A 13-year veteran of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Backyard Life’s Daniel Arms is also an expert hunter, homesteader and YouTuber. For the last five years, Daniel has also served as a pro staff member for Descent Outdoors, a hugely popular hunting show airing on Pursuit Channel. He and his wife and their three children have a YouTube channel, Arms Family Homestead, which documents their homesteading lifestyle on their 100-acre farm in the rural Oklahoma town of Sulphur. They’ve amassed more than 200,000 subscribers who regularly tune in to watch what the family is up to, whether they’re hunting, fishing, gardening or enjoying similar homesteading exploits.

Backyard Life Q&A with Daniel Arms of the Arms Family Homestead

Born into the legendary Richard Childress NASCAR Racing family, Austin Dillon has continued to build upon the family’s long-standing reputation for on- and off-the-track professionalism and success.

The 2020 season marks Dillon’s seventh year driving the #3 Dow, Bass Pro Shops, American Ethanol Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE for his grandfather’s legendary race team, Richard Childress Racing. To boot, Dillon’s list of prior accomplishments and accolades is a lengthy one.

Backyard Life Q&A with Austin Dillon

NASCAR’s Austin Dillon Career Highlights

• In 2018, Dillon won the prestigious Daytona 500 with a dramatic, last-lap pass for the win.

• Memorial Day weekend 2017, Dillon earned his career-first Cup Series win in NASCAR’s longest race of the season—the Coca-Cola 600. This happened to take place on his home track in Charlotte, North Carolina.

• Dillon is a former NASCAR Xfinity Series champion (2013) and NASCAR Truck Series champion(2011). And, to top it off, he is an 18-time winner in NASCAR’s top-three touring series.

• Dillon has six career pole awards in the NASCAR Cup Series. Most notable, he earned the pole award for the Daytona 500 in the Dow Chevrolet in 2014.

• Dillon is a two-time NASCAR Rookie-of-the-Year Award winner (2010 in the NASCAR Truck Series and 2012 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series).

Austin Dillon’s Backyard Life

These days, when Austin Dillon’s not trackside, you can find him living the backyard life outside of his renovated barn home in Welcome, NC. Here, Dillon resides with his wife Whitney and two dogs (French bulldog, Gucci and Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Jake). And, when he’s not racing, his life centers around his family, friends and dogs. As well as hobbies like hunting, fishing, fantasy and e-sports. But, that will soon change as the couple is expecting their first child in June. Still, for a workout, he enjoys playing basketball and his favorite TV shows include Game of Thrones, Damnation and Yellowstone. While his favorite musical artist is Garth Brooks. And, a little-known fun fact about NASCAR’s Austin Dillon is that he played in the 2002 Little League World Series.

Creator of the beloved Bone Collector series and regular collaborator on shows and DVDs such as Monster Bucks, Realtree Road Trips and The Incomplete Deer Hunter With Jeff Foxworthy, Michael Waddell is one of the industry’s most skilled hunters, and arguably its most popular personality. If it gobbles, quacks, bugles or grunts, chances are he’s chased it more than a time or two. Michael’s expertise and relatable personality engages and entertains outdoor enthusiasts the world over, as evidenced by his more than 1.5 million social media followers and fans.

Michael is extremely proud of his rural southern roots, and is quick to recognize the dues he’s paid to gain recognition and fame. His start in the hunting industry came after winning a Realtree turkey calling contest and, later, guiding and filming hunts. Before Michael knew it, he was a camera operator for Realtree—an opportunity to learn the ins and outs of TV production.

Growing up in the backwoods and backwaters of Booger Bottom, Georgia, Michael wasn’t exposed to crowds or strip malls, but rather wide-open spaces where he could get dirty and simply be a boy. In Michael’s own words, he’s simply “a guitar pickin’, blue-jeans wearin’, backstrap grillin’ good ol’ boy who was born to hunt.” Beyond Jesus, his father, mother and family, Michael’s heroes include the brave men and women of our Armed Forces. As well as a handful of truly hardcore hunters like Fred Bear, Ted Nugent and Chuck Adams. Michael insists that he does what he does because, “they inspire me to be myself and keep walking the path I’m on.”

When he’s not out chasing deer, turkey, elk and anything else he can legally wrap a tag around and fill the freezer with, Michael can be found enjoying the sprawling pecan farm that he, his wife and their five children proudly call home.

Backyard Life Q&A with Michael Waddell

Throughout his career as a professional bass angler, Andy Morgan has been regarded as one of the sport’s most successful, and decorated, competitors. His unwavering determination and consistency over his 20-year career have led to three FLW Angler-of-the-Year titles. As well, he holds a place atop the FLW Tour’s all-time Top-10 finisher list. Most recently, Andy won his first championship title on Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour. 

Andy’s love for fishing began at age 6 when he caught his first largemouth bass alongside his father and grandfather. Subsequently, he had his first tournament victory at age 15. Andy knew then that professional bass fishing was the career path he was meant to follow.

Off the water, Andy can usually be found in the field pursuing his passion for waterfowl and deer hunting. He is a past host of Moultrie’s The Hit List and co-host of American Archer. And today, he continues to film hunts for outdoor television.

When asked about his success, Andy is quick to point out the hard work and dedication that have gone into it. He also acknowledges the role his spirituality has played in his success. “God has blessed me in more ways than I deserve,” he says. “I lean on him daily for strength and guidance.”

Andy lives with his wife of 20 years, Missy, their daughter Keylee, age 17, and their dog Elsa on their 70-acre farm in Dayton, Tennessee.

Backyard Life Q&A: Pro Bass Fisherman Andy Morgan