Champion Archer, Award-Winning Chef, Pro Cheerleader
Buffalo Jill Laura Breaks Cheerleading Stereotype
Laura started dancing in Salt Lake City around the age of five and she favors any modern style of dance. She had always wanted to be a cheerleader but always “chickened out” at tryouts at the last minute. Sports always came very easy to her. In high school and college (at Snow College in Utah and Northern State University in South Dakota) she played centerfield on her softball team. She says it consumed her life and she lived for it, so that’s what she stuck with.
Laura’s a huge football fan, and loves charity work. The Jills are very involved in the community and that really impressed her. So she decided to try out for the Jills. What she did not expect to love all the girls and be as close to them as she is.
“They inspire me everyday”, said Laura. “We’re an elite group of young ladies. We are educated, love football, love each other and truly feel a special bond with our community.”
Part of the Jills community and charity work involves visits to overseas US military troops. In February Laura was part of a group of Jills who were scheduled to visit Afghanistan. A plane crash landing on the runway in Bagram Air Force Base. It took a few days to complete the investigation, remove the plane and repair the runway. By the time all of that was completed, there wasn’t enough time for the Jills to complete their trip to Afghanistan.
Laura and the rest of The Jills stayed at a base in Qatar, where they watched the Super Bowl with the troops (kickoff was at 3am!) and signed pictures and calendars.
“It was great to hang out with all of them. Not to mention a very exciting game,” Laura said. “Anytime I have visited our troops, wherever they may be, they are Always so gracious. They were very happy to have us there. They love it when people visit them. I’m sure its like a having a piece of home.”
Champion Archer
Laura had been interested in archery for many years but never knew where to start. Four years ago someone suggested that she stop by a range in town and try one of the their bows. She did, and one week later bought a bow of her own. Three months later she placed 2nd at the IBO Indoor World Championship. She quickly became addicted and enjoys shooting everyday.
Since then she has won many competitions including the PA and NY State Championships, Winter Nationals, ASA Paris Texas ProAm, and the First Leg of the National Triple Crown in Bedford, Indiana.
Her bows range in weight from three and one half to six pounds, but the draw weight varies on the circumstances. When she shoots spot she’ll usually pull a 40# (40 lbs.) For outdoor and field archery tournaments she’ll raise to 56# and when Laura hunts she turns it up all the way to 60#.
This past year Laura took up bow-hunting. So far she has hunted whitetail deer and hogs, but she has plans hunt turkey, elk, mule deer, goats and caribou.
Award-Winning Chef
The Food Network is one of Laura’s favorite channels. The network had featured The Crisco National Pie Championship on several occasions. While it took her two years “to get the guts to enter,” Laura did give it shot. She developed three recipes. Her Ultimate Peanut Butter Pie won first place and her Dulce De-Leche Cream Pie won second. Laura says she was completely shocked at her success having never entered any sort of baking/cooking competition before.
She loves to bake cookies and bread, and enjoys creating new recipes. Right now she’s experimenting with Indian Food.
And if archery, bow hunting, cooking and the Jills weren’t enough, her other hobbies include water skiing, camping, boating and fly fishing. Laura says that fly fishing is something she could do everyday. When she lived in Utah she kept all her gear in her jeep and fished four-to-five times a week.
So what’s next for Laura? She’s back for her third season with the Jills. She’d love to a write cookbook or be involved with a cooking show. Hosting a hunting/fishing show is something else she’s quite interested in.
