MTA Hall Of Fame

Mark & Sally Stevens

Elected: 2025
Shooting Members

Hallmark Movie Synopsis: A lifelong hunter, outdoorsman, and committed volunteer travels to Kansas for shotgun coach training—his first step toward starting youth shooting programs at his local club. While he’s away, a newly widowed, anti-gun/anti-hunting mom stops by the same club to ask about shooting lessons and, on a whim, signs all three of her (then unruly) children up for the inaugural class.

Over time, the coach wins the respect of the children and the gratitude of the mother who, wanting to give back to the sport, begins helping him manage the team. One day, the coach invites the mom to try shooting—then hunting—and the two fall in love, embarking on a partnership in life, coaching, and running youth programs.

True Story: Thanks to the welcoming personality of Wally Shelstad and the Buffalo Gun Club, both Mark and Sally Stevens credit their lifelong commitment to the sport of shooting.

Mark learned to hunt and fish at a very early age but didn’t begin trapshooting until later in life. Encouraged to start competing, he went to his first ATA shoot where he witnessed a young shooter being poorly treated after asking a question. Having had the same question himself, Mark vowed to do something about it. He asked the MTA for permission—and some start-up funds—to host youth ATA shoots so that kids (and their parents) could learn how to better manage competitions. In 2007, the Minnesota Youth Chain Shoot was born.

The year prior, Mark had launched Ladies Day, followed by a youth shooting program. Wanting to “do it right,” he traveled to Kansas for formal shotgun coach training.

Sally, who grew up in Canada in an anti-gun household, moved to Minnesota in 1995. After her husband passed away, her eldest son expressed a desire to hunt. Hoping to steer him toward clay targets instead of animals, Sally visited the Buffalo Gun Club to see if anyone would teach him to shoot. She was told a new youth program was starting and that the coach was currently away getting trained. She signed up all three of her children.

Just over a year later, at age 15, Sally’s eldest son won the annual club championship with a perfect 100×100—beating his mentor by one bird, a thrill for them both. Mark eventually asked Sally to try shooting so she could better understand the sport. After just 25 shots, she was completely hooked—on both the game and the coach! Mark promised her dinner if she ever got 25 straight. Three weeks later, she did—so he did—and after a whirlwind courtship, they married in fall 2008. They’ve been joined at the hip ever since.

Mark’s work with the Minnesota Youth Chain Shoot led to his recognition as co-recipient of the 2008 ATA Coach of the Year award. In 2009, Sally completed her Level 1 certification and encouraged Mark to join her in earning Level 2. Together, they expanded youth shooting and coach training programs. Their nonprofit, the Minnesota Youth Shotgun Association, was formalized in 2010.

A partnership with Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever soon followed, through which they provided coach training and presented at state and national conferences around the U.S. In 2014, they were named PF/QF National Volunteers of the Year. In 2013, the NRA Coach Education Program invited them to join as National Coach Development Staff, allowing them to instruct Level 1 Shotgun Coach training classes. They also participated in the inaugural Level 3 Advanced Certified Shotgun Coach class in Colorado Springs.

Mark and Sally both served for years on the MTA Board of Directors, as Alternate Delegate/Delegate and Secretary, respectively. Since 2014, they have been co-head coaches of the Buffalo High School Trapshooting Team, all while continuing to run the Buffalo Gun Club Youth Program and Youth Chain Shoots.

To date, Mark and Sally have trained over 1,000 NRA/USAS Level 1 Shotgun Coaches, many thousands of adults, and even more youth shooters through a wide variety of programs and partnerships.

Both have earned numerous shooting awards—Mark many more than Sally, including state and national titles—but both agree that their greatest accomplishments have come through coaching others.

They look forward to many more years of service. Thank you to the MTA for this incredible honor!

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