High School Senior Mikayla Nixon Can Talk Turkey with the Best of Them!
Becky Lou Lacock 03.15.12
The beautiful, talented and accomplished turkey caller Mikayla Nixon, still a senior in high school, continues to actively compete in contests across the country as her schedule allows. She strives to hold her existing titles, and is looking to grab even more! It is very exciting to see a young girl actively involved in the outdoors and hunting, and amazing to see her competing in calling contests around the country!
Mikayla began competing at the early age of 4 when she took 2nd place in a calling competition, with her sister Marlaina winning first place. The two girls’ father, Shaine Nixon, an avid turkey hunter, has raised both of his daughters to appreciate and participate in hunting in the great outdoors. He is the motivational inspiration for Mikayla and her calling ventures, and supports her ambitions and strives to make it all happen for her with the limited time that she has. Mikayla has been limited to contests she could attend as a senior in high school and is very involved in many extra curricular activities. Shaine Nixon explains, “Since then she has been limited to contests she could attend with school and all that she is in. In January she didn’t get to defend her title (reigning State Champion Senior Friction) because she was on one side of Dallas at a Future Business Leaders of America convention as a high school senior representative from her school, while the rest of us were at Bass Pro in Grapevine at the state calling contest.”
Here are just a few of Mikalya’s latest accomplishments while she works to add even more!
- 2011 – (4 time Winner) Texas Junior State championship.
- 2011 Winner State Senior Friction – Her first time in that division (see report here: http://www.nwtf.org/texas/2011_calling_contest.html)
- 2012 Mack’s Prairie Wings calling contest Stuttgart, AR. This event was billed as the “King of the Delta” and had all the major junior and senior callers participating.
- 10th in the friction which included ten of the best pro callers in the world.
- 3rd in the Intermediate Division
- 2012 World Championships in Mobile, AL
- 3rd place in the Amateur which was opened up to all the junior callers
- 4th place in the Juniors which had three winners competing from the NWTF Grand Nationals Calling contest in Nashville this year, 2012.
- 13th place in the Friction Division, competing against professional men, which places Mikayla 13th in the world.
Up coming events:
- 2012 Clay County World Champion Turkey Fest in Henrietta, TX, referred to as the “Battle of the Beards”.
Mikayla is looking forward to being one of a three person team with her father, Shaine Nixon and good friend Bobby Woods. Bobby is 2012 NWTF Grand Champion Friction Caller, and 4 time 2012 World Champion Friction Caller. If all goes well, this will be both Bobby and Mikalya’s first Rio Grande Turkey! Check out their facebook page now for events and list of all teams that will include even more celebrities isuch as Hal Shaffer, Ken Cobb, Mike Stroff, Jamie Satterfield, and many more.
The picture above makes a statement in history. See a detailed article here about this history making event: http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/03/arkansas_teen_becomes_first_fe.html
Mikayla has had her plate full these last few years along with honing her “Gift for Turkey Gab”. She played varsity softball as a freshman and sophomore on a very competitive team that won 36 games one year and lost in the state semi-finals n Austin. She has served as president of Harleton High School FFA. She is currently a Member of Future Business Leaders of America and coaching her sister Maleigha’s “12 and under” softball team. Mikayla has received the Presidents award for Academic Excellence and attendance. She has traveled 30,000 miles in one year with father Shaine, for turkey calling competitions, and she did not miss a day that year of school, and maintains an honor roll report! Mikayla is a giving person and volunteers for NWTF‘s “Women in the Outdoors” and JAKES programs. She has accomplished 4 time state junior championships, and won the Texas State Friction in 2011 beating the senior men.
“Mostly. I just love being with her. She has an incredible personality and her hunting skills are awesome. She loves people, and really talk to anyone!” says Shaine Nixon, a father full of admiration.
Since meeting Shaine and speaking with Mikayla, I have been anxious to spread the news and commend this remarkable young woman. I am hoping that you too will share this story which will help to inform, encourage, and inspire other youth to get involved in outdoors activities, calling in turkeys is fun, and all forms of competition is good for the soul!
