Gun Owners of Arkansas is pleased to announce our First Annual Fundraiser.
Saturday, February 15, 2025 at 1:00 pm
We’re excited to invite you to Gun Owners of Arkansas’ First Annual Fundraiser. We have been very successful over the years with minimal funding fighting and winning in the battle to retain and regain our inalienable rights in Arkansas. It’s a never-ending battle and now the ATF is making it difficult to be a law-abiding gun owner more than ever. Come join us for a fun time raising money to push back at those trying to disarm us.
Please join us for our First Annual GO-AR Fundraising Event, devoted to helping the 4 H Shooting Sports in Arkansas.
RSVP at the bottom of the page.
Congressman Clay Higgins will be our featured Guest Speaker.
Congressman Clay Higgins represents Louisiana’s 3rd District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Before his election to public office, Higgins spent much of his career dedicated to uniformed service. He is an Army Veteran and law enforcement officer, maintaining an active commission and Louisiana State POST Certification.
Congressman Higgins is widely regarded as one of the most conservative members of Congress and is a core member of the House Freedom Caucus. He serves on the House Homeland Security Committee and as Chairman of the Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee. Congressman Higgins also serves as a senior member on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, where he is investigating corruption at the highest levels of government. Additionally, Congressman Higgins is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, serving on the Seapower and Projection Force Subcommittee.
Congressman Bruce Westerman, special guest speaker.
Deep-rooted in Arkansas, Bruce Westerman was born and raised in Garland County. He graduated from Fountain Lake High School in Hot Springs before attending the University of Arkansas where he played football for the Razorbacks.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological and Agricultural Engineering, he received his Master’s degree in forestry from Yale University. For more than 22 years, Bruce worked in engineering and forestry at Mid-South Engineering in Hot Springs. Developing a passion for public service, Bruce served as a board member on the Fountain Lake School District. That dedication to public service grew, and in 2010, he was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives. In 2012, Bruce was elected by his peers as the House Minority Leader, and in 2013 he became the first Republican House Majority Leader since Reconstruction. In the Arkansas legislature, Bruce championed conservative
principles: lower taxes, limited government, and strong family values. When the 4th Congressional District seat opened up in late 2013, Bruce was encouraged to take his conservative leadership to Congress. He won single-handedly, defeating both primary and general election opponents. In Washington, Congressman Westerman is Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, and also serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Bruce continues to call Hot Springs home. He is married to Sharon Westerman and they have four children. They are members of Walnut Valley Baptist Church where Bruce is a deacon and teaches Sunday school. Besides spending time serving his family and the people of the 4th District of Arkansas, Bruce loves spending time hunting and fishing, especially on Lake Ouachita
Governor Mike Huckabee
Mike Huckabee is the host of the TV show “Huckabee” on TBN each weekend and is a Fox News contributor, NY Times best-selling author of 14 books, and a frequent speaker for corporate, civic, and non-profit groups all over the world.
He was the 44th Governor of Arkansas from 1996 until 2007, becoming one of the longest serving Governors in his state’s history. He left a legacy of tax cuts, job creation, the reconstruction of his state’s road system, K-16 education reform, and a nationally heralded and duplicated health initiative that focused on prevention. His administration fought long-standing
corruption in the state’s political machine, resulting in numerous indictments and convictions of powerful legislators and other elected officials. In 2008 and 2016, he ran for President of the United States, finishing 2nd in the Republican primary in 2008.
Governing Magazine named him as one of its “Public Officials of the Year” for 2005, and Time Magazine honored him as one of the five best governors in America. He served as the Chairman of the prestigious National Governors Association as well as the Education Commission of the States, the Southern Governors Association, and the Interstate Oil and Gas Commission. He has been nationally recognized for his advocacy of the arts in education and raises money to provide
musical instruments for children.
Huckabee, an avid musician since age 11, is a bass player and often joins guest artists on his weekly television show, having played with Willie Nelson, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Toby Keith, the late George Jones, and many others. His hobbies include hunting, fishing, and music. He was named one of the “25 Most Influential People” for Conservation by Outdoor Life Magazine, and was named “Man of the Year” by the American Sportfishing Association in 1997. He is on the board of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and is owner of radio stations in Arkansas, Texas, and Missouri.
