Helping others inevitably means a little bit of self-sacrifice, whether in time or money. But that sacrifice can bring us greater joy than if we had kept our efforts to ourselves.

13-year-old Jazlyn Geerdes learned this lesson when she sacrificed some of her time and effort to help purchase $1,000 worth of equipment for Martin County 4-H Shooting Sports earlier this year.

Geerdes said that when she first attended the practices, she was not sure if she would like it, and thus did not have her own bow or guns to try the new sport. As she grew to enjoy it, she was fortunate to be able to purchase a new bow, but was mindful of the fact that not everyone interested may be able to afford such things. Geerdes was at the group’s first practice of 2018 in February when she really noticed a need.

“Me and a few others had to give other kids our equipment and adjust it. So all of our sights and everything were moved, and after that we had to re-adjust them. So I decided to just raise some money so we could buy those kids some stuff, and then if new kids come in, they can use it too.”

In order to raise the money for the equipment, Geerdes filled out a grant application to the Central Farm Service (CFS) Foundation. She received $750 toward her goal. When asked about writing out the grant, she said she did most of the work herself, stating “some of the questions were difficult, but it was pretty easy for the most part.”

From there she went to speak to the board of Martin County Pheasants Forever, and it provided $250.

“That was a little nerve-wracking, but it helped me to get out in front of people and be able to speak,” Geerdes said.

From there, she and her shooting instructor, Joe Kallemeyn, went and purchased three right-handed bows and one left-handed bow, four soft-side bow cases and four dozen arrows. The equipment was first used at a Pheasants Forever Youth Outdoor Day in early August. Geerdes herself was able to help instruct other children at that event.

“It was awesome to be able to teach other kids how to shoot,” she said. “It was good to be able to let them be able to borrow stuff and help them to have the ability to do it and not having to go out buy stuff if they didn’t like it.”

Geerdes said this year marks her second or third with the 4-H group, noting she enjoys simply being a girl involved in shooting sports.

“Not very many girls do shooting sports, and there’s only five or six of us girls in the Martin County group,” she said. “So I just enjoy being able to learn how to shoot and having the ability to go out and hunt.”

Geerdes strongly recommends joining 4-H Shooting Sports to other kids, and noted that being in the East Chain 4-H Club has taught her to be a leader, stating “I think it’s really, really fun.”