The Dead Pair Podcast

258, Shooting for a Purpose & Cause!

• Season 6 • Episode 258

Share episode

Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.

0:00 | 54:15

Send us Fan Mail

  We have all been to a charity shoot. For some, it was their introduction to sporting clays.  Charity shoots are raise money for a cause or purpose of supporting an individual, a business, or organization. But what if that organization gave everything back and helped to secure the future of shooting sports in America?   That's exactly what this 400 person shoot does every year!  The Dead Pair Podcast was present at the MidwayUSA Foundation shoot at Rice Creek Hunting in Little Falls Minnesota. This shoot raised an over $200,000.00 for youth shooting grants and endowments! Tracy Wright co-hosts this episode as we hear from people behind the scenes and the difference that 1 shoot like this can make, and why YOU need to attend!

Dead Pair Swag- https://x062jy-1z.myshopify.com. Dead Pair/Kolar Raffle - https://e.givesmart.com/s/:sqkYlpPePCZ/e/Pl8/i/_All/A7af/?search=

Support the show

The Dead Pair Podcast - https://thedeadpair.com 
FACEBOOK- https://www.facebook.com/Thedeadpair.
INSTAGRAM- https://www.instagram.com/thedeadpairpodcast/
YOUTUBE- https://youtube.com/channel/UCO1ePh4I-2D0EABDbKxEgoQ

SPEAKER_01

Welcome back, everyone, and welcome back, Mr. Tracy Wright, the great big old Viking from Washington. What's going on, Trace?

SPEAKER_05

Not a whole lot. Good to hear you, bud.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, good to hear you too. Is the shoulder on the man, Trace? Are we getting that fixed up so we can go shooting?

SPEAKER_05

Oh, I'm afraid to even answer the question. The left shoulder is starting to do better. The right shoulder is giving me trouble now. I actually have a large mass on my right shoulder all of a sudden. So it's an doctor. And uh we'll see if we can come up with a remedy.

SPEAKER_01

Well, we gotta we gotta get you fixed up here, man, because it's not gonna be too long before the Hio State shoot's gonna be upon us.

SPEAKER_05

And if you I know I've got Washington State to get ready for, and I think I've shot 200 rounds, maybe 240 rounds in the last five months. Oh, jeez. So far, it's now so I've got my work cut out for me to get ready for a state shoot in about three weeks.

SPEAKER_01

Well, I listen, I I feel your pain because I just got back from the shooters' championship in Georgia, and uh I started shooting on Friday, and by Sunday, you know, because you you keep the same squad through the main, and by Sunday, everybody on the main with me is like, man, you shot good today. I'm like, Yeah, I got I got two days of practice in. What do you mean? I'm like, I haven't touched the gun in three weeks, you know?

SPEAKER_05

And so but it's amazing what you can do when you actually work on it.

SPEAKER_01

I know, right? But it's unfortunate that I had to spend that kind of money on practice targets.

SPEAKER_05

So but they're good practice targets, but yeah, I get you.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, and and by the way, I want to say a big hats off to all the staff at the meadows. Man, they dealt with some horrendous torrential downpours for like three days straight, four days straight. And the place, you know, no matter how hard they tried, you just can't get on top of weather like that. And uh, it's really a shame because you can see all the hard work they put into it, and you just can't you can't beat Mother Nature, right? But it was a fantastic event. Um, they did a really good job. The targets were really cool. They had a massively diverse amount of target setters there. And uh, you know, Bill McGuire, Kevin DeMichael. I mean, there was a ton of them. I'm I don't want to start naming them because I'll miss somebody, but um, you know, it was it was a really good event, and um, it's it's really cool to see. And and anybody that hasn't been to this event, the shooters' championship at the meadows in Georgia, you need to make plans to go because it's it's really cool. Um, in fact, we're gonna do a little recap slash prelude to 2027 shooters' championship here this fall. So anxious to get everybody on. Kevin DeMichael and uh Trey Graham and a couple other staff members, we're gonna have like a little round table discussion. I think it could be really good.

SPEAKER_05

I think that'd be great. It's a shoot that I've been very interested in. I haven't been able to get there yet, but I am very, very interested in going to that shoot.

SPEAKER_01

Well, you know, it's really cool because the way they did the payout, it's it's not it's not quite the purse that like per se Jack Lynx is. You know, it's a hundred thousand dollars, but it's still a $200,000 purse. But the way they did it was instead of awarding all the money to just, you know, not all the money, but a massive amount of money to first and runner up, you know, HOA and runner up, they kind of broke it down through the classes. So I mean, it was a thousand dollars to win through the main, through like super sporting, and you know, they gave away, by the way, mainly trailers were saying they gave away a $20,000 decked out enclosed trailer, man. I mean, oh yeah, they gave away a side-by-side. I mean, it was crazy the stuff that they had there, it was really cool.

SPEAKER_05

That's awesome.

SPEAKER_01

Hey, speaking of upcoming shoots, we do have a tourney talk to get to real quick. So hang stuck, hang tight, Chase.

SPEAKER_04

It's turning talk. Brought to you by Scorechaser.

SPEAKER_01

All right, the 2027 Southeast Regional opened. By the time you guys are hearing this, it opened yesterday on June the 10th. This shoot will be held at Old Hudson Plantation April 13th through the 18th, 2027. That's the South 2027 Southeast Regional, um, which by the way, I'm looking forward to that one. Also, I wanted to remind everyone the 2026 New York State Championship at Vernon National uh is coming up here July 23rd through the 26th. They got over $20,000 guaranteed purse. And again, uh, we're talking a massively diverse amount of target setters. Joe Skull's going to be there. Uh Ben Wise, Ethan Smith, Barry Moore. There's some really cool stuff going on here. But get over and check that out. It's up on Scorechaser. Again, it's at the Vernon National Shooting Preserve, New York State shoot. That is July 23rd through the 26th, coming up real quick. So make plans and get over, get to that shoot. I've been hearing a lot of good things about it. Some friends of mine, Steve Smith, he's gone. He was telling me great things about it. So yeah, that's that's a shoot you got to put on the bucket list. Drace, one of the one of the shoots I just went to, and that's what this episode is all is all about. It wasn't a registered tournament, but it was, and I'm sure you've been to charity shoots, right?

