LEADERSHIP STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Learn more about Cindy Minor

We asked Cindy Minor a few fun questions. Leadership Staff Spotlight is designed to help you get to know our awesome team of Leadership Staff a little better. Cindy lives in Oklahoma and is and an avid competitive archer.

Are you a competitive shooter? Yes, I’ve competed in various archery competitions since 2012.

What types of matches / shoots do you participate in? My favorite is the outdoor 3D shoots because of the challenges (wind, shadows, terrain, weather, etc.). I also shoot some indoor during the winter to try to keep up my form and muscle memory.

What types of firearms / archery do you shoot competitively? I shoot a compound bow…tried a recurve once and I swear the foam animals laughed at me! I have a ton of respect for those that can accurately shoot a recurve or long bow! I’m going to stick to my training wheels (compound).

If you could only shoot one type of competition what would it be? 3D for sure. My all time favorite part is the people, they have all become our archery family!

How did you get involved with competitive shooting? Our son, Seth, started shooting when he was 9 (almost 12 years ago). Then as our daughter, Cassie, grew big enough to pull a bow back she began competing (Cassie is also on the SLG staff!), so my husband and I decided if we were going to travel to all these competitions, we might as well look into competing too (also because doing archery is a lot more fun than watching archery). Apparently the good Lord agreed because He aligned the stars for us. I was so fortunate that a bow was donated to me, completely set up, thanks to a wonderful man I nicknamed Santa. Our son won a bow that was too much poundage for him at the time, but perfect for my husband. So we figured it was meant to be and we’ve paid it forward every chance we get since then!

How long have you been shooting competitively? 5-1/2 yrs (wow, time has flown!)

What shooting skill would you like to master? I need to work on holding steady and achieving the same anchor point every time with my release. I’d like to be able to make podium next year and win out of my class (Women’s Known 40). 

What’s your biggest shooting challenge? Making time for it. 

What would be the most amazing competitive stage that is still on your bucket list? Winning a national championship!

What’s the hardest lesson you’ve learned? When you start to get tired, STOP shooting. After shooting 40 targets at a fun shoot, I decided to go through one more time with other friends that had arrived. It was hot that day and I was already tired. I swore I had knocked an arrow, but I had not and I dry fired my bow. If you have never dry fired a bow, it sounds like a gun going off and the string hits your arm HARD causing your heart to jump to your stomach and nearly wet your pants! DON’T SHOOT WHEN YOU ARE TIRED (and never pull a bow back without an arrow knocked).

What could you give a 40-minute presentation on with absolutely no preparation? The safety steps of archery and checking your equipment every time before shooting. 

NON – SHOOTING RELATED 

What do you like most about the SLG shooting trailer? It provides a feeling of a safe and secure area for women to learn without judgement.

If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time? Shoot my bow of course!

What hobby would you get into if time and money weren’t an issue? Travel to more archery competitions and hunting expeditions

What non-shooting related skill would you like to master? Building flower beds that thrive

What non-shooting related .. do you wish you knew more about? History (love museums)

What are you interested in that most people haven’t heard of? I help bag food for the school backpack program so children have food on the weekends during the school years.

What’s the farthest you’ve ever been from home? Maryland

Where do you usually go when you when you have time off? To archery competitions

Who inspires you to be better? My husband, Doug. He’s my major support system that encourages me, picks me up when I’m down, and reminds me to live life to it’s fullest. 

What are three interesting facts about you? I have a Masters in Engineering, I make puff quilts and T-shirt blankets, and I mentor women in leadership and young ladies working for their engineering degrees.

What is your biggest fear? STORMS! I’ve had 3 homes hit by lightening and 2 homes that had tornadoes go over them with minimal damage. 

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Seafood!

List two pet peeves – Negative and degrading people and littering

Which of the five senses would you say is your strongest? Hearing

One thing that not a lot of people know you love to do? Randomly secretly pay for a meal, especially for elderly and veterans. 

Mountains or Beach? Mountains

Anything else you would like to add? A few things I try to live by daily:

• Always set goals for yourself and make a plan to achieve them. If you set goals without a plan to achieve them, they will never be met. 

• Accept failure as it means you were willing to take a risk and learn. Failure is just a stepping stone to major success. 

• Lead by example.

• Everything happens for a reason and it’s not for us to question…it’s always part of His plan for you! 

• Live life to it’s fullest without regret. 

God bless you all!