Inspiring individuals to become capable providers and protectors
The TA Targets Story began on a range in West Virginia. Two of our founders had been spending time in West Virginia for a training course at Storm Mountain Training Center. At that course they experienced malfunctions and failures in some of the steel target systems that were being used.
TA Targets Story
TA Targets is Born
a-Dap System is Born
On 7/14/15 the first A-DAP Target System was drawn.
First photos of the A-DAP was taken on Jared's Samsung Galaxy S5 Phone. Fun Fact: Jared's Wife Jess taught Jared how to use a "real" camera. Pretty cool story.
Completed TA's Full Target Lineup
- A-DAP C-Zone
- A-DAP Classic
- Pistol Dueling Tree
- Phantom Target
- Zone Target
First Cease & Desist Letter
We discontinued one of our products.
First Trade Show
In February of 2016, TA went to the Great American Outdoor Show. First time TA was in the publics eye. This was an exciting moment as it was the first time we would speak to people face to face about our products.
3/23/2016
First Website Sale
TA sold our very first target through our website. You might think orders go unnoticed, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Each order is life changing, and we still remember the first one.
Missed our Sales Goal
$86,000 in Sales (Goal was $500,000). The first year was really hard. We didn't even come close to our sales goal. Truthfully, our goal was unrealistic for a new startup with no business experience.
New/Updated Products
- Falling Tree is Launched. This was our first product that earned a Utility Patent for its design.
- AR550 A-DAP Target Systems Released
- Multiple Gimmick Products that Flopped
We Lost Over $24K due to Fraud
You win some, you lose some. This was a painful lesson that not all customers are honest, and there are people out there who will try to ruin you for their gain.
MORE Products Came to Market
- VTAR Popper
- Arachnid Target Base
- Phoenix Plate Rack
Falling Tree Gets Patented
Our Falling Tree Target becomes the only Falling Tree on the market.
Biggest Business Mistake
Steel mill supplied falsified documents, selling us improper steel. This caused our steel targets to wear out and become unsafe. We replaced around $60K-$70K targets immediately. This sparked the journey that led us to the material we use today in our AR550 steel systems.
KeystoneCarry
Jared creates his own YouTube channel KEYSTONECARRY to talk about his passion for firearms. A side benefit is it helped supplement his income.
Went to Shows
TA went to nearly one show a month. But that wasn't all happy sunshine and rainbows: At one show TA lost over $40K dollars. We spent over $60K to attend, only sold around $20K in product at the show. It was incredibly disappointing.
11/6/2018
Forging the Journey with Graig Davis
TA Targets First Employee Hire
First employee to be hired without ownership ties. Yes, it took 4 years to be able to hire help.
Rented Office Space
TA Targets moved to an upstairs office and renovated 3 offices for future employees
First Videos on YouTube
TA Targets created our first real product videos, many of which are still live to this day.
Rented a Barn
We rented a barn. No, not to farm. This was to give consistency to TA Videos. We used this barn for dozens of product photo shoots where we took thousands of photos for our site and social channels.
COVID-19
Sales stopped abruptly at the announcement of the shutdowns. Had to find new ways to reach out. Posted encouraging content during the tough time. Refused to mandate vaccines even though as a government contractor we were "required". We told them to pound sand. We'd say the same thing each time.
Exodus Companies
Exodus Companies was created to be the head of all new companies to follow. Jared had a vision to create a collective of companies that could impact several markets, not just steel targets and range training. This vision led to the creation of several different brands at the same time:
NEW Brands
- Landtyrn
- Arkayne Co.
- Exo Overland
Night Vision
TA began to sell night vision with Arkayne.
TA was growing
Year over year TA grew 40%.
More Hires
This caused a team to form for TA and later know as Exodus Companies.
Most Videos Posted
Due to the larger team TA posted the most Youtube videos ever.
Arkayne BOOM
Arkayne Co. sales grew quickly.
Site B
TA first film of Site B, which was used to sell night vision.
TA Targets Gets a New Logo
The old Logo made no sense, so we made one that is more elegant, streamlined, and depicting of the TA legacy.
Fun Fact:
Did you know that "TA Targets" name was basically a bunch of random SEO words? We had NO idea how to name a brand. It stood for "Tactical AR500 Targets, INC." Cheesy, we know.
Exodus Podcast
Created a podcast to grow the culture. Realized that a podcast that featured regular content would be a great avenue to achieve impact. For about a year we posted weekly podcasts along with weekly YouTube videos.
Asked to Move
TA was given 12-months to move from our office & shop space. We had been renting the building, the shop, and much of the equipment we were using to manufactured. The landlord wanted to go a different business direction, and they gave us 12 months to leave. That was a VERY difficult time as it flipped our entire business on its head. This kicked off arguably the most challenging season of TA Targets.
TA Targets Energy
TA began putting MOST of its time into Exodus Companies Brands. As a result, TA Targets as a brand was slowly becoming less and less relevant. We betrayed our original commitment to the brand and got distracted.
Purchased Property
TA Targets purchased a property and started to plan a move. This was a result of our landlord giving us 12 months to find a new home.
WE Moved
After signing a agreement for a warehouse TA moved production. This was a painful process for the entire team.
Key Hires
With TA and Arkayne being the biggest brands team added key Arkayne employees.
Turmoil
TA and Arkayne began to create tension due to businesses future plans, disagreements on the direction of the company, and generally what the future of the business looked like.
Company Visions
TA and Arkayne visions slowly became different. It was clear that between the three owners, there were three different ideas of where the companies should go.
Owners Seperation
Jared and other owners began planning on separating TA and Arkayne in December of 2024.
TA New Vision
"Inspiring individuals to become capable providers and protectors"
The Split
In April of 2025, TA Targets and Arkayne Co separated ways, as did the three partners. In turn, this made Jared the sole owner of TA Targets. Jared sold his equity in the Exodus Property Holdings , LLC, transferred all rights of Arkayne to his partners, and purchased the office location that the TA marketing, CS, and systems teams reside in.
Focusing on TA
The team agreed to focus on TA Targets, discontinuing Exodus Companies. The vision lives on, but the Exodus is over. We do not fully understand God's plan in all this story, but we do know he is sovereign and in control.
The Vision Onward:
TA Targets exists to pour into our communities. We realized that we will do that in the following ways:
Expand our Media Reach
Dive deeper into topics that matter and build a network of creators that are doing the same.
Refine yet expand our product lineup
Continue to invest in and redefine what makes a quality steel target system. Continue to provide solutions for all styles of training.
Think big, think forward
Expand this vision forward by dreaming big, laying the foundation for the next owners in the future to carry onward.
Become physically present in our community
Be intentional about being present in our community, using what God has blessed us with to bless others.
Jared Creates Tereo Capital, LLC.
Tereo [Pronounced: 'TAY-RAY-OH'] is a Greek work that means "To keep (preserve), to guard, and observe." In Psalm 16 David's first words are "Preserve me, Oh Lord". These words were Jared's inspiration for the naming of Tereo Capital. It is our desire to steward our resources with intentionality, continually building them to be able to change the lives of many.
The Future of Tereo and impact on TA Targets
We are not sure at this moment what God's plan for Tereo Capital is. We are praying diligently that he guides us and builds it into whatever offers the most help to our world, our team, and our community.
One is Better than Zero
Going back to that initial note that Jared wrote to himself in 2017, we will continue to come back daily with this desire to learn, to grow, and to honor God's will for our lives. When we don't know what is next, we stay true to the "One is better than zero" mentality. Because something is better than nothing. Onward:
- For His Glory
- By His Grace
- At His Will