SPEAKER_05

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_01

But this one was for the Midway USA Foundation, and it was held at uh Rice Creek Hunting and Recreation, which is in Little Falls, Minnesota. And the folks at Midway asked me to come up there, and I'm so glad I went. This shoot actually started off with like 35 people four or five years ago. It's over 350 shooters now.

SPEAKER_08

Really?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. And I don't know if anybody understands. I mean, we've had Pete Eisensteiger on with Midway USA Foundation. He's explained it, he's laid it out, but in case you haven't caught it, this event alone raised over $100,000, which is very impressive. Larry Potterfield matches that dollar for dollar. So actually, technically, yeah, it raised over $100,000, but he matched it, which means over $200,000 will be added to the youth shooting team endowments. That's incredible.

SPEAKER_05

It's unbelievable the impact that Midway Foundation is doing right now. I mean, just across the entire shooting disciplines, it's very impressive.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. I mean, and that's not just Clay Target. It also covers rifle and pistol youth teams, but they also cover, you know, trap shooting teams, skate shooting, uh sporting clay, SCTP teams. I mean, they cover all of it. If it's a youth shooting team, they have endowments and grants for them.

SPEAKER_05

Yeah, I I work with several uh shooting teams, you know, high school level uh shooting teams in in my state, and um all of them have, I believe, received some funds from the Midway Foundation. Yeah. So the support is huge.

SPEAKER_01

Well, and a lot of clubs don't understand this, but there's also range endowments. Like if you're, you know, if you're a club that hosts a local SATP team or a U-shooting team of some kind and you want to add on a course, they have endowments for that. They have grants for that, excuse me. Yeah. And people don't realize that, but it's um it it the whole event was kind of overwhelming to me because I just thought, okay, cool, we're gonna go to a charity shoot. Yeah. What I saw there and what they do, it's it was unbelievable. I mean, some of the stuff they get not just the prizes and stuff they gave away, which was really cool too, but the way the whole entire everybody that was there to participate in the shoot, the way everybody came together on that, everybody was there for the dinner, everybody was dumping tons of money into it, and I I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It was really cool.

SPEAKER_05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Um, and what a what a great cause, right?

SPEAKER_05

Yeah, it's it's always nice when, you know, I mean, you go to a charity shoot, people are asking for money, but it certainly puts a different spin on things when when when they themselves actually match the donation and put it all up themselves. I mean, that's definitely putting your money where your mouth is, and they're contributing just as much as anybody, you know, if not more.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Well, listen, I was able to catch up with a few people, including Pete Eisenstrager. So let's run down through these interviews real quick. Uh, I think there's there's some stuff here that's going to interest people, interest people, and uh, I want everybody to hear what they have to say. Really cool. Sit tight, Tracy and I will be right back.

SPEAKER_08

The dead play.

SPEAKER_01

All right, everyone. I've caught up with Mr. John Dayton, who is the head coach of University of Texas trap and skeet shooting team. John, how you doing, buddy?

SPEAKER_02

Doing great tonight. How about you, Jason?

SPEAKER_01

I'm doing fantastic. So you and I shot together uh at the I I always I always get this backwards. Days of Clays or Clays Clay Days uh in Minnesota for the Midway USA Foundation. John, first of all, it was a pleasure shooting with you. I had a blast, even though neither one of us shot anywhere near our potentials, but um I had a lot of fun with you anyway. Talk about the importance of the endowment to you guys. I mean, what does the endowment mean to you and why do you come to the shoot every year?

SPEAKER_02

Sure. So for a little background, you know, we are a club sport at the University of Texas. Uh so we are essentially fully self-funded. Uh, we do some fundraising, we hold our own sporting clay shoot. I write a lot of grants every year. And then uh some of the team members are also coming out of pocket for their clay targets and shotgun shells. So, you know, we as a team, you know, utilize the endowment through different, you know, activities throughout the year to create some permanence to the program so that we don't have to raise every dollar that we're going to use that year. So uh we will go to special events, we'll jump on some of their matching challenges and things like that. And since I got involved with the program in fall of 2018, I believe we have tripled the size of our endowment account. Uh that has been through a combination of direct donations, uh, matching from the potter fields, uh, matching from ACY, which is our governing body in college shooting sports, uh, as well as you know, returns from the stock market. So that has then transitioned into an annual payment to our team that we can utilize to attend sporting clays events, pay for travel, pay for hotel rooms, pay for entry fees, as well as you know, the main components, targets and shotgun shells.

SPEAKER_01

This is this is exactly why I wanted to ask you this question, because I don't think there's enough teams out there that realize what's available to them through the Midway USA Foundation.

SPEAKER_02

Right. You know, I um, you know, prior to coaching a college team, I coached uh a high school team. I was an assistant coach with one of my very good shooting buddies, Doug Dingman, up there in Minnesota for a few years. And um they were part of the SCTP program and then had taken advantage of some opportunities to engage with the Midway USA Foundation and got some really fantastic matching money. So I became familiar with that program. And when I moved down to Texas in 2014 and then later became involved with the university team, uh, you know, looked into that. We had an endowment account that had basically been idle for several years. And myself, along with the officers of the team, had discussions about, you know, how much of the money that we raise are we going to use for general operations every year for that team versus how much are we going to invest in building a program for the long run? So we've, you know, looked at different options, and every time we get a donation, we kind of have to decide, you know, how much of it needed for capital this year versus how much can we invest in the long term uh of the program, which then makes it easier in future years that we don't have to raise quite as much money.

SPEAKER_01

You know, I I I think I could probably answer this next question for you, but I'll let you do it. Uh, you know, why do you travel from Texas up? Speaking specifically of the chute, why do you travel from Texas all the way up to Minnesota for the chute every year? I think that's kind of answers itself at this point with what all you said.

