The Jan. 17 event, sponsored by the state chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, will begin with registration at 9 a.m. at the Andy Griffith Playhouse.
An estimated 200 people are expected to take part in what will serve as a qualifier for U.S. turkey-calling competition. Qualifiers from the playhouse will advance to the organization’s national convention later this year in Nashville.
The Jan. 17 competition, which is free and open to the public, will mark the first time such an event has been held in Mount Airy, according to Perry Bryant. He is a member of the local Surry Long Spurs branch of the National Wild Turkey Federation and has served on its state board for about five years.
“It’s more or less an amateur event,” said Bryant, who expects a mix of local and outside competitors who will come from such states as Pennsylvania and areas around the Southeast.
While some might laugh at the idea of grown people taking the stage to recreate the sounds of turkeys, Bryant said that the competitors really take pride in their imitative skills. “It’s more of a serious kind of thing because it’s a national qualifier,” he added of the upcoming contest.
Participants will vie for top honors in a number of categories, with Bryant explaining that many variations of turkey calls exist. “Turkey calling is almost an art,” the local federation official said. “There’s a lot of different calls that you use.”
“It takes a lot of practice.”
Bryant added that the playhouse has “real good acoustics,” which should enhance the competition.
A banquet also will be part of the local gathering.
The National Wild Turkey Federation was founded in Fredericksburg, Va., in 1973 as a non-profit conservation and education organization with a mission dedicated to conserving wild turkeys and preserving hunting traditions.
Bryant said the organization engages in outreach programs as part of its work.
Entry information is available at 374-0241.
Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com, or at 719-1924.
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