Chick & Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest
Students ages 16-20 years old may compete for college scholarships totaling $9,000 at the Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest.
A photo ID must be provided at registration. Students who are furthering their education through traditional school, trade school, or other educational and career opportunities are eligible to compete. The winner of this contest shall be designated Chick and Sophie Major Scholarship Winner. This contest is open to any student who has attained the age sixteen (16) but has not, as of the day of the contest, attained the age of twenty-one (21). Winning this contest shall not entitle the winner to compete in the World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest. Proof of age must be submitted at the time of registration. This requirement shall be strictly enforced.
The first-place winner will receive $5,000. Second place will receive $2,000, 3rd place will receive $1,250, and 4th place will receive $750.
Open to any current student ages 16-20 furthering their education, the competition will be on Saturday, November 30, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. The contest is associated with the World’s Champion Duck Calling Contest and will take place on the Main Street Stage beside the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce. Seniors will be required to blow a Main Street duck calling routine for eligibility.
During its 49-year history, the renowned contest has awarded more than $114,000 in scholarships to young duck callers attending 32 different colleges and universities in 13 different states. 2024 will be the program’s 50 year anniversary!
Some of the winners have attended Arkansas Tech University, East Arkansas Community College, Arkansas State University, Iowa State University, Wisconsin University, University of Central Arkansas, UA Monticello, Southwest Tennessee Community College, Spartan School of Aeronautics, Mississippi State University, Louisiana Tech, and University of Arkansas.
Honoring the memories of Stuttgart’s legendary champion duck callers and duck calls makers, Chick and Sophie Major, the competition began in 1974 with a single $500 scholarship given to the winner.
Throughout the years, funds for the scholarships have been raised in many different ways, including duck call sales, print sales, duck call pin sales, raffles, fish frys, hamburger cookouts, skeet and sporting clay shoots, donations, and memorials.
Anyone desiring to make a donation to the Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest is encouraged to contact committee members, Dixie Holt at (870) 364-2551 or Brenda Cahill at (501) 208-0949, bdcahills@aol.com
2023 Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest
Champion Ross Atkinson of Stuttgart, AR
1974 Scott Galloway, Stuttgart, AR
1975 David Bisbee, Stuttgart, AR
1976 Trey Crawford, Stuttgart, AR
1977 Sterling Sloan, Stuttgart, AR
1978 No Contest Held
1979 Jim Simpson, Stuttgart, AR
1980 David Hohn, Diaz, AR
1981 Wade Mock, Stuttgart, AR
1982 David Cahill, Pine Bluff, AR
1983 Freddie Ibbotson, Stuttgart, AR
1984 Buddy Owens, Pine Bluff, AR
1985 Dean Pappas, Pine Bluff, AR
1986 Bryan Hancock, Stuttgart, AR
1987 Bobby Dunn, Jacksonville, AR
1988 Kirk Coker, Stuttgart, AR
1989 Lee Ward, Stuttgart, AR
1990 John Stephens, Stuttgart, AR
1991 William Reichenbach, Stuttgart, AR
1992 Jason Coleman, Holly Grove, AR
1993 Bret Prine, Stuttgart, AR
1994 Dean Watson, St. Charles, AR
1995 Brian Smith, Stuttgart, AR
1996 Amanda Dierks, Stuttgart, AR 1997 Jeremy Spellmeyer, Stuttgart, AR
1998 Drake Butler, Hope, AR
1999 Mark Sheppard, Plymouth, MN
2000 Bailey Dickson, Stuttgart, AR
2001 Keith Tucek, Stuttgart, AR
2002 Nathan Davis, White Hall, AR
2003 Daniel Duke, Brinkley, AR
2004 SlaytonGearin, Gleason, TN
2005 Caleb Davisson, Clarence, IA
2006 Mitch Downs, Webster City, IA
2007 Jacob Stanley, Dover, DE
2008 Jesse Headid, Elkhorn, NE
2009 Jake Lay, Parson, TN
2010 Robbie Iverson, Ottawa, IL
2011 Gavin Roberts, Greenbrier, AR
2012 Nathan Davidson, Conway AR
2013 Will Nanney of Gleason, TN
2014 Ben Perez of Burlington, NC
2015 Ben Burgess of England, AR
2016 Chase Wall of Four Oaks, NC
2017 Jake Wisener of Guntersville, AL
2018 Dillion Wilson of Colt, AR
2019 Mason Tait of of Germantown, WI
2021 Spencer Malone of Beebe, AR 2022 Mason Byrum of Jackson, MO
2023 Ross Atkinson of Stuttgart, AR