SPEAKER_02

Right. Well, you know, I'm uh uh originally a Minnesota guy that happened to move to Texas several years ago. I still split time. I'm I'm down in Texas for about seven months out of the year, and then when it gets too warm down here, I head north to enjoy uh what the Midwest has to offer. Um, and I've basically, you know, been involved in that shoot since infancy. I believe in the first year, five years ago, there was maybe, I think I heard them say 37 shooters, and then this year, five years later, there was 360 plus shooters, yeah. Uh, which is teams and individuals, you know, contributing to their their team endowment and enjoying the game that we love, which is sporting plays. So, you know, I can make it coordinate in my schedule that I go back up for a week, do some meetings, uh, and participate in that shoot annually. Um, and then I also, you know, so all the money that I'm contributing there, my buddies that come to shoot with me are contributing to our endowment. Um, we've also been involved in the Iowa Days of Clays event that they traditionally hold in September. So the nice thing for me is that if Midway USA puts together an opportunity like that, and all I have to do is show up, we pay our entry fee that goes right into our endowment, gets matched dollar for dollar, and we get to go out and have a great time. And I get some exposure for the university team such that uh these Minnesota youth shooters and Iowa youth shooters can see that we, you know, have a pretty decent program uh down in Texas. And if they prefer to not have to shoot in uh heavy winter jackets, that they you know should consider our program. You know, pretty decent little club sport uh that's been on the podium, I think, uh, for the last seven years. And in 2025, we're you know the ACY Division III, you know, national champs. So we've got a nice little program when you consider that it's uh a club team competing against many you know varsity sport teams, and we have a fully volunteer coaching staff. So pretty decent little club.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, no, that is that is awesome. So one last quick question, silly question for you, but uh so you've told us how you've got there and what you did to get there uh with the endowments and everything. Just briefly speak for like how day-to-day operations it has affected the team. So that I'm gonna take it they've got shells now, they can cover targets, right?

SPEAKER_02

Sure. So, you know, the way that it works with us is we put in for our annual grant request from Midway. Um, they issue a check to us for 5% of the value that's in our endowment, and that comes into our operating account here at the University of Texas. Uh, we then you know turn that into covering our expenses throughout the program for the year. You know, we've got a program that's I don't know, 35 to 40 kids uh that are kind of recreational, non-competitive. So of there, there's about 10 that we have on the competitive team, and we use some of that funding to kind of enhance the experience for our competitive members. Um, I can't call it a scholarship, but we do a pretty good job of fundraising down here such that once a team member makes the competitive team, we cover all of their shooting costs. We cover travel, we cover entry fees. Uh, we're giving them a shotgun shell allowance as well as targets. So this endowment has been crucial for us to annually know that we have X amount coming into our account that we can apply towards those ongoing expenses.

SPEAKER_01

That is that is really cool. John, I'm I'm I told you I was gonna put you on the spot. I hope I I didn't put you too much on the spot, but thank you very much for spending a few minutes with us and explaining this because there is a lot of confusion. Like, how does this work? What do I need to do? And you've pretty much laid it all out there, exactly what you guys have done from start to finish. And I wish more people would, you know, utilize the Midway USA Foundation and what it's for. Uh, because I mean it's it's amazing. I think at this shoot we raised just north of 200,000 with the match. So um, yeah, I think it's I think it's awesome. And I think more people need to take advantage of it, right?

SPEAKER_02

I I agree wholeheartedly. So, number one, I mean, I would recommend that any teams that are considering it, they reach out to their Midway USA, you know, regional representative and they can walk you through soup to nuts, how it works. Um, but like I say, it's been very crucial to our program. Uh and Jason, I don't know if if I can confirm it, but I thought it was we raised 200, and then the matching was going to turn it into 400 for all those programs that showed up to the Minnesota Days of Clays event.

SPEAKER_01

Well, well, Pete's on my list of calls here yet this evening. So we'll we'll get we'll get that confirmed when he comes on. But regardless, that's still a big number for you know of shooting just south of 400 people. That's a big number to be raised for a lot of youth shooting groups. And it's not just that's the other thing too, people don't realize it's not just sporting clays. I mean, it's rifle, pistol, any youth shooting group can benefit from this.

SPEAKER_02

Absolutely. You know, the team that I was involved with, the high school team up there in Minnesota, was originally just a trap team. It is now has can grown and converted into trap skeet as well as sporting clays. And um, you know, most of these collegiate programs shoot, you know, anywhere from three to six disciplines on the shotgun side.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Well, John, thank you again, man. I really do appreciate your time for sure.

SPEAKER_02

Jason, my pleasure and appreciate what you do for our sport, sir.

SPEAKER_01

Well, I I don't always do the best, but I sure try. It's kind of like me on a sporting clay course. But um, I had a lot of fun shooting with you, and uh, it's been awesome making your acquaintance, and I look forward to shooting with you again.

SPEAKER_02

I had a great time. Thanks, Jason.

SPEAKER_01

The day of play. All right, everyone. Help me welcome the lovely Mrs. Heather Grell. Heather, how are you? I am good. How are you today? I'm doing fantastic. So, Heather, you and I met at the Dave Clay's shoot for Midway USA, and you are the coach of tell me what it is again, because I always screwed up the pronunciation.

SPEAKER_03

Pillager or Clay Target team?

SPEAKER_01

Pillager, clay target team.

SPEAKER_03

Yep. David is the head coach and I joke. I'm a I'm the paper pushing coach, so I've been involved for a long time.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Well, you know, Heather, um, I I was just on the phone with John, um, Dayton, and we were talking about the foundation and what it does and how important it is. Can you tell everybody from your perspective how fundraising for your endowment is different than general fundraising?

SPEAKER_03

Um, well, as you know, to fund a Clay Target team takes a lot of um a lot of money.

SPEAKER_01

Yes.

