The equipment and the range are set up and ready for Junior League participants.
Thanks in part to funding from Operation Round Up, the Iroquois Archery Club (IAC) is preparing for its biggest season yet of the Junior League youth program — now the largest youth archery league in the state of Indiana. The six-week program, held on Saturday mornings starting in January, offers children aged 4 to 18 the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of archery while developing confidence, sportsmanship, and healthy competition skills.
Run by husband-and-wife coaches, Randy and Stefanie Lane, alongside a team of volunteers, the Junior League offers instruction, mentorship, and access to equipment for any child who needs it. Last year, 95 young archers participated. This year, the club anticipates 110 to 120 students, and support from Operation Round Up will help purchase new supplies, equipment, and awards needed to keep up with that growth — ensuring that every child has the tools they need to succeed.
That investment is already showing results. Beyond the weekly instructional league. Iroquois Archery now fields a youth competition team with a strong record of achievement. At the IFAA Indoor State Championships in Richmond, seven of the state champions were Junior League participants, showcasing how the program helps beginners develop into competitive athletes. Several other students and adult competitors from IAC also made the podium, and this fall, the club celebrated its first youth archer, Jack, moving on to compete at the college level.
Additional momentum is being generated by a new partnership with USA Archery, which has enabled several coaches to earn national credentials and will expand future programming through camps, tournaments, and team-based opportunities. Hidden #20833001. These experiences not only build skills but also strengthen college applications and open pathways toward national-level competition.
With growing enrollment, new resources, and continued community backing, the Junior League is helping turn young beginners into skilled athletes — and proving that a small roundup of spare change can create a big impact.
OTHER OPERATION ROUND UP GRANT RECIPIENTS INCLUDE:
- American Legion Auxiliary Unit 440
- The Carnegie Players
- Faith Lutheran Church
- Fountain Park Chautauqua
- Jasper County Public Library
- Kankakee Valley Middle School
- Remington Parks Department
- Rensselaer Central Band Boosters
- Rensselaer Central High School BPA Club
- Rensselaer Central Middle School
- Rensselaer Elementary Schools
- Sorrowful Mother Church Food Pantry
- Wreaths Across America
- West Central After Prom
- West Central Middle School
