2/27/2008
 

Fort Smith youth wins NWTF junior calling championship

ATLANTA - Jimmy Pollard from Fort Smith called his way to the winner's circle at the National Wild Turkey Federation's Grand National Junior Turkey Calling Championships.

The competition was held during the NWTF's annual Convention and Sport Show, Feb. 21 to 24 in Atlanta. Young callers must master the intricacies of their instruments - the slate, diaphragm and box turkey calls - in order to perform well in the championships, and the pressure was intense.

It's great to finally win this," Pollard said. "I've come in second twice, and this just feels awesome."

Contestants compete in one of two divisions: intermediate and junior. The intermediate division is for callers 16 to 20 years old; the junior division is for callers 15 and younger. The types of calls contestants must imitate are not announced until the day before the competition, so participants must be prepared for several different calls.
By winning the junior division, Pollard goes home with $500 cash.