SPEAKER_03

Our endowment, we look at that as a like a legacy fund. So all of the time and effort we are putting into the team now, we want that to be able to continue. So when we look at our endowment, we look at that as yes, we use it now and we do um we do use it, but it also allows us to look far into the future, far past when we're available, when we're around. And that was one of the big things we wanted to leave it as a legacy. So when we look at that, we're really looking at how can we make sure that this never goes away for our team.

SPEAKER_01

That makes perfect sense. So, okay, you've told us how it's going to work for you in the future, but how has the endowment funding made a difference for your team now?

SPEAKER_03

Now, well, it it allows us to have those funds available to do the things we need to do with the team, whether it's buying ammo, whether it's extra practice. Um, right now it gives us that ability to just be better, be bigger, do more with the team.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. You know, and you and I were were talking uh during the event, and and I think this is a really important message, and you had a great answer for this. If you could tell another parent why you believe in shooting sports and what being part of a team can do for our youth, because this is huge, right? I mean Oh, huge. Absolutely huge. Please please tell us what your answer was, because you I thought you had the perfect answer for this.

SPEAKER_03

I I could tell you so many things, but I have watched so many of our youth actually just truly come into their own. Like these are athletes that don't maybe participate in some of the other sports, whether it's for physical limitations, just don't want to, and they find their niche with the shooting sports. I've watched these kids turn from these shy, quiet little kids to these confident young adults ready to just take take on the world. Um I've watched them come out to the team, you know, team events and be able to stand on the line and shoot with grandpa who might be 80. So you've got a 12-year-old and an 80-year-old on the line, and it's a family event, it's a family sport. They can do it forever. It's just, yeah, it's just, it's just amazing. We've we've had several of our athletes go on to shoot competitively in college, um, making, you know, making records, breaking records, and just having the time of their lives with the teammates that they've met, the friends that they've met, and the shooting community, whether you're shooting on a team or shooting competitively throughout the United States is like no other.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. And you know, you you you mentioned going on to college teams and shooting. I don't think there's not that many people that realize uh a kid can get a full right scholarship through shooting. Yeah, definitely. You know, and that's that's available to them, and I don't think enough people credit that or realize that.

SPEAKER_03

No, they don't. Um, my oldest is actually on a very nice scholarship um for shooting.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. And you know, the other thing too is I've spent um when I lived in Ohio, I was close to the Cardinals Center, so I spent a lot of time at the SCTP every year. It just amazes me, especially if you've been to like any of the and I'm not bagging all of them, okay, but like they're typical sticking ball sports. The the respect level from the youth is just different in the SCTP. It is totally, you know, and they have so much respect not only for themselves, I mean, like you can see it in the way they dress, but towards other people and other youth. Like it's just it's a whole different atmosphere. It's like, wow, you I'm around a bunch of young grown-ups.

SPEAKER_03

Definitely. You know, I agree a hundred percent. I've often said that I'm I I feel absolutely, you know, we've gone to some really big tournaments. We've done, you know, the nationals out in Michigan with the team, and I feel absolutely perfectly comfortable walking through that entire area with all of these kids, with all of these shotguns. Everybody respects each other's guns, their stuff. I mean, you don't walk your car. It's just, it's just one of those things that that level of respect is is just there.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, for sure. Well, um, one more quick thing, if you would please extend a huge thank you to your husband. I cannot believe what he has done for that shoot in Minnesota. It's incredible. And he's been a big part of helping that grow. So very big thank you to him.

SPEAKER_03

I will I will do that. I'm so incredibly proud of him for something that started with about 40-ish um five years ago to almost 500 now, or excuse me, almost 400 now.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Um, and just uh how well the event ran and the the time and effort he puts into it. It's truly a passion for him. And it was just an amazing day. I'm I'm glad you were able to see how the whole day really goes. It's it's incredible. I just that's the only word I can think of. Incredible.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, I I absolutely I'm so glad I made the trip. It was awesome. And hey, listen, I'll be back next year for sure.

SPEAKER_03

Oh, that's awesome. It's gonna impact even more teams next year. I think that's that's the really just when you think about it, all these people came out to support youth shooting sports and those teams and those endowments that continue. I mean, you make a lot of impact just by showing up that day. There's a lot of impact made.

SPEAKER_01

Well, a shoot like that that's gone from I think the number I heard was like 34, and we were north of 360, I think is was the final number. So it's grown more than 10 times its size in five years. That's incredible. I mean, that's a huge growth rate. And the money that was raised um for the youth shooting sports is is why we were all there, right? I mean, it that's exactly huge impact, huge.

SPEAKER_03

Huge impact. And so it's it's a wonderful feeling to be part of something like that, knowing that all the time and effort we put in now for our team to be able to shoot today is also impacted for years and years to come with the endowment. I mean, I I don't know, I don't know why a team wouldn't want to have one.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_03

It's a legacy. It's our legacy.

SPEAKER_01

You can you can even tell by the people that were there just to participate, they were they were kind of proud of the fact of where their money was going, right?

SPEAKER_03

Oh, definitely.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_03

You know, definitely. They they get it. If they're there, they're gonna they're getting it. They understand.

SPEAKER_01

Yep.

SPEAKER_03

They understand it.

SPEAKER_01

100%. Heather, thank you very much. I I appreciate you spending a few minutes with us. And um, you know, like I said, tell tell the husband I said hello. Um, it was a pleasure meeting both of you, and I look forward to seeing you all again soon.

SPEAKER_03

All right. Well, we'll see you for sure next year. The dead.

SPEAKER_01

All right, the man of the hour, Mr. Pete Eisenstragler. What's up, Pete?

SPEAKER_07

How much, Jason? How are you doing today?

SPEAKER_01

Oh man, finally got back home. It's uh about 40 degrees warmer here.

