What do you like to do after work?

Well, it’s pretty busy at home! Robert and I have two kids; Lucas is 16 and working on his Eagle Scout designation, and Olyvia is 10 and loves gymnastics and horseback riding. We also have 60 laying hens, 4 goats and 2 bulls that are one year old and think they are 800 pound goats. Robert’s a mechanic and this has been a hobby for him that I’ve adapted to! And we have 3 golden retrievers and 3 cats. So, it’s never dull, and there’s nothing like fresh eggs!

When we get a chance, I love to go hiking in the mountains. There are some beautiful trails with waterfalls near Hendersonville, and we also like Linville Falls. I’m not really a beach girl, I’d much rather be walking in the woods, it’s my happy place.

Robert likes up and coming country artists, and we saw Wyatt Putman three years ago and started following him. His wife, Kara, breeds golden retrievers, and we got our Penelope from her. We became friends and helped him put on his first music festival in Hope, Arkansas last October, that was so much fun! In May we’ll take the kids to Little Rock for his album release party.

I understand you served in the Coast Guard?

Yes, after graduating high school I joined the Coast Guard, in search and rescue and law enforcement. I really enjoyed helping people, getting them to safety and just making sure they were going to be OK. I was stationed on Oak Island for three major events, though. The first one was the engine room fire on the USS Edward Carter, an ammunition ship berthed at Sunny Point that took the life of two crew. The second was 9/11 with heightened homeland security. The third was when the Oak Island Coast Guard Station burned down — I was the one that called that one in.