By DOUG WILSON

Herald-Whig Senior Writer

NEBO, Ill. -- An exhibition archer from Adams County will highlight the program at the ninth annual Sporting Clays for Scouting event on Wednesday at Heartland Lodge in Pike County

Randy Oitker of Plainville has been shooting bows for several years. He has done exhibitions where he breaks multiple balloons by firing up to five arrows from the same bow simultaneously. Videos of his exhibitions are available on YouTube.

"We hadn't had a guest in archery previously, so this is something different for the attendees," said organizer Fred Cory.

More than 100 shooters are expected to participate. A steak dinner and benefit auction for Scouting also will be held after 4:30 p.m.

Quentin Karlstrand, scout executive for the Mississippi Valley Council of Boy Scouts of America, said the sporting clays even has become an important fundraiser.

"It's probably the most fun of all of them," Karlstrand said.

It is a busy day for the Boy Scout office and volunteers as well. It takes about 50 to 60 adult volunteers from a 12-county area to put on the shoot, steak dinner and auction.

Cory said the auction should generate extra interest this year, because one of the items for sale is a NASCAR team pit and garage credentials for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race to be held at Gateway International track outside St. Louis.

Pitcher Josh Kinney of the St. Louis Cardinals also is donating something for the auction.

"We've got some Cardinals tickets and some hunts. I know of one pheasant hunt in South Dakota," Cory said.

Bad weather will not cancel the event, Cory said. Heartland Lodge can set up a trap area in a sheltered area or at the lodges if it is raining.

The event's sponsors are the Oakley-Lindsay Foundation and Allied Waste Services.

To attend the shoot or the steak dinner and auction, call (217) 224-0204 to make a reservation.

-- dwilson@whig.com/221-3372