WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
DUCK CALLING CONTEST
2025 World Champion Duck Caller
HAYES KIBE
of Batesville, Arkansas
Wilkerson Jewelers in downtown Stuttgart has been a long time partner of the World's Championship Duck Calling Contest and provides the official ring each year.
How It All Began
The first National Duck Calling Contest was held on Main Street in Stuttgart, Arkansas, on November 24, 1936, in connection with the annual Arkansas Rice Carnival. It was sponsored by American Legion Post No. 48.
The first contest was a far cry from the present day event, but it was the beginning of the now worldwide contest, which attracts thousands of sportsmen annually from all over the United States.
The contest was originated by Thad McCollum of Stuttgart. Dr. H.V. Glenn sold the idea of sponsoring the contest to the American Legion. The American Legion then appointed a Duck Calling Committee of three men: Dr. Glenn, chairman; Mr. McCollum and Arthur Shoemaker, to stage the event. Later, Verne Tindall of Stuttgart, replaced Mr. Shoemaker as a committee member, and the contest was held.
Total list of entries for the first duck calling contest was 17. Financial arrangements were such that not a large prize was offered. The winner was Thomas E. Walsh of Greenville, Miss. He won the contest without the use of a duck call.
Mr. Walsh, who raised ducks as a hobby at his home in Mississippi, produced the sounds in his throat. He walked off with a hunting coat valued at $6.60, purchased by the American Legion from John Oberly Clothing Store.
First prize in 1947 was $1,000 cash. Today's winner receives a prize package worth more than $25,000.
The only other contestant to win first prize without use of a duck call was Herman Caillouet of Greenville, Miss., who won the event in 1942. The only woman to ever win the contest was Pat Peacock of Stuttgart, Ark., in 1955 and 1956.
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2025 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: 2025 World Champion Hayes Kibe from Batesville, Arkansas; 1st Runner Up Seth Field of Ramar, TN; 2nd Runner Up Domingo Sanchez of Inman, KS; 3rd Runner Up Kyle Dennis of Milan, IL
TOP 10 FINISHERS: 4th Runner Up Phil Green II of Jonesboro, AR; 5th Runner Up Mike Anderson of Mankato, MN; 6th Runner Up Daniel Duke of Brinkley, AR; 7th Runner Up Haiden Richard of Erath, LA; 8th Runner Up Robbie Iverson of Ottawa, IL; 9th Runner Up of Grant McDougald of Greenbriar, AR; and 10th Runner Up Justin Hall of Potts Camp, MS
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2025 WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Winner - Kacie Wisener of Guntersville, AL
1st Runner Up - Kristen Hardee
2nd Runner Up - Emma Hyatt of Stuttgart, AR
3rd Runner Up - Magen Sojourner of Crystal Springs, MS -
2025 INTERMEDIATE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Winner – Hayes Kibe of Batesville, AR
1st Runner Up - Tucker Sherrod of SIkeston, MO
2nd Runner Up - Abram Hibbard of Pocahontas, AR
3rd Runner Up - Cache McNespey of Demascus, AR -
2025 JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Winner – Landon Powell of Dewitt, AR
1st Runner Up – Drake Noland of Sweetlake, LA
2nd Runner Up– Luke Stroderd of Sulphur, LA
3rd Runner Up– Romie Morrisette of Lonoke, AR -
2025 SENIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Winner - Stuart McCullough of Los Banos, CA
1st Runner Up - Jason Campbell
2nd Runner Up - Steve Elmore of McKinney, TX
3rd Runner Up - Kent Cullum of Monette, ARNEXT CONTEST WILL BE HELD IN 2027.
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2025 CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS
Winner - Phil Green II of Jonesboro, AR
1st Runner Up - Jody Niccum of Baldwin City, KS
2nd Runner Up - Logan Hancock of Monticello, AR
3rd Runner Up - Mike Anderson of Mankato, MNNEXT CONTEST WILL BE HELD IN 2030.
