Wow what a weekend!!! Sara and I had tickets for a special Iowa Cubs game. Why was it a little different than your run of the mill baseball game? I have three words – Mossy Oak Camo. That’s right the players played in Mossy Oak jerseys at the 2nd annual Iowa NWTF Day at the Iowa Cubs game. In Iowa, the National Wild Turkey Federation has conserved and enhanced more than 250,000 acres with a total investment of $13.3 million. In addition to conservation, the NWTF annually introduces thousands of youth, women and people with disabilities to the outdoors.
I knew about this way back in February at the NWTF National Convention held in Nashville, TN. While at the show working in the Mossy Oak booth the ground work was laid for this game to happen. I had to get my hands on one of those game worn jersey. Luckily I was able to buy one that was big enough to fit me. I bought number 34, Brian Schlitter a pitcher for the Iowa Cubs.
The other really cool thing is I had 15 tickets for friends and family. So we got to hang out with a few people Sara and I don’t get to see as often as we should. All in all in as a great night, fun had by all.
Sunday was another busy day, Sara and I headed to the Minnesota Game Fair in Anoka, MN. It was the 1st time this Game Fair has ever held a calling contest they have a monster duck and goose calling contest but the event organizer, had contacted Shane Simpson of CallingAllTurkey.com to put on a turkey calling contest.
Fresh off my win in the Iowa State Championships, I really want to try and make this contest. So I convinced Sara, and we headed for the Minnesota Game Fair. They had a ton of cool stuff at this game fair, so don’t feel too bad for Sara. She did have a good time looking at all of the puppies.
There was a great turnout Sunday for the contest. Had a lot of new callers eager to compete as well as a large audience interested in the contest.
Placed 2nd in the Open
I think Shane may very well be on to something here. It was an outdoor contest and I had never called in an outdoor contest. The Game Fair has a lot of exhibitors that are in the waterfowl business. Those waterfowlers are turkey hunters too and I think their waterfowl calling competitive nature made them want to compete. I think next year will definitely be another contest, bigger and better. Big Thank You to Shane Simpson for all of his hard work!!!
2013 Minnesota Game Fair Turkey Calling Contest – Results
Open Division: 1st Kevin Croteau, 2nd Curtis Goettsch, 3rd Connor Wall
Amateur Division: 1st Connor Wall, 2nd Kevin Croteau, 3rd Thayne Jensen
Youth Division: 1st Adrianna Rice, 2nd Clara Wall, 3rd Kelby Moore
Thank You to the sponsors: Hook’s Custom Calls (Scott Hook), Federal Premium Ammunition (Jj Reich), Hunter’s Specialties (Rick White) and Weaver Optics.
