Kiski Area lunch lady competes as 'gunslinger' in Wild West-style shooting competitions

Amy Anderson is a gunslinger with a wild hobby.

Anderson, 66, of Washington Township might sling hash in the cafeteria at Kiski Area South Primary School, but in her downtime she slings guns — competing nationwide in Western-style shooting competitions.

Anderson and her husband, Dan, 69, are members of SASS, the Single Action Shooting Society, an international organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the sport of cowboy action shooting.

The couple said after their two children moved out, they were looking for a new activity as empty-nesters.

A friend left a SASS brochure in their mailbox, and they decided to join in 2008.

The couple has traveled all over the country, including trips out west to Arizona and Wyoming, to compete.

Cowboy action shooting was created in 1981 by Harper Creigh, aka Judge Roy Bean, after watching old Westerns on television.

The format brings shooters together to promote the days of the Wild West; there are more than 97,000 SASS members worldwide.

Anderson knows how to sew and initially made her 1850s era-style clothing to wear at competitions.

“I started out making my outfits, because it’s hard to find that period around here,” Anderson said. “But, now, I usually buy clothing at competitions.”

Dan Anderson said they went a bit conservative in choosing their Western attire.

“We both just dress cowboyish — not too fancy,” Dan Anderson said.

Amy Anderson said an affinity for the Wild West is a common thread shared by members.

“The people are friendly and just great to be around,” she said.

“We drive, fly, RV — we do it all.”

Participants shoot replicas of 1800s firearms. Competition consists of timed courses, metal targets and different scenarios.

Anderson said the most expensive part of her hobby is the guns, followed by travel expenses.

She has four: two single-action revolvers, a 20-gauge shotgun and a .38-caliber lever action rifle.

She said the biggest challenges are remembering the scenarios.

“You have stages. You do six stages and there’s a story, setting, and you have a line to say,” Anderson said.

Seasoned shooter

“I first started shooting with the Kiski rifle team when I was 16,” said Anderson, a Kiski Area High School graduate. “I go hunting — deer hunting. I’ve been around them (guns) a while.”

Today, Anderson works part time in the Kiski South Area Primary School cafeteria.

SASS requires members to register a shooting alias appropriate to a character from the late 19th century.

Anderson’s alias, “Dusty Lady,” was chosen in conjunction with her husband’s character name, “Dirt Slider.”

“My husband is Dirt Slider because he runs heavy equipment. And I thought if I was following him around and not shooting, I was a dusty lady,” Anderson said.

She said she’s not hanging up her holster anytime soon.

“No plans to do that,” Anderson said. “It gives me a chance to meet new people.”