They nurture us, challenge us and guide us. They show us strength when it matters most, teach us gratitude and instill balance. We want to extend a thank you to all moms for fostering the spirit of the next generation. It’s because of your dedication that the world and wild things can thrive.
These stories highlight the powerful role mothers play in shaping values through outdoor experiences—teaching resilience, confidence, and a lasting connection to nature while creating meaningful family bonds.
Key takeaways:
Moms deserve recognition. And every year, when Mother’s Day arrives in May, there’s no better time to reflect on what they’ve taught us along the way. Through shared experiences and leading by example, mothers pass down values that shape who we become.
For many SITKA Ambassadors, their hunting stories begin with Mom paving the way through her own courage and love for the outdoors. It’s out there that lessons take root, building resilience, confidence, and the kind of life skills that last a lifetime.
Nichole Potter
Nicole spending time with her son and daughter.
"I grew up spending most weekends outdoors with my family hiking, camping, or at the beach. We always lived in a house with a garden, and sometimes we raised chickens. When I got my driver’s license and became more independent, I continued spending weekends hiking or backpacking with friends. It became a big part of who I am.
When I met my husband, he had a similar story. Both my parents and his parents grew up the same way and passed their enthusiasm for the outdoors on to us. I’m sure it goes back even further.
When you have kids, you can’t wait to share and teach them all the things you love and are passionate about. Deep down, you hope they’ll love those things too. When you really think about it, it’s an honor to pass down something that connects us to where we came from. Long before we lived in houses, humans lived in shelters, fished, gathered, and hunted for our food. That instinct is in all of us, but over time it gets lost amid the conveniences of modern life in 2026.
Now, my little family is raising our own chickens, tending a small garden, and hunting for some of our food. It’s incredibly rewarding because we do so many of these things together and it becomes quality time. My daughter loves helping me in the garden and shooting archery with me in the backyard. My son loves hunting with his dad. It’s exciting for them to eat the fruits and vegetables we grew together and to watch their parents bring home meat.
I love the idea that when they join us hunting or see me go on my hunts, we’re showing them they can do it too. My son is nine and just got his hunting license this year he’s so excited about shooting his first turkey! I hope my kids continue to enjoy time outdoors and choose to share that love with their own children someday. That would be the ultimate reward."
Jamie Teigen
"As a mother, teaching my daughter, Lillian, the importance of being outside is one of the greatest gifts I can give her. Time hunting, fishing, rafting and camping teaches lessons that cannot be found inside four walls. In the outdoors, she learns patience while waiting quietly for an animal to step out, confidence as she tries new things, and resilience when plans do not go perfectly. She also learns to appreciate the beauty of God’s creation, the value of hard work, and the peace that comes from stepping away from screens and distractions.
Sharing the things that I love with Lillian is about building our bond and passing down values that matter. These are memories she will never forget. Lillian will learn respect for wildlife, gratitude for the food we provide, and responsibility in caring for the land. Most importantly, she learns that the outdoors is a place where she belongs, where she is capable, and where she can always find strength, adventure, and connection with her dad and I. "
Kelsey Loeffler
Kelsey Intorducing her daughter to fishing.
"Being a mom means being a guide, a protector, and a quiet witness to who my children are becoming. It’s in the small, everyday moments—tying boots, wiping tears, sharing laughter—but it’s also in the bigger responsibility of showing them what kind of world they belong to.
Introducing my daughters to the outdoors is one of the greatest honors I’ll ever have. It’s more than teaching them how to fish, hike, or build a fire—it’s teaching them to be brave, curious, and capable. Out there, away from distractions, they learn who they are. They learn patience, resilience, and wonder. And I get the privilege of standing beside them—not just as their mom, but as the one who opened the door to a life of adventure, freedom, and deep connection to the world around them."
Jessie Gotwald
Jessie with her son and horse.
"One of my greatest goals as a mother is to help my son develop a deep sense of belonging in the natural world. I hope to help him learn that nature is home; that if his feet are on the earth, his gaze is up at open skies, and fresh mountain air is in his lungs, he is connected to the grander scheme, the true real world. A sense of connection and belonging that lives so deep in his core that it can never be stripped away from him.
Seeing the natural world through my baby's eyes deepens my connection as well. His fascination with the little things - the glistening of quartz sprinkled through granite rock, the fluttering aspen leaves, the texture of the bark on the lodgepole pine trees - invites me to slow down, to notice, and to appreciate the intricacies of our surroundings. In helping him build a relationship with the outdoors, he is actually helping me to deepen my own."
Rachel Ahtila
Rachel Ahtila rides a horse wearing SITKA camo gear.
“Don’t peak, my dear. Don’t ever peak. Always make tomorrow better than today,” my mum would say. This line fell on teenage ears that didn’t fully comprehend its meaning. It wasn’t until years later while I watched this remarkable woman fulfill her dreams that it truly sank in. Without hesitation she continually met her goals. She earned a master’s degree, started skydiving, became a ski rescue and emergency rescue certified, scuba dived around the world and crushed her role as a mother. She taught me how to look at a challenge and give it a wink. She showed me the sky isn’t the limit, the ground is. I am not sure I would have been brave enough to pursue my dreams had I not had such a strong role model and friend. I just hope that I can inspire the same way my mum has continued to inspire me.”
Rachel’s mom, Valerie, sky diving in 1997.
Rachel Ahtila is a well-known hunting guide from British Columbia, Canada. She spent her early summers in a remote hunting camp in Northern BC, before going on to feature in Jim Shockey's The Professionals and the Hunting Adventures series. She’s now an author and active conservationist.
