Daisy Summer Internship Program

Posted on: 9/13/2007 From: Jim Hamilton

Daisy Outdoor Products of Rogers, Arkansas and 4-H Shooting Sports recently completed a review and evaluation of their successful first summer internship program.

Jim Simms, Program Coordinator, National 4-H Shooting Sports Committee, worked closely with Joe Murfin, Vice President of Marketing for Daisy, in developing this important program. "In 46 states, there are about 300,000 youth participating in the 4-H Shooting Sports program, under the direction of trained volunteers. Daisy, serving in an industry advisory capacity, was impressed with the character and integrity of the young people in our program. When they approached me with the internship concept, I was excited about the growth opportunity it afforded our outstanding young people."

Through the Ambassador program, 4-H Shooting Sports teaches not only shooting safety and marksmanship skills. It also furthers the character development of young people by modeling and emphasizing social and business skills, etiquette and positive character traits. It was Murfin's observation that young people who participate in the 4-H programs, often "age-out" when they graduate high school.

"Daisy has supported the 4-H Shooting Sports program for years, primarily because we recognize the professionalism of its curriculum and its effectiveness in reaching young people," stated Murfin. "We offer a college scholarship through this program and are always looking for ways to encourage and reward these exceptional young people. Whenever we meet with and work with these outstanding young people, I'm convinced that they are some of the finest, most polite, well-spoken, intelligent, character-driven youth in our country. We want to keep them involved in our industry because they have a lot to offer a company like ours…and we have a lot to offer them."

Together, Murfin and Simms drafted the scholarship. According to Simms, "We wanted to be sure that the intern selected would gain valuable experience within the shooting sports industry and make some networking contacts that would be valuable to them, even after graduation. In order to be eligible, applicants must have been an alumnus of the 4-H Shooting Sports Ambassadors program. They had to have a grade point average of 3.0, have completed their sophomore year in college, have the recommendation of an academic counselor, been involved in extracurricular activities and they had to submit a short writing sample."

This year's intern, Will Ward, a Parks and Recreation Administration major at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Arkansas, had been involved in 4-H Shooting Sports for nine years, as a member, and officer. He has been involved in highway cleanups, benefit auctions, a youth fishing derby and represented the state of Arkansas at a National 4-H event. He is a certified shooting instructor and Coach.

Ward received a reasonable stipend from Daisy. However, the experience he received, working at Daisy's headquarters in Rogers, Arkansas, was of greater value. "We wanted to be sure that at least fifty percent of the intern's time was devoted to work which would educate and/or develop character", said Murfin. "Will did everything from filing electronic press clippings, to working at the Daisy Airgun Museum, attending a Museum board meeting, helping to host a press conference and compiling competitive data. During his internship, we relocated our assembly facility and Will worked hard wherever he was needed. And, he manned the Daisy Mobile Airgun Range at events here in Rogers, in Little Rock and as far away as Georgia."

"We're hopeful that the 4-H Shooting Sports summer internship program, which Daisy pioneered this year, will become widespread throughout the shooting industry, observed Simms. It's a win-win situation for young people to stay involved in the shooting industry and for companies to benefit from the youthful enthusiasm of these outstanding young people who are experienced and interested in the shooting sports."

Daisy Outdoor Products, located in Rogers, Arkansas, is the nation's oldest and largest manufacturer of BB guns, airguns and accessories. The company's brands include Daisy airguns for youth, PowerLine adult high-velocity air rifles and pistols, Winchester® Air Rifles and AVANTI airguns for education, training and competition. The complete line of Daisy products may be viewed online at www.daisy.com.

4-H Shooting Sports is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the state Land Grant College and local government bodies through the Extension System. 4-H Shooting Sports programs are currently conducted in forty-six states. The 4-H Shooting Sports program is the fastest growing project area in the 4-H program which currently has over 7,000,000 members across the United States.

For further information about the 4-H Shooting Sports or a future internship opportunity, contact Jim Simms, jmsimms4hss@yahoo.com or Rt. 1, Box 537C, Stewart Lane, Mt. Clare, WV 26408.