December 2010 Newsletter - Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce

Chambertalk
Arkansan wins World's Championship Duck Calling Contest
By MIKE SUCHAN
ESPNOutdoors.com
X STUTTGART, Ark. — Trophy
in hand, Brad Allen tried to describe
his feelings.
After 10 tries, the Judsonia, Ark.,
man finally made it to the top by
winning the World’s Championship
Duck Calling Contest.
“It’s hard to put into words,” he
said as a throng of people crowded
the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce
stage on a crisp Saturday night. “It’s
a humbling experience. I just feel
real fortunate.”
Allen, who has competed in 10
World’s events, said the difference
this time was his feed call, and he
credited three-time World’s champion and Champion of Champions
winner Trey Crawford with helping
him get over the top.
“I’ve worked on it a lot. Trey
Crawford has taught me a lot,” he
said, specifically noting the feed call.
“I tried to blow it a bit more like he
does.”
Crawford, 37, stood on the stage
watching his friend go through the
process of receiving the trophy, the
$8,000 check and prize package,
and was proud that he could play a
part.
“He’s one of my best buds,”
Crawford said. “He’s deserving. He’s
overcome every obstacle. He’s had
to adjust to styles. He’s pushed himself.”
“It’s like daylight and dark what
he’s done. He put the whole package together. That’s just like me winning right there.”
Allen, who began hunting at age
6, said he started coming to the
World’s contests in 1988 with his dad
and it would be another 10 years
before he began competing.
“It was kind of a good father and
son outing for us,” he said, getting
emotional thinking about his first
visits to the Wings Over the Prairie
Festival.
The 75th anniversary of the calling contest in Stuttgart began on a
sunny afternoon with 69 callers, all
of whom had qualified through
state and regional qualifiers. After
each blew a 90-second routine, 44
remained for the second round.
Another 30 were cut for the third
round, and the final 14 were left as
the sun set. Another seven were
called back to settle ties, and two
were called back twice to settle a tie
between them.
The final 11 stood shoulder to
shoulder on stage as scores from the
five judges hidden behind a curtain
were compiled. Daniel Duke was
first called out as 10th runner-up.
Last year’s champion Mike Anderson took eighth runner-up.
As third runner-up, Jonathan
Mortin won $100 along with a prize
package. Stuttgart’s Todd Copley
was second runner-up, earning
$350 and prizes.
That left Ryan Nolan, who won
World’s two years ago, and Allen,
who came together and embraced.
When Nolan was named first runner-up, receiving $750 and prizes,
Allen turned sideways and lowered
his head in disbelief.
He gathered himself and was
asked to speak. His first words were
for former World’s winner and last
Champion of Champions Bernie
Boyle, who died last January in an
automobile accident.
“Everybody lost a really good
friend in Bernie Boyle,” Allen said.
“He was a really great competitor
and great friend. I’d like to dedicate
this to him.”
WORLD CHAMPION — World Champion Duck Caller Brad Allen of
Judsonia, Arkansas, won the 75th annual World's Championship Duck
Calling Contest held in Stuttgart.
Todd Copley of Iowa wins the 2010 Champion of Champions
By MIKE SUCHAN
ESPNOutdoors.com
X STUTTGART, Ark. — Todd
Copley is done.
He will no longer be allowed to
grace the Main Street stage in any
World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest.
Besting seven others in the Champion of Champions on Saturday
night, Copley will have to retire from
calling in Stuttgart.
As he wiped away tears and lifted
the trophy over his head, he yelled
“Finally.”
Copley, of Des Moines, Iowa, has
competed in the World’s since 1999,
winning in 2003.
“This is bittersweet,” he said. “The
best day of my life and the worst day
of my life because I don’t get to sit
back there any more.”
Ryan Nolan echoed those sentiments. The 2008 World’s winner finished as first runner-up to Copley
and said bittersweet best describes
the event that’s held every five years.
While he wanted to win, he does get
to come back.
“I’d miss all these guys,” he said.
“I hope I can punch a ticket to come
back next year and win World’s. I’d
like to try to get one more of these.”
Nolan said all is well. He said
World’s winner Brad Allen was due
and Copley was deserving. “Nobody
remembers who was second in five
years,” he said.
A fan favorite, Copley received a
tremendous round of applause when
his victory was announced, despite
beating the likes of hometown favorites John Stephens and Jim
Ronquest, both of RNT Calls.
Ronquest, reminding Copley of a
winner’s TV shoot, congratulated
Copley with a boisterous, “You’re
done, son.”
When asked what the title meant
immediately after grabbing the trophy, Copley said, “I usually have a
stupid comment for everything, but
now I don’t.”
