J.P. Golden (front) and James Cotton practice shooting for the upcoming national 4-H Shooting Sports Competition Saturday. The local pair are among four shooters representing Mississippi in the .22 rifle division.By JASON PATTERSON
Managing Editor

Competitive shooting is the fastest growing 4-H sport in the nation.
Yazoo County’s James Cotton and James Peyton Golden are just as quickly rising to the top.
The two Yazoo County 4-H members have qualified to participate in the national 4-H shooting sports tournament June 28-July 3 in Kerrville, Texas.
On Saturday morning, Cotton and Golden fired hundreds of rounds through their .22 rifles in preparation for the tournament. The pair has been practicing monthly under the direction of coach Randy Cotton, and now they are practicing each weekend as the tournament draws near.
“All 4-H programs are about youth development,” Randy Cotton said.
“This is using firearms as a tool to accomplish that. It is so much fun to see them learn the discipline associated with properly handling their firearms and the sportsmanship that comes with the competitions.”