In her other life she’s known as Kathy Laughlin, but the cowgirl life was in her blood. Her father Chuck  was a cowboy and owner of a working ranch in Cody, Wyoming. Nevertheless, it was a struggle for her favorite cowboy and husband Barrel Head, SASS #21205, to convince her to come and watch a local CAS shooting match. In fact it took about six months. But when she finally gave in and watched a match in 1998 and the first person she saw was someone dressed as Zorro, she was hooked.

     Kate started to go to the local range to practice shooting with Barrel Head but it took her many months before she got the confidence to actually shoot at a match. Her worries were all for nothing though. All the cowboys were perfect gentlemen and so anxious to help her and show her the finer points of shooting.

     Next was the problem of what to wear. She didn’t want to wear working cowboy clothes all the time and she couldn’t sew. But within months she met Tornado Alli, Fannie Kikinshoot and Sly at local matches in NC. They became good friends and they convinced her she could learn to sew.  Now the sky was the limit!

     Just this past year she met Pretty Mean Shawme at Mule Camp in GA and they hit it off immediately.  She could sew, loved everything Victorian and could even shoot!  She had already met Fannie and Alli at the Vegas Convention 2004 and had been corresponding with them often.  When Sly had to leave the Belles due to family commitments we thought Shawme would be the  perfect person to fill the spot!!

     Kate really enjoys shooting with her husband and friends. She placed third, Ladies Traditional, at the North Carolina State Championship in 1999 soon after she started shooting. Then she placed ninth Ladies Traditional at the Northeast Regional, Shootout at Susquehanna 2002.  In 2003 she placed first Lady 49rs at the Givhans Ferry, SC State match. She often wins in the 49r category at many of her local clubs and has also won several local costume contests. 

     At home in Statesville, NC she has raised two daughters and now is a grandmother of 2 babies.  Kate enjoys reading anything she can get her hands on about women’s dress of the Victorian era and especially about women of the old west; their struggles and successes and their incredible bravery.

     Kate feels very fortunate for having met so many great people in CAS and having formed many wonderful and lasting friendships. Some of her favorite times are spent with her cowgirl friends, Pretty Mean Shawme, Fannie Kikinshoot and Tornado Alli….just shooting, sewing and traveling with them all around the country.