New Year’s Shooters Celebrate Record Year at Annual Host Dinner
By: Lauren Ramsey – Wise News Network
Cherryville, NC (WNN)— The Cherryville New Years Shooters held their annual host dinner on Friday, February 7th, 2025, celebrating a record-breaking year for the traditional event. The 2025 event saw groundbreaking participation, with organizers issuing 518 badges after initially preparing for around 500 shooters. “We ran out of badges and had to get creative; we had almost 550 shooters this year,” Rusty Wise, the Secretary for the New Year’s Shooters, shared. Good weather and the popularity of this beloved tradition brought out a record crowd.
Preserving Tradition and Fellowship
This tradition spanning hundreds of years, attracts participants with its historical significance and unique appeal. Moreover wise emphasized the event’s focus on fellowship and community, bringing people together from various states.
“All you need is black powder, a musket, and a cap and you can go New Year’s Shooting,” said Wise. The event provides a break from modern technology, allowing participants to enjoy a traditional activity. Wise expressed hope that the tradition will continue for many years but acknowledged potential challenges such as population growth and noise concerns.
Honoring Hosts and Recognizing Outstanding Service
The annual dinner was not just a celebration of the shooters’ success; it was also a heartfelt thank you to the many who generously allowed the shooters on their property each year. Each host in attendance was presented with a special commemorative patch as a token of the organization’s gratitude.
Beyond thanking the hosts, the dinner also served as a platform to recognize individuals who went above and beyond in their contributions to the New Year’s Shoot and the broader community. The President of the New Year’s Shooters, Charles Sisk, presented the awards. This year, several individuals were given special recognition.
The Aldridge Family: Dedicated Participants
The event organizers honored the Aldridge family for their enthusiastic participation and dedication to the event, with each member receiving a Shooters Gold Medal. Melody Aldridge received particular praise for her commitment. Ultimately, she took the lead in organizing her group and ensuring everyone had a fantastic time. “I absolutely loved it,” Melody shared, “Once we got our community group together and the kids…we rented a U-Haul van and we all fit in perfectly. We may have to go up the size of the van next year.”
Additionally, her husband, Matt, and their son Maddox, who were in attendance, had been recognized the previous year for their dedication as novice shooters, receiving two of the first gold medals ever awarded. This year, they proved their commitment once again. It’s common for inexperienced shooters to take breaks between the various shooting locations, as the event spans a grueling 19 hours with very little downtime. However, Matt and Maddox Aldridge impressively shot at almost every single stop.
The event also highlighted the importance of introducing new generations to the tradition. With that in mind, Grady, Maddie, Luci, and Troy were all celebrated as first-time participants in the shoot. Their enthusiasm and engagement were seen as a promising sign for the future of the tradition. Maddie shared her positive experience. “I definitely want to keep doing it,” she said. “It was just nice to see everybody just come together and do something in the town.”
Each received recognition for participating in this historical event. Grady shared a funny story about learning a valuable lesson about how much powder to load in a musket: “I think I loaded it too hot or packed it down too much.” The Aldridge family joked that it was all part of the experience.
Community Support and Charitable Efforts
The New Year’s Shooters also highlighted the support they receive from the city, law enforcement, and local businesses. They acknowledged the efforts of Gaston County Schools for allowing the shoot to take place on school property as a ceremonial exhibit.
The Cherryville Historical Museum is also expanding its shooters’ exhibit. This will add larger screens and more historical items with help from the Cherryville New Years Shooters.
Additionally, the group recognized the Safety Officer for The Cherryville New Years Shooters Michael Dellinger for his work in assisting families in Western North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene last year. Dellinger had no idea he would be receiving an award and was surprised by the recognition, however, he was honored. The organization also recognized Mike “Boozie” Dellinger, the Vice President of the shooters organization who also helped with the WNC relief efforts. Boozie matched the group’s monetary efforts in purchasing thousands of pounds of relief products. Both Dellinger’s received the Shooters Gold Medal for their volunteer efforts.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Organizers are already planning for the 2026 New Year’s Shoot. They encouraged attendees to continue supporting the tradition and emphasized the importance of preserving its history.
The event brings people together from various states, benefiting the local economy. Organizers thanked all the volunteers, including Party Girls Catering for providing food, and recognized the work of Wise, who works year-round to ensure the event’s success.
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