Christi Holmes' passion for hunting and fishing has made her one of the leading outdoors women in Maine. She grew up in Machias (where she was a 1, 000 point scorer for her high school basketball team) before heading to the University of Maine where she studied engineering and was chosen as Homecoming Queen. Life after college saw her walk the Appalachian Trail, begin work as an engineer, and start to hunt and fish. These two areas, traditionally dominated by men, gave her keen insight into the challenges of breaking barriers, overcoming resistance, and creating a welcoming place for all kinds of people. As she began her journey as an outdoorswoman, Holmes trained her hunting dog and learned largely by trial and error, and persistence.