
Loman Scarbrough instructs a youth archer. Scarbrough started shooting archery around the age of 8 and now spreads his knowledge to the next generation.
Volunteer Leads Efforts to Develop
Kentucky Archery Range
for Future Generations
Loman Scarbrough wears many hats. A member of the Industrial Division of the Communication Workers of America (IUE-CWA) Local 83701, Scarbrough is also the Hopkins County 4-H Shooting Sports Team coordinator, a nonprofit founder, and a hunting education course instructor through the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources.
No matter how busy his schedule gets, Scarbrough views each project he takes on as an opportunity to give back to his community. The Earlington area, with its deep roots in coal mining, has faced challenges. A tornado produced significant damage across Western Kentucky in 2021 and a local elementary school closed in 2022 due to deterioration and low enrollment numbers.
City officials and community members, including Scarbrough, continue to look for ways to re-engage youth in the area. Efforts have included events like the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance’s annual Take Kids Fishing Day at Earlington City Park each May.
“Most of this community is made up of low-income households,” he said. “Still today we are 3 years past the 2021 tornado and lots of places haven’t been cleaned up or rebuilt. Things like the Take Kids Fishing event and the Free Public 3D Archery Training Course are resources to give back hope to the small community.”

Scarbrough (second from left) served as the project leader for the USA’s Earlington Take Kids Fishing Day in 2023 and 2024.
Less than two miles southwest of the Take Kids Fishing Day location, Scarbrough and the USA are teaming up to build a 20-target archery course. The vision is to provide a location where all ages and skill levels can develop and train for shooting sports competitions for free.
“Over the last several years, archery has been a huge sport here in Western Kentucky,” Scarbrough said. “Sometimes it’s easier for beginner shooters to start off with archery and then work towards firearms. I actually killed a deer using a bow before I killed a deer with a firearm.”
When he looked to secure funding for the 3D archery course, the USA conservation staff offered helping hands.
“I’ve been shooting archery since I was probably 8 or 9 years old,” he said. “I used to shoot in these 3D archery tournaments and wanted to offer something that no one else around here had to offer. Yes, you can go shoot at some 3D courses, but you have to pay. A lot of folks don’t have the money for that. I wanted to offer something that is totally free.”
Scarbrough’s nonprofit, the Hopkins County Sportsmen & Sportswomen Club, is dedicated to positively impacting the future of wildlife conservation through charitable and education activities. While IUE-CWA members maintain trails and build target backstops for the archery range, the club is also providing scholarships for six kids to attend wildlife-focused summer camps.
“Growing up, I was blessed to have thousands of acres to hunt owned by farmers I worked for,” he said. “It’s hard to get permission to hunt on property, and I just want all of these kids to have the same opportunities and more than I had.”
As a hunting education instructor, Scarbrough is experienced in helping youth archers develop their skills. His course focuses on hands-on learning and emphasizes safety, practical skills, and ethics. He hopes the training course will accomplish the same.
“This training course will build strong confidence for the archers. They will learn and understand discipline as an archer while utilizing the training course.”
It’s clear in all of the hats he wears, Scarbrough is committed to serving his community. He strives to cultivate interest in the outdoors and develop skills in youth, whether it’s in a classroom, at a competition, or planning a project in his office.

Scarbrough takes a photo with Take Kids Fishing Day volunteers and participants in 2023. Scarbrough has been with the IUE-CWA for five years.
Work on the archery range will begin on March 1 and is expected to be ready for the spring of 2025.