Providence Hill Farm Hosts Benefit for MC's Sporting Clay Target Team

Mississippi College’s Sporting Clay Target Team kicks off their second season at a fund-raising event hosted by Providence Hill Farm.

The sporting clay shoot on October 28 begins with a 7:30 a.m. registration with a light breakfast served. There are 60 openings for the Friday morning activity at the spacious 2,000-acre farm in Central Mississippi. Shooters should bring their own guns and shells. Prizes will be awarded to top shooters. Lunch will also be served to all participants.

The cost to enter is $250 per shooter, with MC’s team hoping to raise $15,000 from the annual fall event, says team advisor Jim Turcotte, the university’s vice president for enrollment management and student affairs. He’s encouraging alumni and other friends of the university to participate and take advantage of the opportunity to visit with Mississippi College team members.

Fifteen MC students are listed on the shooting team roster this fall. The fundraiser comes just days before an early November MC team match with Mississippi State University’s clay shooting squad. MC’s first major shooting tournament will be held in January with the university hoping to compete later in regional and national events during the spring 2012 semester.

MC Student Government Association President Taylor Stringer, a member of the clay shooting team, is hoping for a strong turnout at Providence Hill Farm on October 28.

“The success of this team depends on donations,” says Stringer, a senior from Tylertown. “The money raised at the fund raising will be used to pay for shells, coaching fees, and entry fees to participate in other area shoots.”

A member of the team since its launch last year, Stringer says guests mingling with students can hear about the goals of current team members and share their stories about this wonderful sport.

Mississippi College also operates a clay shooting club with 20 student members.

The university’s sporting clay team began the same time as the birth of Mississippi College’s bass fishing team. MC’s team is among 400 schools competing in bass fishing events nationwide, Turcotte says. There are six MC students listed on the bass fishing team, and 20 others with the school’s fishing club.

Combined with MC’s equestrian team that recently saddled up for its 5^th season, the trio of outdoor sports have attracted more than 60 students this fall, Turcotte said.

For more information, contact Jim Turcotte at 601.925.3809 or turcotte@mc.edu. The registration deadline for the Providence Hill Farm event is Friday October 14.