SPEAKER_07

So yeah, we had a little change in weather uh leaving Florida and heading to central Minnesota, didn't you?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, yeah. It was uh it was kind of crazy. I was 87 when I left and I got there, and the next morning it was 30 degrees, and I walked off from the VRBO, opened the door. I was like, no, no, I just want to go back home. So but um, so speaking of the day, Clays, which was held at Rice Creek Hunting and Recreation in Little Falls, Minnesota. I mean, you know, Pete, you guys asked me to come up, and you know, of course I want to support Midway and everything that's going on, but I just was blown away. Do you know what the final turnout numbers were for that shoot?

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, so as far as uh, well, first things first, Jason, obviously, thanks for making the trip up. Uh, we we invited you to that day at Clay's event because uh it's tough to really understand the impact until you see what happens on a day like that, right?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, no, I'm so glad I went because of that, too.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, um, total we we were hoping to get right at 400 shooters. I think uh when it was all said and done with, we ended up with 356 paid shooters uh that participated in the day of clays event up in Minnesota. Um about 130-ish shooters more than last year. Um, you know, so we had a we had a pretty good increase there.

SPEAKER_01

But uh well, the crazy the the craziest thing about that, and I'm sorry to mean to interrupt you, uh is you guys were telling me what tell everyone what the first turnout was. What was it five years ago in the inception of that show?

SPEAKER_07

This is this is the fifth year that we've hosted it, uh the fifth event. So I guess it would have been 2021, I guess would have been the first year, and there was 37 page shooters that showed up at the first one. So, you know, we're we're looking at basically uh almost 10 times 10 10 time increase over you know in five years. So uh yeah, it's been awesome to see just the the popularity, the growth, and and and the participation continue to rise, you know, from not just teams in Minnesota too, right? It's it's the Minnesota Day of Clays, but I think we had teams from five different states, 37, 38 different teams across those five states. So, you know, it was a bigger impact than just the the footprint that Minnesota makes up.

SPEAKER_01

Well, yeah, and that was something that was my actually my next question is more importantly than just the number of shooters was the money raised this year with the match. Do you have that tallied?

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, um, we are still kind of doing just some some final accounting here on the back end, but we are very comfortable rolling out uh we will have more than a $215,000 impact uh just just just for that one day. And that that includes the match that the foundation does, right? But you're you're looking at about $105,000, $107,000 generated by the participants and the attendees. And then uh, you know, the Midway USA Foundation matches that um for any donation back to the team. So yeah, we're looking north of $215,000 total impact for uh a day of uh, I believe you said it this weekend so eloquently, you know, shooting flying pottery with scatter guns, right? Yeah, it's uh it's a it's a pretty big impact on one day, and that's it's an impact that's gonna be felt for these teams, not just next year or the year after that, but in perpetuity, right, Jason. That's that's what the foundation does. So yeah, the teams that participated are gonna reap the windfalls of that for hopefully decades and decades to come.

SPEAKER_01

Well, one thing that, you know, um every time we've had Midway on, I, you know, I haven't thought to ask this before. It's not been talked about. If a club is hearing this and they want to hold a shoot like this that benefits the Midway USA Foundation, can they do that? I mean, can you walk us through what that looks like? That do they just need to contact you or is it?

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, and absolutely. So um, and we talked about this a little bit in the last podcast, right? We've got a small team here at the foundation. There's there's 17 total employees. So as much as we would love to, we can't host these large day of events every other week in states all over the country. So we pick and choose kind of the most impactful areas um to host the big ones. But if there's a team interested in holding a similar event, we've got kind of a dialed-down version that we call targets for teams. What that really is, is it's an opportunity for those teams to kind of do the legwork up front. The foundation supports with some of the logistics stuff on the back end, supports marketing, uh, you know, supports trying to get attendees registered, but the team really does most of the legwork hosting the day of event, and then uh, you know, uh a portion of that comes back to their endowment, and then they would keep a portion, you know, in-house to go with their annual operating costs. So we've got a couple of different formats. Uh what makes it difficult for us is everybody sees us market these big or day of clay as events, and it's just not feasible, unfortunately, for us to you know host 2025 of them. We wish it was, it's just just just not possible the current the current place we're at here.

SPEAKER_01

Right. Okay. All right.

SPEAKER_07

But there's definitely some other options out there available.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Here's a wild question for you, Pete. Um, of all that transpired over the weekend, what what meant the most to you other than just the funds raised? And what I mean by that, was there anything in particular from this weekend's event that kind of jumped out at you that left an impression on you?

SPEAKER_07

Every time we walk away from one of these events, Jason, I think what really impacts me the most is just the support the community for provides for all of the shooters, right? We had you, for example, right? You're you're you're a high-level professional shooter.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, no, no, no, no, no.

SPEAKER_07

Not professional, but even on a certain high level, you you participate in in sporting clays, you know, you you you've been at it a high level. And we had kids that were shooting literally a sporting clay curse course for the very first time last Saturday. And to see, I guess, the experienced shooters take those younger people under their wings and just really mentor them through the course. And um you see that daily when we're going to just a regular youth competition, right? It's the exact same community and support that we see with these kids daily. We saw that replicated with adults, young kids, you know, new shooters, old shooters. It didn't matter. People were there to support shooters. So that's always my my favorite takeaway is just to see how this community is welcoming to anybody that wants to participate in it.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. No, that you know that that's a point well made. Um I I I'm glad I stopped you when you said profess high-level professional shooter. Because if that if that's for your opinion of me, I got the wool pulled over your eyes. Uh but um, no, it it the participation and how everybody was jumping, even the news shooters, right? Like everybody was jumping in and helping, and that was that was really cool to me. Look, we had guys showing up in the orange hunting vests, right? And then you had college teams that these these kids shoot every week and like they get it, and they were there and they were on fire. It was really cool because they were all mingling with it with each other and helping each other, and it was it was really neat. It was neat to see. That was that camaraderie level, right?

