These two young men just won the World Goose Calling Championship and the Junior World Goose Calling Championship in Easton, Maryland this past weekend.
The World Goose Calling Championship is held each year in a region of the United States that is synonymous with Canada goose hunting, the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Each year during the second weekend of November, the greatest goose callers from around the country and around the world gather in Easton for the World Goose Calling Championships.
Held in conjunction with the Easton Waterfowl Festival, the event is a idyllic destination for any waterfowl enthusiast. There is no qualifying for this contest. It is simply a matter of showing up. However, the greatest names in the sport were there in an attempt to add their name to those who have won the coveted title. It is the equivalent of the Tour De France, the Super Bowl, Wimbledon or the World Cup of the waterfowl industry.
Held in conjunction with the Easton Waterfowl Festival, the event is a idyllic destination for any waterfowl enthusiast. There is no qualifying for this contest. It is simply a matter of showing up. However, the greatest names in the sport were there in an attempt to add their name to those who have won the coveted title. It is the equivalent of the Tour De France, the Super Bowl, Wimbledon or the World Cup of the waterfowl industry.
Kile Jones first won the Junior Worlds in 2008 and has been riding on a cloud since his first place finish last year. Practicing is his key to success. In a text to his team at Higdon Outdoors and Power Calls Saturday, he said, "Thanks for putting up with all the 'calling' in the showroom. You'll be glad to know it was worth it." He said, "It really is a blessing and an honor to have my name next to some of the greats like Hunter Grounds, Tim Grounds, Kelley Powers, Robbie Iverson and so many more. This second win is extra awesome.”
Not to be outdone, 16-year-old Paducah native, Luke White, won the Junior World Goose title, beating an impressive list of up-and-coming callers. “It hit me really hard Sunday when I woke up and I was thinking to myself, ‘Wow! I’m a Junior World Goose Calling Champion-again," said an excited White. "The main reasons this is possible are because I practiced hard and never gave up. Also, I have some pretty amazing people who believe in me like Kile Jones and Kelley Powers. They help me continue to mold my calling skills into what they are now.”
“I am so proud of Luke,” says Jones. “He has worked hard to elevate his ability and his game. He practiced for hours every day. It is great to see a young guy continue to work incredibly hard to achieve a goal.”
The World Championship Goose Calling Contest ®, founded in 1976, and is the longest running goose calling contest in the United States. A list of previous winners reads like a who’s who of the waterfowl world, including such industry giants as Harold Knight, Tim Grounds, Hunter Grounds, Kelley Powers, Allen McCree, Sean Mann, Shawn Stahl, Field Hudnall and Robbie Iverson.
Jones and White each competed against dozens of the world’s best callers, with competitors from all over the United States, Canada, and as far away as New Zealand. The competition was stiff and the judging was fierce, but the skill and timing of these young callers shined through and elevated them to the top.
The two young men are both sponsored by Paducah’s POWER CALLS company, where Jones is Full Time Production Manager. Power Calls is a brand of premier game calls and is managed locally by Higdon Outdoors. This was Power Calls’ 5th World Goose Title and 2nd World Duck Title in the last three years.
