An Interesting Neighbor

At 16, Lucy Wilson’s plate is overflowing with responsibilities.

Lucy is the recently inducted president of McClain County 4-H, a program serving 106 youngsters and teens in numerous project areas.

She also serves as president of her local club – Purcell 4-H – and is the public relations officer of the 4-H rabbit club in the county.

And she is a National Shooting Sports ambassador.

Lucy, an only child, joined 4-H in second grade when an invitation to an informational meeting showed up in her Thursday folder at Purcell Elementary School.

She went to the meeting and hasn’t looked back yet. In fact, 4-H has become a family pursuit.

Her father, Leon Wilson, coaches archery and air rifle in the shooting sports club and her mother, Bernita, led the local 4-H club for a time.

As an ambassador, Lucy attends 4-H shooting events, ready to lend a hand to 4-H’ers on the firing line. 

“I spread the word about the shooting sports program and help build it up,” she said.

In an era of school shootings, the notion of youngsters and firearms admittedly makes some people across the country nervous.

But Lucy said her job as an ambassador is made easier because Oklahoma is largely firearms-friendly.

Lucy admits she is partial to shooting sports, in which she competes in archery with a recurve bow and air rifle.

The recurve bow is a modified longbow with a design that increases the efficiency of the archer’s energy.

Other bow types are compound and genesis, a scaled-down version of the compound bow.

The 4-H Shooting Sports Club meets every other Tuesday.

Lucy also tries to practice her marksmanship at home at least once a week.

The minimum age to join the  4-H shooting sports program is 9 years. At that age, members may participate in air rifle, archery, and living history.

Ten-year-olds may move up to shotgun and hunting and wildlife.

Air pistol, .22-caliber rifle and western heritage/cowboy action shooting may start at 12 years with .22-caliber pistol and black powder/muzzle loading firearms restricted to teens 14 years and older.

Lucy estimates she spends eight to nine hours a week caring for her rabbits and working on 4-H activities and events in McClain County.

She currently owns nine rabbits – the mini-lops are her favorite – but has had as many as 12 at one time.

The rabbits are housed in hutches inside the family’s garage which has been climate-controlled for them.

Lucy has been a rabbit wrangler for seven years now.

She also has completed 4-H projects in citizenship, helping precinct officials bring in ballot boxes to the McClain County Election Board after the polls close on election day.

She also participated in a 4-H sewing club when she was younger, but now prefers embroidery.

She doesn’t knit or crochet, but would like to learn.

Lucy will age out of 4-H at summer’s end in 2021. That’s OK. By then she will be headed to college where she hopes to major in engineering.

But the program – and what she’s learned from it – will never be far from her heart.

“I would like to spread more knowledge about 4-H,” she said. “It’s such an amazing program. They say 4-H is Oklahoma’s best-kept secret. I’m working to get the word out about 4-H in Oklahoma.”

Eventually, she can see herself joining the ranks of adult volunteers.

“Four-H really brought me out of my shell,” she said. “It’s given me a sense of confidence and helped me in school.

At Purcell High School, Lucy is a junior. She’s on the drumline in the Dragon Pride Marching Band and is vice president of Key Club.

When she’s not doing that, Lucy is a pole vaulter on the track team with a personal best vault of 7’6” last year.

To date, Lucy has earned two Letter “P” Awards and is also active in Trinity United Methodist Church’s youth group.