Past World Winners
1936 - THOMAS WALSH
Greenville, Mississippi
1937 - HARRY R. WIEMAN
Stuttgart, Arkansas
1938 - HARRY R. WIEMAN
Stuttgart, Arkansas
1939 - KENNETH McCOLLUM
Stuttgart, Arkansas
1940 - W.H. CLAYPOOL
Memphis, Tennessee
1941 - M.T. McCOLLUM
Stuttgart, Arkansas
1942 - HERMAN CAILLOUET
Greenville, Mississippi
1943 - CLYDE HANCOCK
Stuttgart, Arkansas
1944 - HOWARD T. CONREY
Stuttgart, Arkansas
1945 - D.M. "Chick" MAJOR
Stuttgart, Arkansas
1946 - LOUIS "Red" WILHELM
Stuttgart, Arkansas
1947 - J.E. "Jake" GARTNER
Stuttgart, Arkansas
1948 - J.E. "Jake" GARTNER
Stuttgart, Arkansas
1949 - J.E. "Jake" GARTNER
Stuttgart, Arkansas
1950 - HERB PARSONS
Somerville, Tennessee
1951 - HERB PARSONS
Somerville, Tennessee
1952 - W.C. COWAAN
Memphis, Tennessee
1953 - FRED PARNELL
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
1954 - ART BEAUCHAMP
Flint, Michigan
1955 - PAT PEACOCK
Stuttgart, Arkansas
1956 - PAT PEACOCK
Stuttgart, Arkansas
1957 - W.C. CROSS
Greenwood, Mississippi
1958 - W.C. CROSS
Greenwood, Mississippi
1959 - JAMES FERNANDEZ
Port Arthur, Texas
1960 - ED LANDRETH
Joplin, Missouri
1961 - PETE CLAGETT
Kansas City, Missouri
1962 - CHARLES STEPAN
Port Arthur, Texas
1963 - MEL DeLANG
Burlington, Iowa
1964 - MICK LACY
Knoxville, Illinois
1965 - JOHN LISTON
Knoxville, Illinois
1966 - JOHN LISTON
Knoxville, Illinois
1967 - FRED HARVEY
Glesburg, Illinois
1968 - EDWARD L. HOLT
North Little Rock, Arkansas
1969 - EDWARD L. HOLT
North Little Rock, Arkansas
1970 - EDWARD L. HOLT
North Little Rock, Arkansas
1971 - LARRY LARGENT
Shelton, Nebraska
1972 - BUTCH RICHENBACK
Stuttgart, Arkansas
1973 - MIKE McLEMORE
Hendersonville, Tennessee
1974 - MIKE McLEMORE
Hendersonville, Tennessee
1975 - MIKE STARKS
Little Rock, Arkansas
1976 - TREY CRAWFORD
North Little Rock, Arkansas
1977 - MIKE McLEMORE
Hallsville, Texas
1978 - RICHARD SCHULTZ
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
1979 - VERNARD SOLOMON
Marshall, Texas
1980 - DAN SPRAGUE
Buffalo, Iowa
1981 - DAVID STARKS
Stuttgart, Arkansas
1982 - SAM HOEPER
Grandview, Missouri
1983 - DON ANSLEY
Nashville, Tennessee
1984 - DAVID STARKS
Stuttgart, Arkansas
1985 - MIKE KELLER
Kansas City, Missouri
1986 - TREY CRAWFORD
Mayflower, Arkansas
1987 - DAVID JAYNE
Clovis, California
1988 - JOHNNY “BOO” MAHFOUZ
Stuttgart, Arkansas
1989 - BARNIE CALEF
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
1990 - ROY RHODES
Germantown, Tennessee
1991 - TIM GESCH
Woodruff, Wisconsin
1992 - BLAKE HAYNES
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
1993 - TREY CRAWFORD
Mayflower, Arkansas
1994 - BUCK GARDNER
Collierville, Tennessee
1995 - JOHN STEPHENS
Stuttgart, Arkansas
1996 - JIM JAMES
Omaha, Nebraska
1997 - RICK DUNN
Beebe, Arkansas
1998 - JOHN STEPHENS
Stuttgart, Arkansas
1999 - BARNIE CALEF
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
2000 - BARNIE CALEF
Cedar Rapids,Iowa
2001 - BRENT EASLEY
East End, Arkansas
2002 - BERNIE BOYLE
Danville, Iowa
2003 - TODD COPLEY
Des Moines, Iowa
2004 - BERNIE BOYLE
Danville, Iowa
2005 - JOHN STEPHENS
Stuttgart, Arkansas
2006 -JIM RONQUEST
Holly Grove, Arkansas
2007 - JODY NICCUM
Osawatomie, Kansas
2008 - RYAN NOLAN
Roland, Oklahoma
2009 - MIKE ANDERSON
Mankato, Minnesota
2010 - BRAD ALLEN
Judsonia, Arkansas
2011 - ANTONIO JONES
White Hall, Arkansas
2012 - BRAD ALLEN
Judsonia, Arkansas
2013 - BRAD ALLEN
Judsonia, Arkansas
2014 - DAVID ST. JOHN
Conway, Arkansas
2015 - LOGAN HANCOCK
Monticello, Arkansas
2016 - PHIL GREEN II
Weiner, Arkansas
2017 - LOGAN HANCOCK
Monticello, Arkansas
2018 - LOGAN HANCOCK
Monticello, Arkansas
2019 - MICHAEL STEINMEYER
Jackson, Missouri
2020 - CANCELLED DUE TO COVID 19
2021 - HAIDEN RICHARD
Erath, LA
2022 - SETH FIELDS
Ramer, TN
2023 - NICK BRICKACEK
Schuyler, NE
2024 - SETH FIELDS
Ramer, TN
Past Champion of Champions Winners
1955 - ART BEAUCHAMP
Flint, Michigan
1960 - PAT PEACOCK
Stuttgart, Arkansas
1965 - JOHN LISTON
Knoxville, Illinois
1970 - EDWARD HOLT
North Little Rock, AR
1975 - BUTCH RICHENBACK
Stuttgart, Arkansas
1980 - MIKE McLEMORE
Hendersonville, Tennessee
1985 - DAVID STARKS
Stuttgart, Arkansas
1990 - JOHNNY “BOO” MAHFOUZ
Stuttgart, Arkansas
1995 - BUCK GARDNER
Collierville, Tennessee
2000 - TREY CRAWFORD
Mayflower, Arkansas
2005 - BERNIE BOYLE
Danville, Iowa
2010 - TODD COPLEY
Des Moines, Iowa
2015 - JOHN STEPHENS
Stuttgart, Arkansas
2021 - MICHAEL STEINMEYER
Jackson, Missouri