Shoot aims to help students

Residents will have a chance to take aim for scholarships Aug. 29 during a sporting clay shoot.

Wildlife and wilderness are two components that hold value in the “Forever West” state of Wyoming. In Sweetwater County alone, there are a variety of wildlife conservation groups. Green River resident Brian Taylor is especially concerned about conservation. Taylor is a local hunter’s education instructor, a Trout Unlimited member, Muley Fanatic Foundation member, a Community Chest board member and a former Green River Chamber of Commerce board member. Taylor also highly regards education, so he decided to do something to help students involved with conservation work.

The shoot takes place at Let It Fly, eight miles west of Green River. There are 48 spots total, and just over ten contestants have signed up so far. The $75 fee toward the sporting clays shoot will go toward a scholarship fund for students from Sweetwater County attending college. Scholarships will be awarded starting for the 2016 spring semester. Scholarships won’t go to just any student though, they need to qualify.

Students participating in the shoot are eligible for the scholarship.

The students and a parent can be a member of a conservation organization.

Qualifying applicants must have participated in a conservation project within the past 12 months from the time of application. The application is an essay describing the conservation project the applicant participated in, including what they learned from their experience and the value conservation projects have for southwest Wyoming.

“It was just something I thought would be a good idea,” Taylor said. “I could think about it for the rest of my life or do something about it. It is all things I think are important.”

One Green River resident, Casey Maez wants to participate in the event simply because it goes toward a good cause.

“That would be my main reason,” Maez said. “And enjoy getting out in the outdoors and hanging out with good friends, all while at the same time going to a good cause. The scholarships goes to kids that like to enjoy the same kinds of things I enjoy in Wyoming, and conservation. Hopefully it’s a big hit and get to have a bigger group next year. $75 isn’t much money for such a good cause.”

“The goal is conservation of wildlife,” Taylor said. “A first step to conservation is education.”