The Permian Press sat down with Bustin’ for Badges board members, Retired Sgt. Jimmy Young and Meredith Bright, to discuss how the sporting clays tournament started, how it has grown, and how it continues to make a difference for local law enforcement.

What to watch: The 13th annual Bustin’ for Badges clay shoot runs Wednesday, April 29, through Friday, May 1, at Windwalker Farms Sporting Clays, 2551 County Rd. C2801, in Stanton. Spots are filling up quickly, so register now if you want to shoot. Bright said Friday is nearly sold out, Thursday is close behind, and remaining Wednesday spots are expected to fill within the next couple of weeks.

Beyond the clays, the event also features great food stations, giveaways, raffles, and good fellowship. Bustin’ for Badges was founded to build positive relationships between law enforcement and the community. On top of that, the event also raises significant funds that help our police and sheriff’s departments buy the equipment and technology they need to keep Midland and Odessa safe.

How it started

The idea began about 13 years ago when former Midland Police Chief Price Robinson approached Young about starting a clay shoot to support local law enforcement. MPD reached out to the Odessa PD and the Ector and Midland County Sheriff’s Offices to see if they were interested. The board now includes active and retired officers as well as civilians with representatives from each of the four agencies.

“It was about building relationships between police officers and the community,” Young recalled. “There was a time when a lot of bad incidents all over the United States caused people to think that police officers were bad, but this helped build a bridge between the community and law enforcement.”

Support came quickly. Young had a contact with the Kent companies and received the first donation of $5,000. He then reached out to Pioneer Natural Resources, which volunteered to be the title sponsor. That first shoot in 2014 raised enough to give each of the four agencies $25,000 each.

The fruit of the labor

What started as a one-day shoot has grown into a three-day event capable of hosting up to 2,200 shooters. It is now recognized as the largest clay shoot in the U.S. that supports local law enforcement and takes year-round planning. The event is run entirely by volunteers, including the board and those who help at the event itself.

“Our goal was to someday have 500 shooters. That was a huge goal,” Young said. “Our second year, we already had around 290 shooters.”

The financial impact has grown significantly over the years. Last year, each of the four agencies received $150,000. Since its first year, the tournament has raised more than $5 million in gross proceeds for local law enforcement.

“Every year we add another round,” Bright said. “Because there are so many people that really just want to be a part of it, and it just keeps growing.”

Where does the money go?

100% of funds raised go directly back to the agencies to purchase equipment and technology that help officers do their jobs more effectively. Past purchases have included electric bicycles, drones, tactical vests, SWAT team gear, and support for canine programs.

“With this extra money, they can buy some more equipment just to help keep the community safe,” Young said. “With the drones, they can help you search for the bad guys… Technology is your friend nowadays in law enforcement.”

Each agency also brings equipment for the crowd to see, usually ones they’ve acquired through the Bustin’ for Badges funding. MPD often displays drones and its large response truck, while the bomb squad and other specialized units showcase the gear, providing a firsthand look at what their donations help fund.

Community support

The team thanks the generous, community-driven people in West Texas for the continued success of this event.

“Our law enforcement really appreciates when they go out there, and they see the support from the community,” Bright said. “It’s a really tough job to go out there and put your life on the line every day. For these people to have even just three days where they are supported and loved means everything to them.”

“We have our loyal partners like the Kent companies, Sewell, Exxon, and Conoco, who have always been there,” Young said.

Come to shoot, come to play.

Shooters have strong odds of winning at Bustin’ for Badges. One in every twelve participants takes home a prize. The event features gun boards with chances to win handguns and rifles, plus raffles for bigger items like a utility vehicle and a full year of free gas from Kent Kwik.

Bustin’ for Badges brings fun for more than just the shooters. Spectators are guaranteed to have a good time, whether you’re watching the shoot, eating more food than you can stomach, entering giveaways, or more. This year’s clay shoot will also feature a special celebrity guest. But try as we might, we couldn’t get them to reveal who it is…

“That’s probably one of the most unique things about Bustin’ for Badges,” Bright said. “It becomes a really fun event for everybody involved.”