SPEAKER_07

Yep. I I'm blown away by it every time. I just don't know where else you find that in uh a sporting type competitive atmosphere. It's uh it's hard to replicate what happens in the in the shooting sports world.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Yeah, you know, I was having a conversation with Heather Grill there at the event, and you know, she was telling me about the team that she helps with and everything. And I said, you know, the really cool thing is these kids can get squatted with a world or national champion and you know, go out and shoot and have fun with them. You take a kid to play basketball, he's not gonna get a chance to play, go play with LeBron. You know what I mean? Like, so that's that's I think that's the cool thing about our sport is it's so it's just a community.

unknown

Yep.

SPEAKER_07

Well, you would you had touched on it, right? But some of those college teams were there, and I'll call one of them out. It's Midland University out of Nebraska, and they are they are a top-tier collegiate shooting team. And anybody in the country that shoots knows who Midland University is. Those kids showed up with zero chips on their shoulders. They were mentoring young kids. Uh, you know, they they they finished with the HOA shooter, you know, Andy Grell finished, I think, with a 98, but couldn't have been more humble about it. And they were taking pictures with young kids, and you know, kudos to them. We we finished the event. They didn't have to help. Those college kids literally helped us load up the facility and clean everything up and pack trailers, and it was just like it's what you want to see from any young individual, right? It's just like they were they were committed, they were involved, they were there to mentor. They weren't just there to have fun, show everybody they were the best shooters in the course and then go on with the day. Like they were there to help as much as they were to have fun and shoot, and that's what really opens my eyes to the shooting community.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, yeah, for sure. That's that's the thing I love the most about it, too. Um hey, so speaking of this shoot uh specifically, is you know, do we have room for more people if they want to get in next year?

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, so we were uh we were within, I would say, give or take, 15, 20 shooters of probably reaching our capacity there. So there's a little room for growth next year. Um, but yeah, it's I guess same thing we told people this year. If you want to get in on it as soon as we open registration for 2027, I would not wait around. So once the spots are filled, they're filled.

SPEAKER_01

So well, the last thing I wanted to ask is you still got that 28 gauge for sale?

SPEAKER_07

Yes, I do, Jason. Yes, I do. That was a child, that was a tough go of it, sir.

SPEAKER_01

So that was funny. Just so everybody knows Pete had a rough day with his 28 gauge and he he was bound to him to sell it.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, yeah. When you're six foot five and you buy a 28-inch barrel shotgun, you should know better when you're rolling. Don't show up at a sporting clay event for the first time shooting the gun, Jason. That was a lesson learning.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_07

Back to our community support, right? I mean, I had a 16-year-old kid let me shoot with his gun the whole second half of the course because yeah, I was about ready to uh go Bo Jackson on that thing and then break it over my knee.

SPEAKER_01

So oh well, yeah, I tell you what, though, it was a it was a ton of fun. Um, it was wonderful getting to meet everyone. Um, I I shook probably 500 hands, even though there was only 360 there. But uh it was just it was such a great time. I'm so glad I went because the inner workings and what goes on in a shoot like that is totally different from a normal tournament. And, you know, the I couldn't, I was blown away. All the the sponsored stuff, you know, the the giveaways that you guys had. I mean, some just really cool stuff, you know, and it was like, wow, I mean, this isn't just something that was picked up at Walmart. This, I mean, what was the one?

SPEAKER_07

It's it's one of the benefits. We talked about it earlier, but the partners we have that are are invested in what the the Midway USA Foundation does are awesome partners to work with, and this is an opportunity uh, you know, to to take some of the products they've donated over the the course of the last year and put it in front of their end users. Uh and so yeah, it's uh it's not your typical sporting clay fundraiser, that is for sure, Jason.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, the only thing you did wrong is you drew the wrong ticket when it came for the 308. You were supposed to draw mine, and you just I apologize.

SPEAKER_06

I apologize. You should have to work on that next time, Pete. I'll try to do better next year. I'll try to do better next year.

SPEAKER_01

Well, awesome. Um, I want to get back with you. I mean, trust me, we'll be talking to you again plenty of times between now and then, but let's try to get some information out, uh, maybe like a couple months ahead of time of this shoot next year, and uh we'll we'll make sure and let everybody know about it, and I'll talk a little bit more about it too. And uh, I'm telling you, it's worth the trip for sure.

SPEAKER_07

No, that'd be awesome. And uh for folks that are interested, we will have a couple more bigger day of clays events coming up here in 2026. Uh we'll have one in Iowa in September and in October. Yep, we'll have one out in uh Idaho, and that'll be the first time ever out in Idaho, kind of in that western portion of the the country. So uh kind of keep your eyes and ears peeled on that, and there'll be some information coming out shortly.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, um, just make sure either you or Sarah gets a hold of me. I'll make sure and get that out.

SPEAKER_07

Um absolutely we'll include it.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, for sure. We'll get that info out.

SPEAKER_07

Can't thank you enough for obviously you coming up personally and just representing the the the Dead Pair podcast up there at the Day Clays event. It meant a lot, and I know the kids had a great time interacting with you as well as some of the adults. So uh yeah, thanks. Sorry about the frigid temperatures, but uh we were glad to have you in attendance, sir.

SPEAKER_01

Uh I I appreciate the invite. It was a lot of fun. Uh, it was very educational, and I got to meet some really truly wonderful people. So, Pete, thank you, man. I promised I'd keep this part short and sweet. Um, and I know you're a busy man, so I'll let you go. But uh thank you again, man. Really appreciate it.

SPEAKER_07

Well, thank you, and uh, we appreciate the time as always, Jason.

SPEAKER_01

The dead play. Well, Trace, what do you think? Pretty interesting, huh?

SPEAKER_05

Absolutely. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01

It's it's impressive, man. If you stop for a minute and you think about the dollar figures, I mean, there's a there's a lot of organizations out there, and Kids and Clays is one that was, you know, still is near and dear to our hearts. You know, in fact, we still we still doing the the cold raffle through them. That was always big with us, but then you know, we've had the opportunity now to work with the Midway USA Foundation and partner with them, and it was really important to me to go up there, I mean, and and help support them and be a part of it. And uh, yeah, cool. I got to shoot my shotgun and play some cool side games and try for some cool prizes, but the the whole reason why everybody was there and the amount of money that was raised is just truly impressive.

