KEARNEY — Members of the public flocked to the Kearney Outdoor Education Complex for the facility’s grand opening on Saturday, Aug. 19.
The Kearney Outdoor Education Complex (KOEC), the former Fort Kearny Shooting Sports Complex property, is the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s (NGP) newest outdoor education center.
The complex is located at 10945 Poole Ave., northeast of Kearney.
It was noted by NGP that shooting ranges are few and far between in south central Nebraska and the KOEC helps to fill the void.
During the event Saturday, attendees could enjoy free trap and skeet shooting, sporting clays, archery, education center tours and interactive educational activities.
Jeff Fields, with NGP, thanked everyone for coming out to the event for the official opening of the KOEC and to recognize the Kearny Shooting Sports Association for their donation of the 135-acre shooting complex.
The Kearney Shooting Sports Association was originally founded at the Fort Kearney Wildlife Club in 1940.
In 2003, the organization purchased the 160 acres to create a new sporting and education experience for their members and the public.
“Shooting teaches discipline, patience, mental concentration, quiet determination and a love of nature. It is a versatile sport and can be a team effort, a single person endeavor, or a time of communion and communication for multi-generation groups,” per the Kearney Shooting Sports website.
In 2008, the clubhouse and skeet and trap facilities were completed at the site.
After many years of successful operation, portions of the complex were donated to NGP in early 2023, Fields said.
To make this partnership work, Fields said it took the vision of the Kearney Shooting Sports Association, the NGP board of commissioners and Nebraska Legislature to approve and support the donation and the partnership with the City of Kearney for the pistol and rifle range.
John Hoggatt, NGP District 4 Commissioner, said the opening of the facility as the KOEC was four to five years in the making. He looked around a room where there was standing room only and said the turnout on Saturday showed the facility is needed.
Nebraska Game and Parks District 4 Commissioner John Hoggatt, right and Jeff Fields, left.
Senator John Lowe, who represents District 37, opened his comments by asking how many in attendance were under the age of 20, which garnered several raised hands.
District 37 Senator John Lowe
He asked them how hard it was to find a place to practice shooting safely around Kearney. “This is for you,” Lowe said of the facility.
Lowe added that it is wonderful for central Nebraska to have access to a facility like this, so that residents could enjoy their freedoms.
Michelle Lewis, former president Kearny Shooting Sports Association, said the facility as it exists today would not be possible without the dedication of numerous volunteers over the years.
Lewis said she was a youth shooting coach for 17 years and she was happy to see the number of youths who joined the adults at the opening of the facility.
“It makes my heart happy,” Lewis said.
Stan Clouse, Kearney Mayor, said the KOEC is a complex that can be marketed as another reason to visit central Nebraska.
Kearney Mayor Stan Clouse
The City of Kearney is involved in the partnership, they have owned the 30-acre rifle and pistol range for the purpose of providing a training site for the Kearney Police Department and the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office.
Thanks to a recent agreement signed by the Kearney city council, NGP would gain access to the city’s shooting range so it would be available to the public under the supervision of the NGP staff.
Kearney Chief Bryan Waugh told the city council would be an “incredible opportunity,” to make the site open to public use.
Clouse concluded that the facility will be a great addition to Kearney and he and the city council are proud to be a part of the partnership.
Roger Jasnoch, with the Kearney Visitors Bureau, said that Kearney has access to many amenities and now this shooting complex is the latest attraction that can be added to the list.
The grand opening of the facility was attended by many members of the public.
Jeff Rawlinson, with NGP, provided the closing remarks and said his organization is interested in shooting ranges because of the training it provides to future hunters and sports shooters and the funds they bring in that can be redistributed toward conservation efforts.
Rawlinson asked the crowd who had recently picked up a recently discharged shotgun shell and smelled the burnt powder. He asked what fond memories that would conjure up, perhaps a day at the range with a grandparent, mentor or friends.
He said shooting sports are good for Nebraska families.
Rawlinson concluded saying this range can be a great model of conservation going into the future.
