WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
DUCK CALLING CONTEST
2023 World Champion Duck Caller
NICK BRICHACEK
of Schuyler, Nebraska
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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2023 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Winner: Nick Brichacek of Schuyler, NE; 1st RU - Phil Green of Jonesboro, AR; 2nd RU - Seth Fields of Ramer, TN; 3rd RU -Jonathan Mortin of Beebe, AR
Top 10 finishers include: 4th RU - Hunter Lawrence of Beebe, AR; 5th RU - Rob Bevins of Atkins, IA; 6th RU - Domingo Sanchez of Inman, KS; 7th RU - Forrest Carpenter of Berthoud, CO; 8th RU - Daniel Duke of Stuttgart, AR; 9th RU - Cody Palen of Hays, KS; 10th RU -Haiden Richard of Erath, LA
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2023 WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
WOMEN’S WORLD: Winner: Madison Heflin Lawrence from White Hall, AR; 1st Runner Up: Magen Sojourner; 2nd Runner Up: Curstin Rutledge; and 3rd Runner Up: Payton Wottowa
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2023 INTERMEDIATE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
INTERMEDIATE WORLD: Winner - Grant McDougald, 1st Runner Up - Logan Heibner, 2nd Runner Up - Alden Pugh, and 3rd Runner Up - Ben Christian
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2023 JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
JUNIOR WORLD - Winner- Hayes Kibe of Batesville, AR; 1st RU- Nathaniel Heibner of Marion, IL; 2nd RU- Corbin Rogers; 3rd RU- Cash Turner
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2023 SENIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
SENIOR WORLD - Winner - Terry Harris; 1st Runner Up - Johnny Mahfouz; 2nd Runner Up - Kent Cullum; and 3rd Runner Up - Steve Elmore
NEXT CONTEST WILL BE HELD IN 2025.
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2021 CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS
REIGNING CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS - Michael Steinmeyer of Jackson, MO; 1st Runner Up: Phil Green II of Weiner, AR; 2nd Runner Up: Brad Allen of Judsonia, AR; and David St. John of Conway, AR
NEXT CONTEST WILL BE HELD IN 2025.
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
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