Who needs to read fiction when real life can be so interesting? I caught up with Rebecca Francis, winner of the Extreme Huntress contest, this week at her home on her birthday in Woodland Hills, Utah. After talking to her, I sat back, looked at my notes and wondered where to begin. This blonde powerhouse embodies an Extreme Huntress, and then augments the description with her own life story.
Rebecca won the contest sponsored by Próis® Hunting Apparel, Primal Adventures, Otis Technology and several others. She received her prize – a hunt in British Columbia that comes complete with Próis’ high performance hunting gear, along with other great equipment – at a special event at the Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010.
Kim Hicks, of BogGear, and Rebecca Francis, at SHOT Show. BogGear was one of the sponsors of the Extreme Huntress contest. Photo courtesy of Rebecca Francis.
She’s one of the busiest women I’ve ever interviewed. Already possessing two bachelor’s degrees, and taking prerequisite courses with hopes to get accepted into dental school in the near future, this 36-year-old mom of 8(!) (five stepchildren and three of her own children) also has a private pilot’s license and splits her time between Evanston, Wy., and Woodland Hills. Her husband, Lee Francis, a dentist, hopes she someday will join him in his practice.
She said, “I’m a very ambitious person and I’d always wanted to continue my education, but then I married my ‘family,’ and life got busy.” Her youngest child, a daughter who makes elk cow calls with her own voice, and has called elk into the family’s hunting camp in the evenings, joins the other children on hunting and climbing adventures with the family. Rebecca and Lee have hunted in Alaska, Canada, Africa and New Zealand. She has taught her children to rifle and bow hunt, and some day soon, she hopes to hunt for Cape buffalo in Africa.
Last year when she happened across the announcement for the Extreme Huntress contest, she said she never dreamed it would take her this far this fast. Since August, thanks to advice from her uncle, she learned the art of social networking – setting up Twitter, Facebook and YouTube accounts and using them to promote herself as an Extreme Huntress. She won with more than 27 percent of the vote, out of 10 candidates. She came out of nowhere and competed among several noteworthy names in the industry.
Rebecca and Lee Francis and two of their eight children. Photo courtesy of Rebecca Francis.
Kirstie Pike, CEO of Próis Hunting Apparel, said, “We’re thrilled that Rebecca won the contest. She truly embodies the spirit and passion of the hardcore huntress.”
Not only is Rebecca looking forward to her upcoming hunt with Primal Adventures cameras and crew along, she also will keep her fans on Facebook and followers of a soon-to-be-published website share her experiences. She said, “I never dreamed that anything would come of this contest. I want to pursue promoting women and children out there.”
Rebecca also accepted a new role as spokesperson for International Sportsman Inc. We’re betting we’ll be seeing Rebecca Francis in the outdoors a lot in the future, as she promotes outdoor traditions and enjoys them with her family.
~Barbara Baird
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Publisher/Editor Barbara Baird is a freelance writer in hunting, shooting and outdoor markets. Her bylines are found at several top hunting and shooting publications. She also is a travel writer, and you can follow her at https://www.ozarkian.com. View all posts by Barbara Baird
Gracias por el comentario a este website, Fidel. Si, Rebecca es un pescadora muy buena.
Rebecca my dear Lady . Congrats, Good Luck on you BC hunt..
Felicidades REBECCA y sigue haciendolo bien, eres increible