GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) – At more than 70 locations from around the state of Nebraska, the 2025 Cornhusker State Games kicked-off on July 10. For the first time, the shooting sports events of the Cornhusker State Games are held at the Heartland Public Shooting Park.
This year’s shooting sports events feature 600 participants in the 41st anniversary of the Cornhusker State Games.
Diane Rouzee, sports marketing manager for Grand Island Tourism, said they’re excited to host the games in Grand Island.
“It’s a wonderful relationship that’s been building for several years,” Rouzee said. “The group out here at the shooting park is fabulous and we want to showcase them. We everybody to see facilities out here and it’s just awesome to have the shooting sports here in Grand Island.“
In October of 2024, Nebraska Council and Grand Island Tourism reached an agreement to make the Heartland Public Shooting Park the new home for the shooting sports.
“I think its a great opportunity for Heartland Public Shooting Park, management of Hornady, and City of Grand Island,” said Mason Williams of Heartland Public Shooting Park.
The shooting sports events are made up of nine events for all Nebraskans.
“We have blinking pistol going on and international bunker, it’s like Olympic style bunker trap,” Williams said. “Yesterday was a little bit heavier, we had a 109 youth shotgun, we had 40 shooters action pistol and we had roughly about 50 in split between the pistol and F-Class Shooting.“
Bob Harpft, participant of the games, expressed he’s excited to have the shooting events closer.
“I’ve been into shooting sports, this a park that I go to a lot,” Harpft said. “I was glad Grand Island picked this up and made it easy for me, this is my first-year shooting in the Cornhusker States Games. I competed yesterday and I competed obviously today – it’s a lot of fun.”
Also, participating for the first time is Carla Fitzpatrick.
“I was excited that Hornady sponsors the place, I had never been here before,” said Fitzpatrick. “It’s a pretty massive event. Everything is going well, I’ve really enjoyed and meeting a lot of people and it’s just been a real, really nice event.“
The Cornhusker State Games will end July 20.
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