In the far-off, wide-open spaces of North Dakota, tucked away in a little corner of the Midwestern United States, life moves at a different pace. The land is broad and unending, dotted with sunflower fields and wheat farms, where bison graze freely and the sky stretches on forever, as if painted by an artist with a fondness for blue. This is a place where kids are as at home running through fields of wheat as they are wading through drifts of snow. In this wild, wonderful world, many kids have a unique hobby - riflery. It's not just about shooting at targets; it's also about learning patience, precision, and the importance of safety. It's about quiet concentration and the thrill of hitting the bullseye. But let's not forget our imaginary companion - Patches, a mischievous prairie dog with a peculiar passion for riflery. Patches, wearing his red bandana and cowboy hat, is a one-of-a-kind creature who strangely understands the ins and outs of riflery. You won't see him with a rifle, of course – he's much too small. Instead, he's the coach, the mentor, the pint-sized partner who guides the kids. He explains the rules, doles out advice, and encourages the kids when their shots miss the mark. One moment he's popping out from a weathered wooden fence, shouting advice in his squeaky prairie dog voice. The next, he's doing a somersault of joy when a kid hits the target. Patches makes the sport more fun, adding a dash of humor to every practice and a spirit of camaraderie that echoes across the plains of North Dakota. With safety goggles perched atop his head and a whistle around his neck (which seems hilariously huge compared to him), Patches is the unofficial mascot for all the riflery-loving kids in North Dakota.