Saturday.

“I was surprised that all the stuff we had on the auctions made the same (amount of money as last year),” Fickert noted.

Every item on the auctions, she said, was donated by local businesses or companies and people in the outdoors industry.

Colton Edgar shoots from an elevated tower during Saturday’s archery shoot. DAR/Paul Davis

“Some were small,” she noted, “but every single dollar gets us to our goal.”

She praised the people of Poplar Bluff and surrounding communities for their support, saying they are “incredibly generous, especially for St. Jude, We’re not the only one asking them for donations, but this is a great cause, and you can’t ever question if it is or not.”

She also was grateful to Randy Birdsong, who, as host of “Headhunters TV,” was able to secure a large amount of auction items.

Adam Epps concentrates on his shot. DAR/Paul Davis

“Randy is a huge part, and he’s raking in tons of stuff for us,” she said.

Fickert described Saturday’s 3-D shoot as “great,” though the Ozark Border annual meeting being held at the same time may have hurt them.

“We have some regulars every year that work there, and we didn’t see a one of them this year,” she said.

“Headhunters TV’s” Randy Birdsong aims at a target with Brandon Jennings from “Drury Outdoors’ Bow Madness” looking on. DAR/Paul Davis

Still, this year’s shoot saw 172 participants, just topping last year’s 167 shooters.

Throughout the morning, archers of all ages could be seen along the wooded, 20-target course.

“We had tons of kids this year,” Fickert noted, and she was happy to see them.

David Tropf adjusts the elevation of his sight after estimating the distance to his next target. DAR/Paul Davis

Saturday’s novelty shoots were popular with shooters, especially the long shot, which was set at 112 yards.

A youth archery clinic, taught by Delbert Smith, also was popular, with about 20 participants.

Money raised during Saturday’s portion of the event was almost identical to last year, Fickert said.

The St. Jude Heroes Team committee, which Fickert called “incredible,” already is planning next year’s event.

“I think we can easily shoot for $150,000,” she said.

With no more room in the Black River Coliseum to expand, “now we’re going to have to get creative,” she said. “We have a few ideas the committee already has tossed around.

“Stay tuned for next year. We’ve got some incredible ideas.”