Lori Jean Otter, First Lady of Idaho, was born in Pensacola, Florida. When her father retired from the Navy, the family moved to Twin Falls, Idaho, overseeing a family farm. The youngest of four children and the only girl, the future first lady became active in 4-H and FFA, taking horse, sheep and pig projects to the Twin Falls County Fair. After graduating from Kimberly High School, she earned an associates degree in English literature from the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls, and a bachelor of science degree in education and physical education from Boise State University.

Mrs. Otter is a former teacher of physical education and health, as well as an administrator, in the Meridian School District, where she also coached basketball and volleyball at the elementary, middle and high school levels for 12 years. During that time, she pursued and completed a master’s degree at Northwest Nazarene University in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis on educational leadership.

The first lady is a board member of St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center Foundation, the Treasure Valley Reading Foundation, and Idaho Governor’s Cup, and serves as Summer Reading Ambassador for the Idaho Association of Libraries. She has collaborated with Boise State University to design and write a children’s book, “Ida Tours the Capitol,” designed to educate fourth graders about Idaho history. She serves with Governor Otter on the Idaho Meth Project Advisory Council and has worked to promote and launch the Idaho Meth Project, a campaign designed to reduce the first-time use of methamphetamines by youth in Idaho. Recently, she was appointed to the Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free Foundation.

Mrs. Otter has completed three marathons and remains committed to health and physical fitness. She is an avid horseback rider and rodeo fan, raising and training horses on the Otters’ ranch in Star, Idaho. The first lady has five stepchildren and four grandchildren.