Little Crow Archers move home to a new range in Willmar
Dec. 2—WILLMAR
— The
Little Crow Archers
are completing their 70th anniversary by making a big move.
The local club will be hosting an open house from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at the club's new indoor range located in the Uptown Willmar mall, 1605 First St. S. in Willmar.
Anyone interested in the sport of archery is welcome to come over and check out the new range and discover what this club is all about.
Since 1986, the
Little Crow Archers
have been located in downtown Willmar in a building that once held Tom Schlieman's Great Outdoors archery store.
"It served us well," said Teresa Winzenburg, secretary for the Little Crow Archers board of directors. The club moved out of its downtown location at the end of April and began looking for a new home.
She and fellow board members are optimistic that this new home will serve the club every bit as well, if not better than its home for four decades. The new range at the Uptown Mall is located on one floor, while the former range required navigating steps to a lower level.
Its location at the Uptown Willmar mall should also make the new range more visible to the public, and hopefully, help introduce more people to the club, she noted.
The new range offers the same square footage, and is well-lighted and open, making for a very friendly environment.
The Little Crow Archers got its start in 1953, just two years after Minnesota opened a month-long, special archery season for deer, according to the club's history. The club's first shoots were held at the Garfield and Lincoln Elementary Schools in Wilmar and later the Willmar City Auditorium. Outdoor shoots were sometimes held at Robbins Island Park.
While its founders were mainly hunters, the club's membership has and continues to count many archers who simply enjoy the sport for its own sake, according to Winzenburg and her husband, Dennis.
The club's membership including individual and family memberships usually ranges from 80 to over 100, they said. The sport of archery remains popular with both men and women, and people of all ages. The club's members range in age from 4 to 80, they said.
The club's indoor range offers 24-hour key access for members. The club also hosts weekly target shoots and league competition through the winter months.
Members typically join the club to improve their shooting skills, but the Winzenburgs said that is only a part of the story. Many members appreciate the opportunity to socialize and visit with fellow members at the weekly events through the winter months.
Club members are looking forward to welcoming anyone with an interest in archery to the open house. Refreshments will be served, and club members will be on hand to answer questions for anyone interested in trying out this sport.
