Submitted by Abby Jackley, MidwayUSA Foundation Marketing Intern
SHOT Show 2024 was the biggest show to date, with over 55,000 industry professionals and many of those outdoor and shooting insiders joined the MidwayUSA Foundation reception. This year was the second annual Foundation reception to thank sponsors and share our mission with potential sponsors. In addition to sponsors, attendees came from other areas of the shooting community, including media members, conservation professionals, and several elite shooters from USA Shooting. In addition to networking, attendees were provided the opportunity to hear from our founders, Larry & Brenda Potterfield as well as Kim Rhode, a 6-time Olympic medalist.
Both speakers discussed the importance of supporting youth shooting sports and what MidwayUSA Foundation is doing to assist local youth shooting teams. The Potterfields shared their passion and pride for the strides youth shooting sports have made, thanks to supportive industry leaders. Kim Rhode is a Team USA Olympian in Doubles Trap and Skeet. Kim holds 6 Olympic medals and has been shooting since she was a young competitor in California. During Kim’s speech, she discussed the importance of youth shooting sports and how without that experience, she would not have become the Olympian she is today. Kim shared stories of her time at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center as a young athlete and what it was like being one of the few young women in Olympic shooting sports during that time. Now that she is an adult in the industry, she shared her love for what MidwayUSA Foundation is doing to grow youth shooting sports and fund other future Olympians. 
“The contributions that MidwayUSA Foundation has made to the youth shooting sports movement and programs for kids are immeasurable.”
– Kim Rhode, USA Shooting, 6-time Olympic medalist
Allowing companies and organizations to gather is vital to expanding the youth shooting sports world. Together, this amazing community of industry professionals help young shooters, like myself, to grow.
– Abby Jackley, MidwayUSA Foundation Marketing Intern