The former governor and his wife, Janet, live in Arkansas and have three grown children – John Mark Huckabee, David Huckabee and his wife, Lauren, and Sarah Sanders and her husband, Bryan – and seven grandchildren.
Commissioner of State Lands, Tommy Land, Guest Speaker.
In 2018, Tommy was elected to his first term in office. Commissioner Land now devotes his full attention to his duties as Commissioner of State Lands.
As Commissioner of State Lands, he is chair of the Arkansas Natural Resources Committee, a member of the National Association of State Trust Lands, and the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council. His staff of forty takes pride in hard work and attention to detail.
Gun Owners of America, Director of State and Local Affairs, Chris Stone, Guest Speaker.
Chris Stone is the Director of State and Local affairs, managing all of GOA’s state and regional directors. Chris is responsible for the training and development of staff and oversees all of the operations for GOA’s state lobbying initiatives.
After graduating from George Mason University with a degree in Government and International Politics, Chris worked for a Member of the U.S House of Representatives before moving to the public policy side of the financial services industry. During the 2012-2013 gun control push by then President Obama, Chris was hired by Gun Owners of America as the Director of Federal Affairs – successfully lobbying against the Toomey-Manchin gun package and spent three years lobbying for GOA on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
In 2016, Chris left GOA to continue working in the firearms industry, holding various roles as a registered lobbyist and communications director advocating for the right to keep and bear arms nationwide. He has over a decade of experience lobbying in Congress and in more than 15 state legislatures. In 2023, Chris was re-hired by GOA to manage the State and Local Affairs team.
Chris is an avid sports and outdoors enthusiast, spending most of his time outdoors with his wife and their two children.
Susanna Watt
Susanna Watt is a dynamic contract lobbyist and the founder of Anchor Strategies, a firm she established in March 2024. With a strong background in public policy and legislative advocacy, she is known for her expertise in navigating the intricacies of government relations, particularly in Arkansas. Susanna’s career path has been shaped by her early involvement in politics, including internships with the Arkansas House of Representatives and the Governor’s Office.
A Navy veteran, Susanna’s resilience and determination have been central to her success, both in her professional life and her personal journey. After being medically discharged from the Navy due to injuries sustained in the line of duty, she returned to Arkansas, where she quickly immersed herself in education and community involvement. Her experiences have made her passionate about giving back, particularly in supporting survivors of domestic violence through her work with Women’s Own Worth, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping victims of violent crimes.
Susanna’s advocacy efforts extend beyond her lobbying firm. She is deeply involved in legislative initiatives, such as those related to the film industry and tire waste conversion. She also organizes events and fundraisers for various causes, demonstrating her commitment to making a positive impact on her community.
Outside of her professional life, Susanna is a devoted mother of two, balancing her career with her family life. She enjoys singing, swimming, and staying active, and is always looking for ways to expand her horizons, whether through new hobbies like hiking or planning exciting trips, such as her upcoming mother-daughter trip to Europe.
Susanna’s dedication to her clients, her community, and her family defines her as a leader and a role model in both her personal and professional circles.
Jaime Land, Master of Ceremony
Jaime Land is Director of Public Relations for Secretary of State, John Thurston and will MC our first annual fundraiser.
Guest speakers, sponsors and prize items will be updated as we go forward.
This will be a dynamic event like no other with some awesome prizes and auction items to boot. Meal will be included with advanced ticket purchase. Watch for more details as we get closer to the event date.
Please join us for our First Annual GO-AR Fundraising Event, devoted to helping the 4 H Shooting Sports in Arkansas.
For a list of Sponsors, door prizes and auction items, visit our sponsor page.
The event will take place at The Vines Center (also known as the Arkansas 4-H Center). It is nestled in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains just 10 miles west of Little Rock.
Saturday, February 15, 2025 at 1:00 pm