By Jessica Kenley

COUDERSPORT — The hall at the Coudersport Consistory filled with the easy hum of neighbors greeting neighbors, the clatter of raffle tickets, and the smell of food being prepared in the kitchen. It was the kind of evening that felt as much like a reunion as it did a fundraiser—people gathering not just to win prizes, but to invest in something shared.

That “something” is the youth trap team run by the Black Forest Conservation Association, a program that has quietly grown into a source of pride across Potter County.

“We have 52 kids on the team,” said head coach Kevin Gledhill, standing alongside fellow coaches Ron Gill and Chase Cooney. “They come from Coudersport, Austin, Northern Potter… we’ve even had kids from Galeton participate.”

The scale of the program is striking for a rural county, but what may be more remarkable is how it’s sustained. This single annual fundraiser—bolstered by community donations—funds nearly everything the team needs.

“We had 45 local donors this year,” Gledhill said. “Every item here is donated. That allows us to take the funds and put it right back into the kids—shells, clay birds, uniforms, even firearms for those who don’t have their own. It’s a fully funded program.”

The support goes beyond the basics. The team also covers travel costs for athletes competing at the state and national levels.

“We fund them to go to states and nationals,” one coach added. “That’s a big deal.”

And the team delivers results. Last year, Black Forest shooters claimed three out of four state championship categories and placed among the top competitors nationally.

“We’re very strong,” Gledhill said with a quiet confidence. “And I think we’re going to do even better this year.”

But the heart of the program isn’t measured in trophies.

“It’s really rewarding,” he said. “They’re part of a team where everybody’s equal. You don’t have to be the biggest or the fastest. Some of our smallest kids compete right alongside the biggest–age really isn’t a factor.”

That sense of equality is something the athletes themselves notice—and value.

“It’s fun,” said one young team member from Ulysses, smiling as teammates gathered nearby. “You get to know a lot of people.”

The team practices multiple times a week, bringing together students from different schools and towns who might not otherwise cross paths. Over time, those connections grow into friendships—and mentorships.

“Our older kids really help the younger ones,” one coach explained. “They understand they’re passing the torch. They want to see the next group succeed.”

That culture of encouragement was visible throughout the evening. Teenagers lingered near raffle tables, laughing together. Volunteers moved easily between tasks. Coaches checked in with families. It was, unmistakably, a community effort.

The fundraiser itself reflected that spirit. Tables stretched across the hall with prizes donated by local businesses and individuals—everything from outdoor gear to household items, even a grill paired with a half cow.

“We try to keep the odds good,” Gledhill said. “We want people to feel like they’ve got a real shot at winning something.”

Organizers expected between 300 and 350 attendees, a turnout that speaks to the program’s reach and reputation.

As the evening began, an announcement called for attention and asked attendees to hold off on games until after the Pledge of Allegiance—a small moment that underscored the event’s tone: respectful, communal, rooted in shared values.

For the young shooters, though, the night was less about ceremony and more about belonging.

Between bites of food and bursts of laughter, they moved comfortably through the space—part teammates, part ambassadors for a program that’s clearly giving them more than just a sport.

In a county where opportunities can sometimes feel limited, the Black Forest trap team offers something steady: a place to learn, to compete, and to grow—together.

And on this night in Coudersport, it was clear the community intends to keep it that way.