story by Siri Stevens
Kagan Boone is glad the National High School Rodeo Association has added trap shooting as an event in Louisiana. “I have met so many new people and found new friends through this sport,” said the 15-year-old from Scott, Louisiana. “It gives people that don’t rodeo a feel for what it’s like.” Kagan was the first shooter in the trap shoot for Louisiana High School Rodeo Association. “They are offering new opportunities for us and I am having a good time.” The trap shoot is set up with five stations with an oscillating machine. “You shoot 25 shells total and when you shoot the bird is going away from you. You move between five different stations which gives you a different view at the bird each time. ” After he’s done shooting, he goes to the rodeo and hangs out with his friends. Kagan has been shooting through 4-H since he was 10. He shoots trap, skeet and sporting clays.
The Boone family, Kyle, Tara, Kagan, and younger twin brothers, Kooper and Kohen live in Scott, Louisiana, what’s known as the Boudin Capital of the World. On April 12, 2012, Scott was designated by the Louisiana State Legislature as the “Boudin Capital of the World”, referring to Cajun sausage that is stuffed with a mixture of rice, pork, and cajun seasoning in a casing.
His mom, Tara, is a curriculum coordinator at a local Catholic Middle School and enjoys supporting his sport as well. Kagan is a freshman at Teurlings Catholic High School and maintains a 4.0. He plans to go into mechanical engineering and work in the oil field; something his cousin is pursuing as well.
His cousin, Ethan Boone, got him interested in shooting and currently shoots as part of the University of Louisiana Ragin Cajun Skeet and Trap Team.
Kagan’s favorite subject is math and he’s taken Algebra II and is currently taking advanced geometry and enjoying that class a lot. “It will help me learn about important skills angles and shapes, which will help me in my future career,” said the avid hunter and fisherman. “I hunt duck, deer and bass fish on the high school bass fishing team.” His family has been big hunters all their lives. “Gun safety is the most important thing and watching young kids learn that is awesome.”
That background has helped Kagan know things like wind speed, direction, speed of the target, when to change chokes or open or tighten the pattern. “I have a sponsor that helps me, Rhino Chokes. I started shooting with their chokes and it stepped up my game.” Kagan encourages anyone wanting to start something new that it’s going to be tough in the beginning, “You will pick up things along the way and amazing people will come along to help you .” He fell in love with the trap shooting association in the Louisiana High School Rodeo. “I wouldn’t have known about it if I hadn’t tried.”
Belonging to the LHSRA is bringing things full circle for the Boone family. Kagan’s dad, Kyle competed in team roping in the rodeo. “I hauled for many years after high school,” said the MERCK pharmaceutical rep. “We were a corporate sponsor for USTRC.” The Boone family lives in Scott, and the boys grew up shooting in 4-H. Kagan’s has two younger brothers, 12-year-old twins, Kooper and Kohen who are also currently shooting through 4-H and hope to compete in the Louisiana High School Rodeo Association. Along with shooting, fishing, and school, Kagan is a receiver on the football team and is on the school baseball team. second baseman on the team. His faith is really important to him. “God is the center of everything I do. My faith helps me power through.”