SPEAKER_05

Yeah, I uh I I think it's a lot of people don't see the work that goes into a charity shoot, but it's absolutely staggering. We've uh done a few um over here on the west side, but the thought and planning that has gone into the Midway is unbelievable.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Well, and listen, if you're listening to this, if you've never shot a charity shoot, you need to get out and shoot one. But you know, a shoot like this one right here that Midway puts on, okay, spend spend a few extra bucks. You know, you're gonna still get to go shoot and have fun. Um, it's just gonna cost you a little bit more to go to it, but look at where your money's going, right? So it's for a great cause, and that's how everybody can help out. You know, you still get to go shoot your shotgun and have a great time and blow some targets up, and but at the same time, you're doing something for a really great cause. So I highly encourage everybody to check it out. Uh, we're probably gonna do a little bit of a preview on that shoot here. I think the shoot next year is on May 1st. So uh right back there at Little Falls, uh right in Little Falls again uh at Rice Creek. So we'll probably do something with them as a prelude to that um next next uh probably January or February. Um, Tracy, one of the things I wanted to run by you, I promised everyone the next time you were on. We had a question for the coaches come in, and this one hit home with me because I actually had the same problem that this individual does. Uh let me read this question to you. Uh it was an anonymous, uh, so I don't have a name for you, but this person writes, I'm struggling with targets at distance that are slow. Targets that seem to hang out there that don't take a lot of lead, or at least I don't think they do, but I have trouble hitting them. What is going on here and why am I struggling so bad? Now, the when I read this, Trace, before you answer this, the first thing that came to my mind is a target like that, you have a lot of barrel awareness, right?

SPEAKER_05

Yeah, you certainly can, absolutely.

SPEAKER_01

So what is going on? Because I am having the same struggle that this individual is.

SPEAKER_05

Yeah, you know, I think targets like this are pretty vague, and they don't give us a whole lot of input. Uh, you know, we get input through speed, um, through feel. This is a type of target that I think is very, very important to get inside the lead on. I think you should absolutely shoot pull away on a target like this. Anytime you try to shoot sustained lead or even swing through, you're gonna generate too much gun speed on swing through. Sustained lead, if you get outside the lead, it's really hard to come back from. You've got no safeguards.

SPEAKER_01

Right.

SPEAKER_05

So I I really go back to you have to you can't see a picture. And expect to hit a target like that reliably, you're just not going to interpret it correctly. So control the bird. That means you need to really feel the speed of the bird. If it gives you a little time to spin with it, I would make sure that you get all the feedback you possibly can before you very, very slowly come away from that target. Shoot full away, spend a little bit of time with it until you feel the speed of the target in the end of the gun and come away from it very, very slowly.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, and you know, anytime I walk up on a station and I see a trap that's clear out there at like 35 yards, and you could tell it's like quartering away. It's like, oh no. You know, especially if it's a really slow, and I look out there and I have a pink spring on it, and I'm like, oh no, here we go. And you know, it's like I know what's coming, right? And sure enough, it'll be usually the last target in a pair for some reason, and smoke the first target and get out there, and it's just hanging there, just like a little bright orange ball hanging there, and you shoot and it just laughs all the way to the ground. And it's like, really?

SPEAKER_05

Yeah, I think it's important that you know, uh, that you realize or that everyone realizes it's just it's a difficult target for anybody. Long and slow is just a complex target, but getting inside the lead, spending more time with them, don't rush it, and really go off a feel to interpret lead. Don't try to see it. You gotta feel it.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Well, um, sounds like a target we need to train on, right?

SPEAKER_05

Sounds good to me. I'm down. Let's do it. I need to do some shooting.

SPEAKER_01

That's let's do it, man. You can either get your butt to Florida or spend an extra day with me in Ohio. We'll we'll we'll blow some stuff up.

SPEAKER_05

Maybe both.

SPEAKER_01

I'm down, dude. I'm down. Let's do it.

SPEAKER_05

Yeah, me too.

SPEAKER_01

Um, hey, very big thank you to Color Arms. Uh, if you haven't paid attention or noticed yet, write down in the show description. There is a link to the Dead PearColer uh raffle. Get your tickets, a little cheaper this year. $75 for one or $100 for two. Beautiful, beautiful all black color with gold inlay on it. This thing is awesome. And the wood that they picked out to put on it, I she many Christmas, man. This thing's gorgeous. But get your tickets for it. Thank you very much to Color Arms. They are our title gun sponsor for the show. Thank you very much to them. Fioki USA, our title ammo sponsor for the show. Uh, man, dude, I'm telling you what, I played around with some ammo this past weekend. I was using some of the um some of the slower. It's ounce, they're the white rhino, they're ounce and eighth, but instead of being 1250, they're the lights. So they're the white rhino lights are uh ounce and eighth, twelve hundred. Yeah, it is amazing to me how much they just grenade targets.

