The National Wild Turkey Federation’s 26th Annual Convention and Sport Show was a big hit in the Queen City of Charlotte, N.C. as people from all over the continent gathered to celebrate wild turkey conservation and North America’s hunting traditions.

More than 22,000 people walked the exhibit hall floor, participated in outdoor and hunting seminars, watched the world’s greatest turkey callers in the Wild Turkey Bourbon/NWTF Grand National Calling Championships and the NWTF Grand National Junior Calling Championships and enjoyed first-class entertainment by celebrities and experts from the outdoor industry.

“The NWTF had a tremendous reception in North Carolina,” said NWTF CEO Rob Keck. “It’s great to see our volunteers from all over North America come together for a weekend of fun, friendship and conservation.”

Convention delegates were entertained by several dignitaries and celebrities including comedians Andy Andrews and T. Bubba Bechtol of Grand Ole Opry fame. Grammy Award Winner Lee Greenwood, famous for his song “God Bless the USA,” performed at the Thursday night Welcome Party. Other dignitaries attending the convention include:

• Former Senator and Presidential candidate Bob Dole
• Kansas Gov. Bill Graves 
• Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman
• Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin
• Oklahoma Congressman Steve Largent (also NFL Hall of Famer —wide receiver)
• Lt. Gen. Emil "Buck" Bedard, HQ, US Marine Corp
• Major Gen. Fred Marty
• Bubbie Brister (retired NFL quarterback)
• Kerry Collins (NFL quarterback—NY Giants)
• Scott Adams (retired NFL lineman —very active with Wheelin’ Sportsmen)
• Olympic Gold Medalist Nancy Johnson (Women in the Outdoors spokesperson)
• Olympic Bronze Medalist Lance Bade
• USA Shooting Team members
• Brenda Valentine (Bass Pro Red Head Pro Staffer and Women in the Outdoors spokesperson)
• Irlene Mandrell (Women in the Outdoors spokesperson)
• Ward Burton (winner of the 2002 Daytona 500)
• Kerry Earnhardt (race car driver and son of the late Dale Earnhardt)
• Bill Jordan (founder of Realtree camouflage)
• Cuz Strickland (Mossy Oak)
• Harold Knight (Knight and Hale Game Calls)
• John L. Morris (founder of Bass Pro Shops)
• New York Firefighters (Ronald Cammarata, Phillip Guarnieri and Gary Theriault)
• Rudy Fernandez (Medal of Honor recipient)
• The Pfeifers (contemporary gospel musical group)

Throughout the weekend, representatives from the outdoor industry including Federal Cartridge Co., Winchester/Olin Corp. and Remington Arms Co., hosted breakfast banquets, where various companies and hundreds of NWTF volunteers and veterans were honored for their work for the wild turkey and for their contributions to preserving our hunting heritage.

A highlight of the show was the prestigious Wild Turkey Bourbon/NWTF Grand National Calling Championships with more than 60 entrants in the following divisions: Senior Division, won by Jim Pollard of Corning, N.Y.; Team Challenge, won by Chris Parrish of Centralia, Mo. and Preston Pittman of Pickens, Miss.; Owl Hooting, won by Jeremy Palmer of Jackson, Mo.; Gobbling, won by Doug Benefield of Sharpsburg, Ga.; and Champion of Champions, won by Chris Parrish of Centralia, Mo. Past winners have been featured on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Daily Show on Comedy Central.

The NWTF Grand National Junior and Intermediate Calling Championships included the next generation of turkey callers with more than 35 entrants. The Junior division (under 14 years of age) was won by Michael Gault of Jonesville, S.C., while Jonathan Miller of Millers Creek, N.C., won the Intermediate division (15-20 years).

The convention also offered educational seminars on hunting, calling, art, land management, white-tailed deer taxidermy and photography. Experts in the hunting industry also were found throughout the exhibit hall where 400 booths filled with the latest in outdoor gear and collectibles were on display. Wildlife art and crafts contests were held throughout the weekend—with many of the items available at convention auctions as well.

The NWTF also recognized outstanding supporters of wildlife conservation by presenting dozens of awards to its grassroots volunteers, wildlife professionals and corporate partners who have paved the way for the continued management of wild turkey populations.

The NWTF’s convention was fun for people of all ages—including hundreds of elementary school students from area schools—who learned about wildlife conservation and turkey hunting at a special JAKES program Friday, Feb. 22. JAKES stands for Juniors Acquiring Knowledge Ethics and Sportsmanship and is the NWTF’s program for youth members 17 and younger.

For information about the NWTF, a complete list of award and contest winners or on the NWTF’s 27th Annual Convention and Sport Show in Nashville, TN, February 13-16, 2003, call 1-800-THE-NWTF.

For information on the National Wild Turkey Federation, 
call (803) 637-3106; check out our website at www.nwtf.org or e-mail questions to nwtf@nwtf.net.

About the NWTF: In 1973 when the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded, there were an estimated 1.3 million wild turkeys and 1.5 million turkey hunters. Thanks to the work of state wildlife agencies and the NWTF's many volunteers and partners, today there are an estimated 5.4 million wild turkeys and approximately 2.6 million turkey hunters. Since 1985, more than
$135 million NWTF and cooperator dollars have been spent on over 15,000 projects benefiting wild turkeys throughout North America.

The NWTF is a 390,000-member grassroots, nonprofit organization with members in 50 states, Canada and 11 foreign countries. It supports scientific wildlife management on public, private and corporate lands as well as wild turkey hunting as a traditional North American sport.