The Gonzales FFA Shooting Team at the 2025 Texas Parks and Wildlife Ag Clays State Shoot.
FFA competitions often bring to mind livestock shows, development events or speaking competitions. However, agriculture students in Texas are taking aim at a different challenge: competitive clay shooting. So, let me introduce you to Ag Clays Target Shooting!
The Ag Clays Target Shooting Program, supported by Texas Parks and Wildlife, introduces FFA members to shotgun sports while reinforcing lessons in ecology, ethics and firearm safety. Although not an official Texas FFA competition, Ag Clays is open to schools offering wildlife, fisheries and ecology management courses, as well as the Ducks Unlimited Ecology Management curricula taught by agricultural science teachers through iCEV.
Although the program is introduced in the classroom, agricultural science teachers, alongside parent volunteers, are who make the program successful. Ag Clays also gives members more than marksmanship skills; it builds confidence, teaches responsibility and connects classroom learning to real conservation practices, thus helping them to achieve both personal growth and career success.
Beyond the classroom, the program opens doors to higher education and professional competition. Universities such as Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Lindenwood, Georgia Southern and Iowa Western all have nationally recognized shooting teams. Shooting events are also featured in the Olympics and the International Shooting Sports Federation World Championships. Ag Clays truly offers FFA members an early start in one of the world’s most popular sports.
Competitions across Texas welcome Ag Clays participants. Major rodeo shoots like the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Junior Shoot-Out, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Young Guns Competition and the Fort Worth Stock Show Junior Shooting Sports Contest host hundreds of shooters each. However, students must participate in two rodeo-qualifying shoots, such as local and FFA chapter Ag Clays fundraisers, if they want to compete on these big stages.
Every June, top shooters gather at the Texas Parks and Wildlife State Ag Clays Shoot at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio. There, FFA members, along with their chapters, compete for the title of state champion.
So, if you’re ever in San Antonio around early June, stop by the range. You might just witness the next generation of Texas FFA members taking aim at being the next state champions!
