Our people: Home on the range

My name is Sara Williams. I grew up in a smaller town than Clovis in Connecticut and decided I wanted to see what is out there, so my twin brother and I both went to the Carolina's for college and became the Carolina Twins. While I was teacher in Charleston, South Carolina, I met my Air Force husband and we received orders to Clovis. We came to Clovis with our four beautiful children and I got a job teaching at Barry Elementary for four years in fifth grade and then applied to be the school liaison officer here at Cannon Air Force Base. We have rooted ourselves here for the past seven years and love this area and people so much that when my husband got out of the Air Force, we decided to stay permanently.

Tell us about your pets:

My family and I have begun a family ranch in Clovis called the Williams Family Livestock Ranch. We currently have close to 100 chickens, ducks and turkeys, a hog, a pot belly pig, four sheep and four newly born sheep this year, 10 goats and three brand new baby goat born in the past week, as well as two horses, five dogs and five cats. We are big animals lovers and our children want to start showing livestock in the fairs.

How did you meet your spouse?

I met my spouse on Match.com while he was deployed, when we actually lived only two miles from one another. We were both going through a rough time in our lives and were able to make that connection with one another. I said I would never date a man shorter than me, younger than me or in the military. Apparently that triple threat was what was best for me! We went on a date and, at the time, I already had three children and had to bring my son with me. He was one year old and a terror, but my future husband ignored me the whole time and played with my son. Therefore, he got a second date, and we have been together since! Five years into the marriage, my husband had the opportunity to adopt my children and we all become the Williams family.

If money were no object, what would you do to make eastern New Mexico a better place?

I would adopt all the children and animals who need a loving mother to take care of them and provide a safe and healthy environment for them. I would also advocate for changes we could make so our youth know and understand just how important they are and how their possibilities are endless.

What's an accomplishment you're proud of?

My most recent accomplishment is winning the A1 Award for Air Force Special Operations Command. We at Cannon are doing so many things within the schools and communities for our children, and it is an honor to be awarded for those amazing programs. It makes me realize that the work we're doing is worth it and is rewarding to receive validation that others believe it too.

What do you hope your life will be like in 10 years?

My dream in 10 years is to have children who are happy, healthy, successful and doing wonderfully. I also would love to make a difference in our community and with our youth. I would love to be that inspirational person parents can come to when they need something, and the mentor figure students come to when they want to get more involved. I feel there are so many opportunities here in Clovis, and our youth need to realize this and be the generation that stands up and advocates for that.

- Compiled by Staff Writer Jamie Cushman