by Dan Simmons
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It’s the season of receiving and giving of gifts and my good friend Lanny Barnes is a perfect example of the season. You’ve previously met her in this column as we celebrated her and her twin sister Tracy’s achievement as Olympic Biathlon champions and their taking a “last minute” Elk for Lanny’s wedding banquet. She also holds the position of Chief Experience and Competition Officer at the recently opened PrairieFire shooting facility in Pahrump, Nevada which is near Las Vegas and is much more than a shooting/training range. We’ll follow Lanny’s trail as her story and adventures continue.
Most recently Lanny won the International Practical Shooting Council (IPSC) World Championship, Shotgun Action Shooting competition held in Thailand, with 600 competitors from 47 countries. She received the well-earned gift of a gold medal and, like most gifts, it was a reward for outstanding achievement and didn’t come easy. It required talent and years of training.
It took several days of air travel to Bangkok, Thailand including her Thai specialized shotgun permit delays. Upon her arrival things went smoother for Lanny and her American teammates as they were welcomed and taken to their lodging near the competition site. She was ready and excited to begin as she prepared for the coming days.
It was a challenging start, but improved with each round, she “kept her head straight, focused and had fun” as adrenalin flowed while shooting in the rain, with 100 deg. temperatures. Her visualization training and ability led to a remarkable finishing round that gave her the victory. The closing ceremonies were followed closely throughout the world and reminded her of the 2014 Olympic ceremony where she also represented her Country, Flag and National Anthem. The adventure following her victory included, of course, some great beach time, riding on an elephant, exotic food, visiting marketplaces and making new friends.
Lanny had previously won the National Shotgun Championship in Minnesota and competed in the 2018 World Championships, finishing fourth as well as competing in the rifle and pistol championships. So what’s next? Lanny is looking forward to the International Rifle Championships in Finland this summer as the IPSC hopes to add these to the Olympic Competitions in 2028.
Lanny has received many other natural gifts as she is also an acclaimed artist, plays the violin, is a hunting-dog trainer, Celebrity Chef and recognized conservationist and hunter. Perhaps her greatest gift, however, is her kind and giving heart.
I must admit that I have also received many gifts, usually not earned, but appreciated; having Lanny as an outdoor and hunting friend is one of the best. I’ve even been invited and look forward to joining her team at the next international competition.
For more on this remarkable lady Google her at Lanny Barnes/PrairieFire
Jason’s Golden Pheasant
Here’s one for Lanny, from the Sportsman’s Quest Cookbook, following a great hunt with her well trained hunting-dogs. She may even want to try it as one of her Celebrity Chef demonstrations. Jason Bedard, a well known Las Vegas chef, prepared this for us following a successful Arizona border outing.
Ingredients:
- 2 or 3 pheasant, cut in halves
- 1 jar of peach preserves (18 oz)
- 1 cup white wine; 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 jalapeño pepper, minced
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tsp seasoned salt
- 2 tsp white pepper
Directions:
- Rub pheasant with seasoned salt and pepper, place in roasting pan;
- combine peach preserves, wine, garlic cloves, jalapeño, and butter in a small saucepan and bring to a boil;
- pour mixture over pheasant, cover and roast at 350 degrees for 1 hour;
- remove cover, roast for another 15 minutes until golden in color
“A Season of Gifts and a New World Champion” first appeared in the Las Vegas Review Journal’s Pahrump Valley Times