---

KULLIHOMA, Okla. – Chickasaw youth cornstalk shoot competitors offered up another thriller Sept. 28 to kick off a full week of Chickasaw Annual Meeting and Festival events.

So close was the action, only three points separated first from second place and second from third place.

Everly Brinska captured top honors, striking 15 cornstalks in an hourlong shooting spree. Isabella Alexander finished second with 12 and Ben Scribner placed third, piercing nine cornstalks on a beautiful, sunny and pleasantly cool autumn morning.

A large crowd of spectators cheered on eight shooters who entered the contest, shouting encouragement and praising exemplary archery prowess.

Everly, 5, was assisted by her father, Michael, who steadied the bow but left the aim, string pull and marksmanship up to his daughter. Her mother, Katie, anxiously watched from the sidelines.

Everly took her time with each shot, and her patience paid off. Her arrows struck pay dirt several times.

Archers shoot at a bundle of cornstalks. Arrows are equipped with a specialized elongated tip. If the target is hit, judges search through the bundle to see how many cornstalks were pierced and award points accordingly.

The winner’s arrows were delivered with a powerful bow string pull, piercing several cornstalks with each strike to take home the first-place trophy. Everly is a student at Latta Elementary School and the daughter of Michael and Katie Brinska. Both are employed by the Chickasaw Nation.

Second place finisher Isabella Alexander, 10, is a seasoned veteran of youth cornstalk shoots. Isabella’s archery talent was evident as she placed several quality shots through 12 cornstalks from 30 yards to take second place honors. A frequent sight in competition is Isabella and her sister, Kyley, shooting side by side. They have competed for several years.

Isabella and Kyley are Byng Elementary School students and daughters of Blake and Ashlie Alexander, both of whom are employed by the Chickasaw Nation.

Finishing third was 3-year-old Ben Scribner with assistance from his father, Matt. Ben competed from the 10-yard mark and pierced nine cornstalks. Each time his arrow would crack the target, Ben delighted the crowd with a triumphant gesture, arms raised and flashing a big smile of enthusiasm.

“He is only 3 years old and is already hooked on shooting,” Matt said of his son. Ben is the son of Matt and Peyton Scribner, both employed by the Chickasaw Nation.

The Scribner name is synonymous with top-notch archery talent.

Matt’s father, Chickasaw Nation Secretary of Community Services Wayne Scribner, became the first Chickasaw to earn top honors at the 2023 “Shoot of the Nations,” one of the most difficult archery competitions in Oklahoma.

In adult cornstalk competition, Peoria Nation tribal citizen Chris Foreman won first place. After that, only the Scribner surname rounds out the top archers who competed.

Matt Scribner finished second, Andrew Scribner third, and top female shooter was Peyton Scribner.

The competition, a stomp dance and other activities throughout the Chickasaw Nation kicked off this year’s Chickasaw Annual Meeting and Festival. It is the most important celebration of the year and thousands of Chickasaw citizens will partake. All activities are open to the public.

Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby’s State of the Nation Address will culminate the weeklong celebration Saturday, Oct. 5, in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, followed by a parade.

For more information and for a list of activities, visit AnnualMeeting.Chickasaw.net.