From My First Shot to Theirs: 35 Years in Archery and Paying It Forward

I have been involved in competitive archery and bowhunting since the age of 13. I have attended many competitive archery events throughout my 35-year career, such as the Vegas shoot, NFAA Indoor and Outdoor Field Nationals, the Redding Trail Shoot/NFAA Marked 3D. I attended Vegas for the first time when I was 15, and have attended the event most of the years since then. I have also been fortunate enough to do a lot of bowhunting in my home state of Iowa for whitetails and turkeys, as well as in western states for pronghorn and elk.

Now, I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to help with archery instruction here at the NFAA Easton Yankton Archery Center (NEYAC) as well as help shape the future of competitive archery through the NFAA.

Just like many of the new archers who come through the NEYAC center, I can still remember the first few times I shot a bow. Nearly all archers have the same start in the sport, using simple beginner archery equipment. We are happy to provide archers of all interest levels with whatever tools they need to succeed here at NEYAC.

I have been fortunate to work with some archers who develop an interest, and have participated in their first tournament after shooting their first arrows here at NEYAC.

Others have chosen to participate in archery solely as a recreational activity. For me, it makes no difference. It is just as rewarding for me to watch a new archer pop a balloon after several tries as it is for a new archer to develop an interest in pursuing competitive archery, and seeing them competing in an event we hold here at NEYAC. I am looking forward to continuing to assist archers in developing their interest in the sport I have loved for most of my life.

Michael Anderson - coach for the Mount Marty University team 2025