Born in Lowndes County, Steven Evans’ family moved to Berrien County, just outside of Nashville, when he was three months old. He grew up on a farm in a house that was once owned by his great-grandparents.

“We had several dogs,” Evans said reminiscing. “Every time my mom said she wanted another baby, my dad would buy a dog.”

While giggling, Evans added, “I think we had about 20 dogs on the farm one time.”

Despite being an only child, Evans asserts that he is not and has never been spoiled.

“My dad got hurt when I was about seven or eight, and I had to take over the farm, so I learned hard work at a young age,” he said.

Evans started shooting rifles with his father, Tommie Evans, when he was five years old. He began to trap shoot at the age of six, when he got his first 20-gauge shotgun.

Evans did not begin to compete in trap shooting until he was 12.

“I participated in Clays for Kids a few times, but I did most of my shooting in my back yard until I was able to get on the 4-H team in high school,” Evans said.

Evans was trained by Coach John Whidden in 4-H during his freshman and sophomore years of high school. He participated in various trap shooting events until he was invited to shoot in the Georgia Junior Olympics in 2005. He was in 11th grade at the time.

Evans finished third in his class for double trap at the Georgia Junior Olympics in Hartsfield, which qualified him to shoot trap and double trap in the national championship game in Colorado Springs, Colo.

“After shooting in the championship, I was invited to compete in the National Junior Olympics, which is also in Colorado,” Evans said. “The first time I shot in the National Junior Olympics, I shot 100 out of 125 targets and ranked 38 of 129 shooting.”

In fall of 2005, Evans qualified for the World Cup Selection Match and got to compete with shooters from all over the country, including U.S. Army and Air Force teams.

“I missed several classes at the beginning of my senior year because I was competing. My teachers e-mailed several of my assignments and I had to mail the school work back to them,” he said.

After placing 25th out of 29 contestants at the World Cup Selection Match, Evans stopped shooting to finish the fall semester in school.

When class dismissed for winter break, Evans was back to shooting. In December 2005, he participated in the Florida State Championships and won his first gold medal.