One of my friends asked "Why do you pay so much money for your kid to shoot clay targets”? Well I have a confession to make; I don't pay for my kid to shoot clay targets.

So, if I am not paying for clay target shooting, what am I paying for?

- I pay for those moments when my daughter becomes so tired she wants to quit but doesn't.

- I pay for those days when my daughter comes home from school and is "too tired" to go to the clay fields, but goes anyway.

- I pay for my daughter to learn to be disciplined, focused, and dedicated.

- I pay for my daughter to learn to take care of her body and equipment.

- I pay for my daughter to learn to work with others and to be good team mates, gracious in defeat, and humble in success.

- I pay for my daughter to learn to deal with disappointment, when she doesn't get that win she'd hoped for, but she goes back week after week giving it her best shot.

- I pay for my daughter to learn to make and accomplish goals.

- I pay for my daughter to respect, not only herself, but other shooters, officials and coaches. - I pay for my daughter to be proud of small achievements, and to work towards long term goals.

- I pay for the opportunity my daughter has and will have to make life-long friendships, create lifelong memories, to be as proud of their achievements as I am.

- I pay so that my daughter can be out on the clay field instead of in front of a screen...

...I could go on but, to be short, I don't pay for clay target shooting; I pay for the opportunity that provides my daughter to develop attributes that will serve her well throughout her life and give her the opportunity to bless the lives of others.

From what I have seen so far...I think it is a great investment!

Mike Pup