There are so many resources available for children of all ages such as NWTF Jakes check out events in your area, http://www.nwtf.org/jakes/, NRA focuses on many outdoor activities in addition to gun safety, including Wildlife Art! http://www.nra.org/programs.aspx, also check OutdoorHub.com for current youth news,events and programs! https://www.outdoorhub.com/category/general-outdoors/youth-outdoors/
One form of inspiration may not be immediately obvious, but after recently attending a Hunter Education Class myself, I am acutely aware that this class is not just for hunters, it should be presented to all persons of all ages that would like to begin any outdoor activity. It addresses firearm safety, and being familiar with gun safety is a plus, whether or not you plan to ever handle one. Wildlife Management Agencies in most states also offer special programs and activities for youth, so check your with your local agencies here http://www.fws.gov/offices/statelinks.html.
Congratulations to you Mikayla on all of your accomplishments and good luck in all of your future endeavors! Kudos to her dad Shaine for the support and encouragement he shows for his girls!
Born and raised in Louisiana, my Outdoor adventures began just a short time ago, with a weekend workshop, B.O.W. 'Becoming an Outdoors Woman' in the Spring of 2000. A nationwide program , in Louisiana it is facilitated by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Educational Dept. I was feeling a little adventurous, and chose “Intro to Shotgun” as one of my 4 workshops for the weekend. I had never had the opportunity to shoot guns, and decided that this would be the perfect place to give it a shot! This course required a detailed Firearm Safety course held in a classroom the day before various guns handy for some “hands on” instruction. I was very anxious the day of shooting, but as it unfolded, with patient expert instructors by my side, (helping to muffle the voices inside of me shouting NO! NO! NO! You're a Girl! Its gonna hurt!) I hit the second clay target, thus began my passion for Shooting! I absolutely LOVED it!! I have always loved to fish, sharing many hours with the only outdoor influence in my life growing up, my mother Tommie Lou. She and I spent many hours in the Freshwater Marshes of SW Louisiana, searching for that elusive HOG (Large Mouth Bass) but also pulling in huge Redfish, Speckled trout & Flounder in and around the salt water lake "Big Lake". I always joke that we had to use our running lights to get out to the fishing spots, and we had to also needed them to come in, as we would spend all of the precious daylight fishing hard…. the days were always too short. That was the limit to any outdoor activity for me, but shortly after my "Shooting Incident" I met my husband Lou, and was introduced into hunting, starting with a west Texas whitetail hunt, at which point my life took a drastic turn from inside to "EXTREME OUTSIDE"!! Without a doubt, I am all girl, I don't like bugs, critters, or Snakes, but because of my willingness to Take a Chance, I have learned that a little DIRT..or even or a TICK will not keep me from this new adventure!
With the first hunt of my life being shortly after the workshop, I understand first hand the skepticism that some women have to step outdoors, and I believe that most women just need to be aware of the resources readily available to them, along with a little pinch of encouragement. I have been fortunate to have both, for without it I would not be doing what I am today.
With great encouragement from Greg Martin of RealHuntersJournal, an online resource for outdoor information, I began writing, and going to the industry shows such as Shot Show, ATA, NWTF, and others to review the latest and greatest products in the industry. I met several wonderful people, and began to realize that the people behind the products, TV shows, and outfitters were just down home people, real people just like me! I think of it as a large family, and like most, they may not always agree on every method, design, or camo pattern, but all share a common dream, and ultimately work together to make that dream a reality for the rest of us. I have been blessed with a lot of energy and enthusiasm that just seems to spill out onto everyone around me, I love people and Lord only knows how I like to talk, and over the past few years I have been encouraged to take more of an active part to promote women in the outdoors. I was invited on several exciting hunts to experience many new adventures, and share them. With a style all my own, I have really enjoyed writing. Loaded with lots of adventures and information to share, I started my own website in 2009, www.BeckyLouOutdoors.com. The following year I was asked to participate in a Reality Television series with 5 other women, consisting of 11 episodes. Somehow with my determination, some skill, and a lot of luck, I won the first season competition!! The show was a success, and continues on each year for a new season with 6 new contestants and many new challenges. . In 2010 I was honored to be named Pro Staff for Commando Call Products. I do a lot of freelance writing for many websites and most recently InterMedia Outdoors with an article in print for Dec/Jan 2011/2012 nationwide Game & Fish and also Sportsman. I have a trademark phrase, “Camo can be Classy”TM for women like me that are 110% all girl, but can enjoy the outdoors to whatever level we desire! I have grown to believe that if you Love Life it will Love you back! I hope to provide some information, encouragement and inspiration for women to get out in the Great Outdoors. It has made such a difference in my life, and I truly believe that I am Happier and Healthier because of it! Shooting may not be for everyone, but it is definitely worth a SHOT!