SPEAKER_05

I mean, I think we're obsessed with speed for no reason.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, man. I don't know why. Um, it seems like I think that too. That was uh a big thing for the longest time, and it's like we don't need all that, do we? No, no, but and uh what's really cool is that ounce and eighth white rhino feels just like a little rhino. Really? Like a one ounce 1250 little rhino. The what the ounce and an eighth white rhino light feels just like a little rhino. It's incredible, and you get all the extra pellets, right? So why not? Let's throw some extra lead in. Yeah. Um, had lots of questions this past weekend, and I had to take my glasses off probably two dozen times so people could check out those new Ranger hyper shots, man. I'm telling you, you gotta check them out, especially with the React lens. You just can't beat them. Um, Atlas Traps. Cannot wait to get Atlas back on here, man. Big things are coming for the Nationals. Super, super stoked about that. Rhino chokes. I had a little conversation this weekend, Tracy, with Mr. Scott Dixon at Rhino, and we might just be doing some dead pear chokes. Really? Yeah. We're gonna we're I mean, you know, it's no new technology or anything. We're just gonna put some really cool skins on them. Nice. Have some dead pear chokes. Uh, gun and trophy insurance, man. I tell you what, now they're offering insurance for jewelry and fine art. So they're really hitting the specialty market. But get over if you're not insured by gun and trophy insurance, you are really putting your precious firearm at risk. You've got it's look, it's free to get a quote from them. Get over to gunningtrophy.com, check them out. Cole Cushman will walk you through the process. If you're confused or not sure about anything, you cannot find a better person or better company to insure your gun. Uh Taconic Distilleries, check out the Maple Old Fashions. It's my favorite. And if you don't like it, I'll buy the bottle from you. So um, Score Chaser. If you sign up for a tournament in this country, you're gonna do it through Score Chaser. And there's a good reason. Casey Chase and the girls over there are flat awesome. And I want to remind everyone one more time. If you had a pro account and you were utilizing the concierge service, that is now another level. Your pro account's gonna stay the same. You're still gonna get the you know, the updated text messages and everything into shoot. But if you want to, if you want to partake in the concierge service, you got to upgrade that. So be on the lookout for that. Get over to scorechaser.com, check it out, all the explanation of it's there. Long range equipment, Mr. Neil Chadwick, the very best in the business. Flat out, period. I will put it up against any other electronics out there. Uh absolutely loved it. Midway USA. Uh, we just did a great show with them, just went to a wonderful shoot with them for a great cause. Please support them, please. Uh, they're doing amazing things. We just gave you a whole bunch of reasons in this episode why you should support them. Odo Pro Technologies, gotta love me. Some Dr. Grace, the gals over there just do a great job. There's nobody else I trust with my ears. I highly recommend them. If I'm telling you that, that's because I've put my faith and trust in them, and I hope you will too. El Jefe Energy. Trace, have you tried the El Hefe yet?

SPEAKER_05

I haven't.

SPEAKER_01

Oh my god, you're epically failing me, brother.

SPEAKER_05

I know, I know. I haven't been able to stop anywhere lately.

SPEAKER_01

I will get to a 7-Eleven and or you know, um, what's those ones I see on the road all the time? The QTs, the quick trips. They have them also. So, um, yeah, and they're starting to make their way on the east coast. In fact, a friend of mine, uh, while I was in Georgia's, he sent me a picture. He's like, Man, they are in Georgia now. He was all excited. Nice, yeah, bear pelt, love me some bear pelt vest. Uh, Trace, I can't wait. Speaking of El Hefe, you gotta see my new El Hefe vest that's coming.

SPEAKER_05

Really?

SPEAKER_01

All blacked out. Oh, yeah, it's cool.

SPEAKER_05

I could never wear a vest until the bear belt.

SPEAKER_01

They're that comfortable, aren't they?

SPEAKER_05

I now I own like four or five of them.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, uh well, you gotta watch. They're addictive, they're like getting a tattoo, man. It's like, man, that really hurt. And then you wake up the next morning and say, I kind of want another one. So, you know, but uh slick products. Listen, if you like your buggy all in your vehicles and all that stuff to look good, but you hate the pain in the butt of washing it like I do. Get you over to Slick Products, go right down in the show description. There's a link down there, click on it, it'll save 10% off your order. And also Taconic Distilleries and Ranger. If you're gonna go for a new pair of hyper shots or you really want a nice adult beverage, when you go to their sites to order, use the code deadpair10 at checkout, save 10% off your order. Listen, that doesn't sound like a lot, but if you're gonna buy a new pair of the hyper shots that are $1,200, that's a flat of shells. It's gonna save you, right? So use the code DeadPair10 at checkout. Let them know, give them, give, give the dead pair some love, right? Let them know why you're you're buying their products. Tracy, I can't wait to see you, man. I I know it, you know, Ohio State shoots coming up quicker than you think. And I know you're on the men, so you know, put some extra Ben Gay on that shoulder. You'll be all right. We'll get it taped up and I'll get you out shooting.

SPEAKER_05

I'll rub some dirt on it.

SPEAKER_01

Rub some, there you go. I got plenty of Georgia clay I brought home with me. You can try some of that.

SPEAKER_05

That's gotta work.

SPEAKER_01

Get get some of that red dirt on you. So but man, I'm telling you what, we are right in the thick of shooting season, and it's there are tournaments popping everywhere. You get on Score Chaser, and you're hard pressed not to find a tournament in your area, you know what?

SPEAKER_05

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

But get out, take someone new shooting, take them to a tournament. Man, take them to a kids and clays charity event. I'm telling you, take them to a Midway USA charity event. It it's a it's a fun way to introduce people to the sport, and who knows? Maybe they'll take it as seriously as we do, and maybe they'll start going to some tournaments with you. Tracy, how many people have you taken lately? Uh, don't give me no excuses about your shoulder.

SPEAKER_05

I I gotta get a chance to go to the, you know, I teach a lot of lessons, so I don't know if that counts or not.

SPEAKER_01

We'll we'll give you a pass. We'll give you a pass on that.

SPEAKER_05

I'm at the range all the time.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, yeah, there you go. Well, hey, listen, everyone. This has been fun. I don't want to keep you too much longer. That's been kind of a long show. So until next week, my friends, can't wait to see y'all back here on the Dead Pear Podcast.

SPEAKER_04

We'll see you next time on the Dead Pear Podcast.

SPEAKER_00

The Dead Pear Podcast is brought to you by Kohler Arms, the mark of performance. It is fueled by Fyoki USA. The Dead Pear theme song was written, arranged, and produced by Toby Tomplay. Special thanks to the following sponsors Atlas Traps, Ranger Performance Eyewear, Rhino chokes, long range LLC, gun and trophy insurance, taconic distillery, store chasing, and clay range design work.

Head Shot

Jason Rambo

Host
Head Shot

Sean Alley

Co-host