The Leaders of Appleseed

Fred

North Carolina

There's no mystery about the "mysterious Fred". Lucky enough to have been born into 20th-century America as a native North Carolinian, a state known for good roads and honest government (back then!), raised with all the benefits of 25 years in the formal educational system, in the process going thru the 1960's not immersed in the "counter-culture" but influenced enough by it to have picked up the now-mainstream dislike for his native country, being a conservative in college but gradually becoming a liberal in the late 60s into the mid-70s, until harsh reality caused his eyes to open...

Yet always being a worthless doofus in so many ways. A do-nothing. Sure, in his early thirties, he set his eye on the goal of going into the booming real estate market and being able to retire at 40, a goal he missed by a couple of years - but retirement turned out to be boring after a year or so, anyway.

Read more about Fred here...

The Guy

Illinois

Guy has been shooting all his life, starting out early on a farm in Piper City Illinois where no raccoon, possum, skunk, pigeon, or starling was safe. He got to an Appleseed Rifleman's Bootcamp in Ramsuer North Carolina, Feburary 2007, where he really learned to shoot under the tutelage of Junior Birdman, Son of Martha and Ornell Fugett. He was so inspired by these fine men that he began instructing as well, and has been ever since. When he isn't on the road for Appleseed, he farms, is an ASE certified automotive technician, and spends time with his twin girls and wife.

Nickle

Vermont

I was immersed in the gun culture at a very early age, as I grew up in a gun shop. I started shooting competition (Bench Rest, Heavy Varmint class) at around 13 years old. Unlike most people, my eyes were always open. I bought my first rifle that was truly my own in Dec 1968, the day prior to GCA 68 going into effect, and I was the ripe old age of 14. It was totally legal for me to do that, as I had my father’s consent. I joined the Army at 17, did 10 plus years there, still shot some, and my interest went more towards Battle Rifles, though I still had an interest in accurate bolt action rifles.

When I got out of the Army, I enlisted into the Army National Guard, and am still in today. I’ve become one of my Battalion’s primary marksmanship instructors. My primary employment is as a civilian employee (currently a supervisor) with the VT Army Guard, running a vehicle maintenance shop.

Now, how I got even deeper into Battle Rifles, I’ll attribute to none other than President Bill Clinton and the ’94 Assault Weapons Ban. I saw the writing on the wall, and figured it was past time to start buying what I had wanted to buy for quite some time already.

Read more about Nickle here.

Bob 210

California

My father grew up in Europe from 1933-1956 and witnessed WWII first hand. He was also involved in the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, being a Freedom Fighter in that conflict. Hearing the stories about the fighting and the firearms, how much Liberty and Freedom meant and the cost of both, I learned at an early age the importance of both Liberty and Freedom . I purchased some rifles and kept telling myself, 'One of these days I'm gonna have to learn me how to shoot one of them things'. Then I read something about this program in Shotgun News, but the events were so far away. But as I watched the program, the events got closer. Texas...... and then Worland, Wyoming Memorial Day of '06! That was close enough for me! So I called a buddy and told him about it and we made plans to attend the Memorial Day weekend shoot! I went and learned and soaked up the marksmanship. Then came the history. The story. The pride I felt f or my country awakened something in me I never knew was there. Deep inside me was....a Sleeping American! The value I saw that weekend made me realize that everyone I knew had to go to one of these events!"


Read more about Bob 210 here.

Junior Birdman

Alabama

I attended my first Appleseed in early 2006 where I earned "the patch" with the M14. (Not a rim fire on that line! Those were the days of cheap ammo and .30 caliber lines!) When word got out that they were planning a "Rifleman's Boot Camp" I signed up and along with about two dozen other guys attended the first RBC in Ramseur, NC. Some of us left there with Red Hats, (Those were the days!), and hit the Appleseed trail.

My primary area of operations has been training. Now I mostly do RBCs and IBCs all over the country and I've worked hard to help the program able to turn out the finest rifle instructors on the planet, who will in turn teach folks about their history, heritage, and responsibilities, as well as what it takes to put a round on target.

Riflewoman

Colorado

I grew up with guns all around, but my family stopped shooting and hunting before I was old enough to enjoy the sport.

In my early 40's I married a gun nut, who promptly took me out to the shot gun range for a round of trap and sporting clays. I was immediately hooked on things that go bang. And for our 6 month anniversary he got me a gun. (1911) "nothing says love like a gun".

Soon after, I attended my first Appleseed, having shot maybe 8 rounds through a rifle. My husband bought me a nice AR-15 for my anniversary and for the event that was held in Worland, WY and was probably the 3rd Appleseed ever held. I shot a rifleman score that weekend. During that event Fred asked me to do a write up of the good and bad things about the event and to spare no criticism. I did as he asked, and in traditional Appleseed fashion was immediately put to work to fix the problems I found.

With the rapid growth of Appleseed the continued need for improvement and change has kept me on my toes. As I attended my first Appleseed, I went mostly for my husband, but found that Appleseed was far more than a marksmanship program but something that could really make a difference in this country.