Daisy Nationals

Storytelling is our way of preserving history and passing along entertaining and educational information to others. One fairly new tradition for the Daisy Nationals is the Essay Contest, sponsored by the Outdoor Journalist Education Foundation of America, an organization that provides scholarships and funding to those students who want to learn about communications in the outdoor industry. For more information, email lisa@ojefa.org.

The Daisy Nationals Essay Contest was open to all competitors, and features two age groups – 8 to 11 and 12 to 15 – and awards cash prizes to the winners. For 2025, 17 Daisy Nationals competitors submitted essays. Judging was difficult, with so many very good essays submitted.

Winners in the younger age group receive $250 for first place $150 for second and $100 for third. In the older age group, first place wins $500, second wins $300 and third, $200.

Contestants were asked to write about their experience preparing for and competing in the Daisy Nationals, while telling a bit about themselves and how they felt about the process.

Winners of the 2025 Daisy Nationals Essay Contest are:

8-11 Age Group

First: Addison Showalter, 10 years old, Reno County 4-H (Kansas)
Second: Lyla Smith, 11 years old, Ozark Youth Shooting Team (Arkansas)
Third: Nolan Michael, 11 years old, Riley/Pottawatomie 4H Straight Shooters (Kansas)

12-15 Age Group

First: Maverick Moss, 13, Greene County 4H BB Team (Arkansas)
Second: Forest Graham, 14, Gillespie County Shooting Sports (Texas)
Third: Carly Weeman, 14, Brule County Bullseyes (South Dakota)

Here are the winning essays, starting with first place in the 8-11 age group.

My 2024-2025 BB Gun Experience My name is Addison Showalter and I am 10 years old. This is my third year shooting BB gun.

My older brother, Eli, my mom, and I went to the Daisy Nationals BB Gun Championship Match in Rogers, Ark., in 2022 (Eli was an alternate) and 2023 (Eli was a team member). The Daisy Nationals is also fun for younger siblings not old enough or ready to participate yet. When I was too young to participate, I loved playing board and card games in the hall, getting ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery, barter bar, and the swim party.

In 2023-2024, I was on the team trying to qualify for the Daisy Nationals, but we didn’t. It was disappointing as the Daisy Nationals is one of my family’s highlights each year.

In the 2024-2025 BB gun season, I had three setbacks. All three were injuries to my elbows. In October, I fractured my left elbow and wore a pink cast for a month. I injured it by doing a gymnastics stunt. In January, I fractured my right elbow by falling on it during a basketball game. I was put in a splint for two weeks and a pink cast for four weeks. During this time my coach put a bipod on my gun and I worked on not blinking when I pulled the trigger.

I missed four BB gun matches due to my elbow injuries. At my first match of the season, I got personal bests in prone (94-1) and overall score (348-5). My score had improved 24 points since last year.

In mid-May, I had my third elbow injury. I got hit on my left elbow by a softball pitch during a game. It put me in a splint for three weeks. I was nervous that I wouldn’t be able to participate at the Daisy Nationals. It was hard not being able to practice, but I spent time studying for the test.

I really enjoyed participating in the 2025 Daisy Nationals as a team member! My goals for the match were to shoot a personal best in a position, receive a 90 or better on the test, and have an overall score of 450 or better. I achieved my goals! In kneeling, I shot a 95-2. I received a 94 on my test. My overall score with the test was a 466-5. Some of my other highlights of the Daisy Nationals were: playing games in the hallway, receiving a Daisy Nationals hoodie, barter bar, going to the Daisy Airgun Museum, the dance, visiting Pea Ridge National Park and the Wal-Mart Museum.

BB gun is one of my favorite sports. It teaches me about gun safety. In the past it was fun to tag along at the Daisy Nationals, but it is even more fun to participate! I am already looking forward to next year’s BB gun season. I plan to keep learning, improving, and not to fracture or injure anything! Next year I hope to be back in Rogers, Arkansas.

And, here is the winning essay in the 12-15 age bracket.

Let me take you back to a moment I’ll never forget – the 2025 Daisy Nationals. The memories I made during that incredible week are ones I’ll carry with me forever. Before I dive into the experience, let me introduce myself.

My name is Maverick Moss, a 13-year-old from Paragould, Ark., nestled in Northeast Arkansas. I’m a kid who lives for the outdoors – hunting, fresh air, adventure and fishing. Hunting with my uncle, grandfather and great grandfather (who is now deceased) led me to be interested in BB gun shooting. When I was first introduced to BB gun shooting in 2022 through the Greene County 4-H program, I knew instantly this was my thing. At first, I was a little nervous. It was a brand new sport for me and I didn’t know anyone on the team. But that didn’t last long. Before I knew it, those strangers became my teammates, and those teammates became like family. Over the past three years, BB has become more than just a sport, it’s become a huge part of who I am.

Now, fast forward to the 2025 Daisy National BB Gun Championship Match. Getting there wasn’t easy. To qualify, our team had to place in the top three at the Arkansas State BB Gun Championship. We landed third. Sure, it wasn’t first, but it felt like a major win – and it meant we were headed to the Nationals! From February to June, we trained like never before – two practices a week, every week. It was intense. And while I love shooting, those practices could feel long, especially with the extra challenge of studying for the written test. But we stayed focused. The closer the Nationals came, the more the excitement built. We were ready.

Our trip to Nationals wasn’t a long one since we’re already in Arkansas. No wild travel stories, no unexpected drama – just pure excitement. We all met up at the Embassy Suites on Monday, where the action began with equipment inspection and the test. With the written test, nerves were high, but we crushed it. I scored a personal best – 94 – and my teammate Jace King hit an incredible 98! With the test behind us, it was time to show our team spirit. At the opening ceremony we went all out – patriotic outfits, red-white-and-blue hair dye (yep, I joined in). We didn’t walk away with an award that night, but the fun we had was a win in itself. Wednesday was huge. It was time for prone and standing positions. The pressure was real during those first few shots, but as the round went on, our nerves faded and our focus sharpened. That same day we visited the Daisy Museum – what a cool place to explore! But the highlight? The legendary barter bar that night! I scored a pheasant tail in trade, which was awesome. One funny moment – a kid tried to trade me a LSU ring toss game. I had to politely pass, “Sorry,” I said, “I’m an Arkansas fan. SEC rivalries are serious business!”

Thursday was the big finale, sitting and kneeling positions, followed by the closing ceremony. We didn’t bring home a trophy, but we brought home something even better: pride, experience and the fire to come back stronger.

Bottom line? The 2025 Daisy Nationals was an unforgettable adventure. It brought challenges, victories (personal and team), laughter, and memories that will last a lifetime. I’m already back in training, because next time I’m not just going to compete. I’m coming back to win!

(Essay dedicated to my Great Grandfather Juan Garland Stubblefield, May 9, 1927 – August 10, 2024.)