Champion of Champions
Winner:
Todd Copley
Des Moines, Iowa
First runner-up:
Ryan Nolan
Roland, Oklahoma
Second runner-up:
John Stephens
Stuttgart, Arkansas
Third runner-up:
Blake Haynes
White Hall, Arkansas
Fourth runner-up:
Mike Anderson
Mankato, Minnesota
Fifth runner-up:
Jim Ronquest
Stuttgart, Arkansas
Sixth runner-up:
Tie – Jody Niccum, Vernard
Solom
CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS — Todd Copley of Des Moines, Iowa,
won the 2010 Champion of Champions Duck Calling Contest in Stuttgart.
He posed with Queen Mallard Gracen Kennedy following his victory. The
Champion of Champions Duck Calling Contest is held every 5 years
and is open only to past winners of the World's Championship Duck
Calling Contest.
City celebrates with 54th annual Stuttgart Christmas Parade
SANTA AND HIS HELPERS — Students from CenterStage Dance performed on the
Stuttgart Stage with Santa before the start of the 54th annual Stuttgart Christmas Parade.
The parade is sponsored by the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce.
STARRY NIGHT — The theme of this year's Stuttgart Christmas Parade was "A Starry
Night." Local churches and community organizations celebrated the theme with floats that
included live performers.
ChamberTalk monthly newsletter sponsored by
Delta Plastics
www.deltapl.com
3104 South Main
P.O. Box 1028
Stuttgart, AR 72160
Office: (870) 673-7458
Fax: (870) 673-7538
Toll Free: 1-800-277-9172
Chambertalk
HOGS 'N GUMBO — Anna Scherm and Rachel Milotte
showed their support for the Razorbacks at Gumbo.
MARDI GRAS GUMBO — A festival atmosphere is part
of the Gumbo experience.
FRIENDS AND GUMBO — The Duck Gumbo is a
great place to meet new people and see old friends.
Duck Gumbo celebrates the start of waterfowl season
X It has become one of
the most popular events at
the Wings Over The Prairie
Festival and it is one of the
best-known parties in the
state of Arkansas.
The annual Bud Light
World Championship Duck
Gumbo has become a
Thanksgiving tradition for
many people.
Every year, literally hundreds of people make plans to
attend "Duck Gumbo."
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS — Norma Strabala, president of the Baptist Health Hospital Auxiliary, visits with Pat
Peacock during the Business After Hours at the Gift Gallery
at Baptist Health Medical Center.
There is plenty to see and
do.
The Duck Gumbo attracts
a wide range of people, from
celebrities to just-friendly
folks.
In the past, the Dallas Cow-
boys Cheerleaders have performed and Cowboys owner
Jerry Jones is a frequent visitor.
But the Duck Gumbo isn’t
all fun and games. There is
also some very serious com-
HOSPITAL AUXILIARY — Baptist Health Hospital Auxiliary members (from left) Betty Buerkle, Helen Knoll, and
Charlotte Clark helped host at the Business After Hours.
petition. More than 50 teams
compete for bragging rights
to the “World’s Best Duck
Gumbo.”
Each team is required to
cook 3 quarts of gumbo and
50% of the meat used in the
recipe must be duck. Teams
start cooking at 10 in the
morning and final judging
takes place at 3 in the afternoon.
Prizes are awarded for
first, second and third place.
GO EDDIE JOE — State Sen. Eddie Joe Williams visited
with Henry Newby, president of the Stuttgart Chamber of
Commerce, during the Business After Hours at the Gift Gallery at Baptist Health Medical Center.
Local Economy
City sales tax revenues
Current Year
SYPN SOCIAL — Charlotte Carol (from left), Collin Wilson and Dustin Hartzer participated in the Stuttgart Young
Professionals Network "Bowling Night."
TEAM MATES — Hema and Jiten Patel participated in
the Stuttgart Young Professionals Network "Bowling Night"
held at the Rice Bowling Center in Stuttgart.
SYPN CHAIRMAN — Bethany Hodges of the Stuttgart
Chamber of Commerce visits with Brent Atkins, chairman
of the Stuttgart Young Professionals Network.
NETWORKING — Stephen Bell of the Stuttgart Chamber
of Commerce visits with Jennifer Coose during the SYPN
Bowling Night at Rice Bowling Center.
Previous Year
November
325,765
265,652
October
364,625
302,131
September
321,784
279,052
August
341,184
309,156
July
305,574
329,212
June
343,614
262,002
May
308,409
321,941
April
314,718
329,913
March
337,860
370,860
February
410,428
458,678
January
296,609
375,736