Too Much Work ... And Everything Else I Am Looking Forward to This Year!

“So much time and so little to do. Wait a minute. Strike that. Reverse it.” Today, trying to set goals and plan my calendar for 2020, I feel just like that comment from the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. I mean work (earning a paycheck) is seriously getting in the way of everything I want to do this year. All the places I want to go. All the things I want to experience. All the memories I want to make. How is that in the first week of January I am already having to say “maybe I can do that next year”?

In 2020, I know that I will remain active in many of the same ways that I did in 2019, but I fear that I fell short in many ways and hope to remedy that this year. I am looking to all of you to help me make sure that I am not missing all of the fun and important things going on this year. Here are a few of the things I have on my calendar and am looking forward to this year:

• A Girl & A Gun National Conference – Conference this year will be in Grand Junction, Colorado, from April 30-May 3. This has been one of the highlights of my year since joining AG & AG in 2017. The training offered to A Girl & A Gun facilitators and members is exceptional. The instructor line up is one you don’t find anywhere else and each year I’ve made friends and shared experiences with ladies from all over that continue to prove that AG & AG is a sisterhood and it is “more than shooting”! Head on over to agirlandagun.org to find out how you can join!

• The DC Project – The DC Project is an educational, nonpartisan initiative that brings women, at least one from each state, to Washington DC to establish relationships with the legislators and reveal the faces and stories of firearms owners and 2nd Amendment supporters. Our trip this year is scheduled for June 9-12, and with all of the gun grabbing, ERPOs and “gun control” nonsense going on this year’s trip will be extremely important! I am looking forward to leading another group of women in meetings with our legislators to discuss important facts and realities related to the 2nd Amendment and firearms!

• Speaking of the DC Project, this year we are expanding to the state level as well and though the date is ‘To Be Determined’ I am looking forward to our first annual trip to the Nebraska State Capitol! The group of women already stepping up in Nebraska is amazing! Stay tuned for updates!

• To find out how you can become involved or support this great Foundation go to dcproject.info.

• CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) – Taking place in Washington DC, February 26th-29th, this promises to be an interesting, informational and educational experience. I’ve never been before! According to CPAC’s website, “the Conservative Political Action Conference” is the largest and most influential gathering of conservatives in the world.” Check out CPAC.conservative.org for more information.

• Sig Sauer Instructor Training – Thanks to the awesome Executive Team at A Girl & A Gun (aka Julianna, Robyn & Tatiana), facilitators were able to sign up late last year for this incredible opportunity. This is super exciting for me because I’m a little partial to Sig Sauer and because their reputation for training is excellent! I’m looking forward to attending and then utilizing all of the information and skills received to take the courses I teach to the next level. A few days in New Hampshire in October cannot get here quick enough!

• Regular monthly courses through our firearms instruction company DefComp – This is one of the areas I feel that I fell short in last year. Sometimes life just gets in the way but I really enjoy teaching and I have missed being in the classroom and on the range with new shooters. We are starting the year off with rapidly filling Beginner and Concealed Handgun and courses! Seeing the deer-in-headlights look disappear and change to a look of confidence by the end of the course is one of the best rewards and one I hope to see a lot of this year. If you are near Western Nebraska or Eastern Wyoming, check out our course lineup at defcompUSA.com.

• The DC Project 2-Man 3-Gun Match – I need your ideas for costumes! This year’s match is at Reveille Peak Ranch in Burnet, Texas, from October 30th-November 1st. This is a fundraiser for The DC Project Foundation but is also a challenging and fun match! My rifle was having some warranty work done while I was at last year’s match and I won a HIPERFIRE upgrade package (trigger, compensator, safety selector and grip) at last year’s match! I installed all of these upgrades all by myself when I got my rifle back and it has been performing better than any rifle I’ve ever owned! HIPERFIRE sponsored the match and I know each and every member of The DC Project appreciated the support!

• Zombies in the Heartland – Zombies was the very first 3-gun match I ever shot in. That was in 2017! I believe this year’s match will be May 29th-31st at the Heartland Public Shooting Park in Grand Island, Nebraska. This is also something I missed last year but won’t let happen again this year. The team that puts these stages together always does an incredible job. Each year I am surprised at the level of skill required on the stages but also the cool stage designs!

• A Girl & A Gun Fall Fest – I was extremely disappointed to miss this match last year but have it back on my calendar for fall of 2020. This match takes places at Rockcastle in Park City, Kentucky, and will be October 6th-11th this year. This is a women’s only match and these ladies love each other, cheer each other on and lift each other up. Each squad has a pro-shooter on their squad and the pro is there to help and coach each lady on the squad. I find it hard to believe that you could ever find another match like it.

• Micah’s Memorial 3-Man 3-Gun Match – This year’s match will be the 5th annual and is a memorial for Cindy Coker’s son, Micah. The funds raised from this match are given to the Donor Alliance and go to support organ donation and transplantation. The match will take place on June 28th in Briggsdale, Colorado, through NoCo Shooting Sports 3-Gun club. This is a must attend match … it supports a great cause … what more could you ask?!

• Personal Protection Expo & Concealed Carry Fashion Show – I’ve decided to tackle putting on an expo and concealed carry fashion show this year. I want to provide our community and region with something we don’t often get to experience. I am working on recruiting vendors who will help me create this one-stop shop for all of your personal protection needs, whether you carry a firearm or a less lethal option. Everything you could need when it comes to personal protection will be on hand, and there will be mini-seminars and educational opportunities available too! I am really looking forward to the Concealed Carry Fashion Show which will be included as part of the expo. My goal with this show is to demonstrate that you can safely and fashionably carry concealed no matter what type of clothing you wear or what body type you have. Stay tuned to defcompUSA.com and @DefCompUSA on Facebook for updates – date announcement coming soon!

Well there you have it … a few of the things I am looking forward to in 2020! What is missing from my lineup? What do you have planned for 2020? Whatever it is and wherever you go, have fun, be safe and I hope to see you on the range!

Now ... back to work!

~Stephanie

P.S. I would also love to take a relaxing vacation with Lanny at some point ... If you have good deals or ideas for this I'll take those as well!