USA & Roofers Inspire Minnesota Youth
Nearly 150 union members, shooting enthusiasts and other guests—including Roofers President Kinsey Robinson, Governor Mark Dayton and Attorney General Lori Swanson—teamed up to support conservation at the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance’s (USA) 2nd Annual Roofers International Twin Cities Sporting Clays Shoot and Get Youth Outdoors Day on September 15 and 16.
Raising more than $62,000—nearly double the amount raised at the 2011 event—the shoot also served as the perfect opportunity to introduce skilled union volunteers to the impact they can make on conservation projects in the communities where they live work and play.
On Sunday, 12 volunteers from the Roofers, Bricklayers, Laborers, St. Cloud Building Trades, MN Department of Natural Resources and St. Cloud ATV Club united to host Get Youth Outdoors Day—a Boots on the Ground project aimed at inspiring a love of the great outdoors in Minnesota’s youth.
Twenty-two youth, ages 9-17, received hunting and firearm safety training and supervised, hands-on introductions to trap shooting, rifle shooting and varying Minnesota terrains via an ATV simulator.
Because so many union members supported this year’s events, each child was able to receive personal instruction at the patterning and riffle shooting stations, which were managed by Mike Ganz from the St. Cloud Building Trades.
And thanks to the guidance of Roofers President Kinsey Robinson and his wife, Mona, 21 out of 22 participants broke a target at the trap shooting station.
With sportsmen contributing nearly $2.9 billion every year for conservation, and the outdoor industry boasting 600,000 U.S. jobs, it’s critical that the USA and its partners continue recruiting and mentoring the next generation of sportsmen and women.
If you’d like to get involved with a shooting fundraiser or conservation project in your area, please contact USA Director of USA Events & Fundraising Nate Whiteman at 440-867-2732.