Randy Newberg
“My mom always had confidence in me. When the challenges seemed daunting, she showed unwavering support. She convinced me I could do anything I set my mind to. When I failed, she made it clear that my effort moved me forward toward my goals. By giving my best effort, there was no defeat in her eyes. She was determined to help me value my contribution to the world.
Growing up in a small town with daily financial struggles, my young mind could have been confined by what I saw in the lives of the people around me. If my mind was consumed by doubt, worry, and a lack of enthusiasm, the hill ahead would have felt much steeper. Instead, my life was one of dreams and confidence, making the likelihood of accomplishments and satisfaction much higher. Without her, my life would be far different. My energy for big ideas would have had no fuel. Challenges and difficulties would have defined my life.
A while back, this inspiration caused me to write down a small line that I often refer back to at times when I feel the task ahead is too big: "Fate is what you let happen; destiny is what you make happen." When it comes to my life, I’m about making things happen, not letting them happen. With this mantra, all roads lead to my mom’s steady presence cheering me on.”
Randy and his mom, Karen, in the summer of 1966.
Randy Newberg is a prominent public-land hunter who has spent decades pursuing game across the western United States. He is widely known as a leading advocate for self-guided (DIY) hunting and for hunters who rely on public land access.
instagram.com/randynewberghunter
tiktok.com/discover/randy-newberg
Alex Templeton
Alex Templeton wears a SITKA hat out in the wild.
“My mother is the epitome of a hard-working woman that exemplifies a steady, loving and kind spirit. She has worked at the local elementary school full-time for 23 years while working with my dad on our family farm and ranch operation. Typically, she works a full day in town and comes home to bottle feed calves or help in countless other ways. On top of that, she’s raised four daughters and now two granddaughters. She readily does whatever is needed and always with a smile.
Her kindness knows no bounds and everyone who knows her loves her. She genuinely strives to be the best version of herself every single day. Through watching her walk through life, I am inspired to spread kindness, grace, and understanding to others. As I've gotten older, more and more often, I see pieces of her shine through in me. I can only hope I make her as proud as she makes me. I am so lucky to be her daughter.”
Alex’s mom, Kim, helping out on their family ranch.
Alex Templeton is a third-generation farmer and rancher based in Missouri, working on her family’s operation. She shares an authentic, behind-the-scenes look at ranch life (in her words: ‘the good, the bad, the ugly’), while showing farming, hunting and life with her husband and daughter.
Barton Ramsey
Barton Ramsey stands ready, wearing a hunting vest, near a waterside location.
“My mom was a fighter. In the last few years of her life, she endured many challenges. She was a victim of physical abuse, she endured treatment for stage 3 breast cancer, she was attacked by a home intruder, and she was again diagnosed with stage 4 terminal breast cancer. Through all of this, she never gave up. She never asked for sympathy. In the wake of each struggle, she came out stronger and more resilient than before.
As I face challenges along the way, whether family or career, I remember the way my mom endured. She is a constant motivator in my heart to stay strong, maintain focus, and never give up.
As I launched my business, Southern Oak Kennels, embarking on a completely new career path as an entrepreneur, I overcame many fears and struggles through the resilience passed down from my mom. When I want to give up or believe that a struggle might be too difficult to overcome, I remember all that she overcame.”
Barton’s mom, Lori, circa 1991.
Barton Ramsey is a professional dog trainer and founder of Southern Oak Kennels. He is known for training versatile working dogs and promoting balanced, purpose-driven methods rooted in obedience, hunting, and real-world performance.
tiktok.com/discover/barton-ramsey
Aaron Hitchins
Aaron Hitchins bites into a sandwich, while on a rugged trail, with mountains in the distance.
“My mom has inspired me in so many ways. I struggle to define it. She’s an optimist that revels in every opportunity. She laughs through hardship and celebrates even the smallest sliver of blue sky. She doesn’t live life as a spectator but as an active participant. She lets her curiosity be her guide. The momentum she’s built to live life fully has shaped my true north.
Seeing, in retrospect, the decisions and sacrifices she made to facilitate a life outdoors, is something I will be eternally grateful for. With my sister and I moved on to adulthood, Mom has taken every opportunity to get outdoors, from daily jaunts to train her lab for waterfowl hunting to hiking to Everest Base Camp.
She has always been supportive of us, but perhaps the thing that continues to amaze me the most is how tough she is and how hard she charges. When things get gnarly on the mountain and I feel like giving up, I always remember that Mom would keep kicking ass and that I ought to do the same."
Aaron’s mom, Maureen.
Aaron Hitchens is a public-land hunter and outdoor creator known for self-guided, do-it-yourself pursuits. He shares practical insights and experiences from hunting trips across the U.S., with a focus on accessibility, preparation, and learning through real-world challenges.
Clay Hudnall
Clay Hudnall looks out, wearing a camo hat, hidden behind dry grass.
“My mother has impacted my life so greatly. She's inspired me with unwavering positivity and grit regardless of how difficult the situation is. Her character shined bright as she battled breast cancer. Watching her fight and conquer this disease not once, but twice, while remaining steady and optimistic was so powerful. She’s changed the way I approach life. I always try to stay positive no matter what I am faced with. Her example of how to walk through chaos has opened my eyes and made me live life in the moment. She’s deepened my gratitude and taught me to be present. Tomorrow is not promised to us and because of her, I choose to live a happy and positive life every day. Mom has been cancer-free for seven years now and counting!”
Clay’s mom, Micki, working horses circa 1992.
Clay Hudnall is a hunter and outdoor creator who shares self-guided hunting experiences and practical insights from time spent in the field. His content focuses on preparation, persistence, and the realities of do-it-yourself hunting.
