Written By Jeffrey Reed
Growing up in the farthest most northeast corner of London, Ontario, I was more of a country boy than a city boy stuck in the suburbs. During the 1970s, Fanshawe Conservation Area – then part of rural Middlesex County not yet annexed by the City of London – was my personal playground, accessed by a five-minute bicycle ride.
When I think back to my youth spent camping, fishing in the Thames River around Fanshawe Dam and hiking through trails during four seasons, it occurs to me that many of life’s lessons were learned during my adolescence and teen years. Respect for the land and lake, environmental stewardship, patience, respect of others and teamwork were all part of my time spent at the expansive rural wonderland.
Today, as a rural resident living near Strathroy, I recognize just how much the land and its offerings help define Middlesex County. We’re home to some of the world’s most fertile farming soil. And for those who enjoy the outdoors – from snowmobiling to hunting white-tailed dear – our community is abundant with outdoor activities.
No one knows this more than outdoorswoman Amanda Lynn Mayhew of Southgate, Ont., best known for her TV show, That Hunting Girl, airing on Sportsman Channel Canada. Her efforts as an athlete, inspirational speaker, mentor, angler, powersports enthusiast, sport shooting advocate and hunter are even more impressive because she lives with numerous challenges. They include asthma, Grave’s disease, Postherpetic Neuralgia, laryngopharyngeal reflux disease, irritable bowel disease and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Mayhew grew up in a trailer park in Manitouwadge, Ont., raised three boys as a single mother and continues to live with numerous ailments. Yet through her brand, Just Hunt Inc., Mayhew, 50, now a grandmother continues to encourage Canadians from coast to coast to learn about the outdoors and, in turn, learn life’s lessons.
“I believe the outdoors, much like hockey, serves as a vital thread in the fabric of small-town life in Canada,” said Mayhew. “For many of us, hunting, for example, isn’t just a pastime. In fact, it’s a way to connect with nature, our heritage and each other.
“Growing up, hunting with my family was full of adventures filled with lessons that extended far beyond the woods. They taught me patience, respect for the environment and the importance of teamwork. Whether it was quietly waiting for a moose to approach or collaborating as a team for a hunting strategy, it all taught me values that resonate with me today.”
Mayhew said just like a small-town Ontario community hockey rink, the great outdoors “creates memories, teaches resilience and instills a sense of belonging,” all lessons she hopes her own children and grandchildren pass onto others.
Award-winning writer
Jeffrey Reed has covered Middlesex County sports since 1980. He is publisher and editor of LondonOntarioSports.com. Reach him at
jeff@londonontariosports.com.
