For Braxton Burgess, the outdoors has always been less of a hobby and more of a constant backdrop to life.
“Since can I can remember. I would always rather be outside,” Burgess said. “Trips to my grandparents’ farms provided many memories for me! I started fishing at a young age and enjoy the relaxation that comes with it! I am not competitive at all in fishing it’s just something I enjoy.”
That early connection to nature has carried through his life in McPherson, where fishing and time outside remain his favorite ways to unwind. While some outdoor enthusiasts chase competition or trophies, Burgess said his motivation is much simpler: time, peace and reflection.
He fishes whenever he gets the chance, often on his own or with his brother when schedules line up.
“I love to fish anytime I have the chance,” he said. “Usually I fish alone or if my brother is home we go together. We fished more together when we were younger!”
Though fishing is his main outlet, Burgess also participates in trap shooting with his high school team, giving him another way to stay connected to the outdoors and his peers.
His most meaningful memories outdoors, however, come from family. One experience in particular stands out, tied to a relative who helped shape his early love for fishing.
“My great uncle, who lost his battle a few years with cancer, was the one who taught me how to unhook a fish and bait a line,” Burgess said. “I never minded the worms or the feel of the fish.”
Those moments, he said, are part of what made the outdoors feel natural and welcoming from a young age.
For Burgess, there is no single defining catch or trophy moment that stands above the rest. Instead, the value of outdoor time is found in what it provides mentally and emotionally.
“Nothing particular but why I love it is just relaxing with my thoughts,” he said. “Life gets busy and for me being outdoors allows me to reset and I am able to be thankful for all that God provides!”
