Announcing New Youth Workshops and Coloring Competition at NWTF Convention
EDGEFIELD, S.C. — To foster the next generation of hunters and conservationists, the NWTF is introducing several youth workshops as part of its Grand National Custom Callmaking Competition at this year’s 50th annual Convention and Sport Show.
“If we want our hunting heritage to live beyond us, we must place tools in the hands of our children,” said Kevin Alley, who coordinates the callmaking competition. “When a young person shapes a turkey call, they’re not just carving wood — they’re carving out a lifelong connection to the outdoors. Skills learned at the bench become values carried into the field, and that is how the future of our traditions stays alive.”
To help celebrate the 50th year of the NWTF’s annual Convention and Sport Show, there will be workshops for youth under the age of 18 to learn how to build their own turkey calls. On Thursday, Feb. 12, youth can sign up for a morning class with Clay Townsend, a previous recipient of the DD Adams Award, and learn how to build a pot call. Townsend is well-known for his exceptional custom callmaking techniques and aims to help kids become more engaged with the NWTF's nationwide efforts to promote hunting heritage.
In the afternoon, Joe Slaton will be leading a mouth call building workshop. Slaton is a major competitor in the Grand National Custom Callmaking Competition and will be teaching attendees how to make their very own latex mouth call.
On Friday, Feb. 13, Val Espinoza and Mike Lapp will be assisting young attendees with building box calls, where youth will assemble the call, chalk the lid and talk turkey in no time. They can get as creative as they wish with stains, paints or any other decorations. Friday afternoon will offer youth the opportunity to paint a wooden turkey puzzle. The wooden puzzle pieces slot together to form a freestanding turkey, making it a fun and easy-to-assemble decoration for the kitchen table.
The first annual Coloring Championship Competition will also be on Friday afternoon. Youth can choose between a turkey-themed coloring page or a wooden turkey feather, and use paint, crayons, or colored pencils to create a masterpiece for the chance to win $100. Artist Elizabeth Scialdone will be available to assist participants. There will be three age groups in the competition — ages 3 to 9, ages 10 to 13 and ages 14 to 17 — with winners from each age group receiving a prize.
The final youth workshop will be held on Saturday morning and invites attendees to build a miniature wooden rifle that launches rubber bands using a pre-cut kit. Instructional support will be available from volunteers. Once the wooden rifle is constructed, youth attendees can enjoy practicing their shooting skills on included turkey targets.
All workshops have limited materials, so pre-registering for free to secure a spot is recommended. Registration can be found here.
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 24 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $10 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats. and Healthy Harvests. for future generations.