Laura Johns moved to Summit County from Delta Junction, Alaska, in 1999 after saying goodbye to her youngest daughter. While living in Alaska, she raised three girls along with many horses and other farm animals, and she helped establish Alaska’s first United States Pony Club, The Great Alaskan Pony Club.

Now, 26 years later, Laura has six grandchildren spread across the West, which keeps her frequently on the move. In 2022, she retired from teaching science and math at Summit County High School. Since retiring, she has spent much of her time visiting her daughters, who live in Denver, Park City, Utah, and Spring Creek, Nevada. She also returns to Alaska each summer with her middle daughter, Hillary, and her family. Laura has maintained her cabin in the woods, where she enjoys the beauty of Alaska summers with her two youngest grandchildren.

In the spring of 2026, Laura was invited to join the board of directors of Summit Valley Horse Rescue. She is excited to support the organization’s mission, embracing the belief: helping people helping horses helping people.