Britton Woman Hall Of Famer

They call her “BB Gun Rose.”

For over two decades Rose Kraft of Britton has had a positive impact on not only the Marshall County Sharpshooters BB Gun Team but also on the state and national fronts, and for those efforts she was inducted into the South Dakota 4-H Shooting Sports Hall of Fame at the State Fair on Sept. 4.

She joins husband, Mike, and fellow coach Harlan Hilleson of Veblen, who were named to the Hall of Fame in 2018, a testament to the quality of the program developed by the trio in Marshall County.

“I’m humbled that people would consider me as a leader at this level,” said Kraft. “I’m not an about-me kind of person, more about what can I do to help somebody else.”

That’s exactly what she had been doing for the past 25 years, thus the “BB Gun Rose” moniker.

“Thirteen years ago, when Landon Carlson was in kindergarten, he came up to me and stood toe-to-toe, and I told him I was Mrs. Kraft and was a teacher at the high school,” recalled Kraft. “He looked up at me and said, ‘I thought you were BB Gun Rose.’ Now the whole state of South Dakota knows who BB Gun Rose is.”

She stresses safety first and that is where her teaching background comes to the forefront. Part of every shooting competition involves a written test, and Marshall County has come home with the top test score in the nation five times, including the last four.

Kraft knows the ins and outs of the sport and assisted in updating the national rule book in recent years. At any competition – local or national – she is known as the go-to person whenever rules or procedure questions arise.

For the new Hall of Famer it’s about being one big family.

“Of all the memories, the friendships are what I’m most thankful for. We’re Team South Dakota and this program is just a huge family. And I enjoy watching those we have coached becoming the future of our program. That just makes your heart smile.”

Rose and the Marshall County program, which has enjoyed national success winning three national titles and finishing among the top three five times, is also responsible for helping to grow the program. South Dakota’s participation rate has tripled in the past 25 years, and the local coaches have helped start several other programs around the state, one of them being Lake County (Madison).

“Rose has a huge heart for shooting sports and the kids who compete,” said Kelly Hanson, a coach at Lake County. “She is quick to welcome new competitors and new teams coming into the sport and encourages them to compete at the highest levels. She has a pulse on everything that’s happening in the youth shooting sports world and how updated or even outdated rules might affect all competitors. Congratulations, BB Gun Rose, and thank you for everything you have done and continue to do for youth shooting sports in South Dakota and across the country.”

One of this year’s Marshall County shooters also made a list of the qualities that Kraft brings to the table as a coach, and that list speaks volumes. Parts of it read: she believes in teamwork, in doing your best, and following the rules, and she believes in you. She doesn’t quit or give up or allow bad behavior, she makes us work hard, believes in good sportsmanship, and won’t let us give up.

“I know the rules and know how to do all of it, just don’t ask me to shoot the gun,” said Kraft with a chuckle. “I have a few center shots in my record book, but for every one center shot I may have 20 that never hit the target!”

Although not a competitive shooter, Kraft does have a solid streak of competitiveness running through her.

“I tell people that I want to beat them at every single tournament, but I also tell them I want to be excited for you every time you beat me.”

But it all boils down to the kids.

“What has kept me going for 25 years is the smiles on children’s faces. They look up at you, smile, and trust and believe in you. Not everybody can be a football or basketball player, but this is a program where kids get to be successful and show their strength.”