Grand Slam After Party Caps Off an Electrifying Friday at NWTF Convention
After a full day of exciting events and nonstop action on the sport show floor, Friday night at the NWTF convention ended on a high note with the Grand Slam After Party, sponsored by Spypoint. The celebration brought together attendees for an unforgettable evening of live music, entertainment and thrilling raffle prizes — all in the spirit of conserving the wild turkey and preserving our hunting heritage.
Following the prestigious Awards Gala and dinner, where dedicated volunteers were honored for their contributions to hunter recruitment, youth outreach, R3 efforts and more, attendees made their way to the highly anticipated after-party. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as friends, old and new, gathered to unwind and celebrate another successful day at the convention.
“There is such a good vibe here, with a ton of people and great raffles — this is such a fun night,” said Clay Newcomb, storyteller and host of the Bear Grease podcast. “This is my first time here in Nashville at the convention, and I’m super impressed with the enthusiasm and people getting pumped about habitat for turkeys.”
Kicking off the night was a high-energy performance by The Brothers Hunt — Tennessee natives and avid outdoorsmen Dan and Reid Isbell. Their music set the perfect backdrop for an evening of camaraderie, as guests mingled and took their chances on an array of coveted raffle prizes. Items such as a First Lite turkey vest and a Timber Stove outdoor heater drew eager participants, but the most anticipated prizes of the night were the turkey hunt giveaways. Every attendee was automatically entered to win one of six wild turkey hunts, ensuring everyone had a shot at the adventure of a lifetime.
As the music wrapped up, the spotlight shifted to an NWTF-special edition of trivia, hosted by MeatEater’s Ryan Callaghan, Janis Putelis, Clay Newcomb and Spencer Neuharth. Bringing their signature wit and enthusiasm, the MeatEater crew crafted trivia questions based on survey responses from convention attendees, making for a highly engaging and interactive game. With Valentine’s Day in mind, one question polled the audience on how many were attending the convention as part of a date, while another asked how many had ever lost their keys, wallet or phone while out hunting.
After ten rounds of laughs and friendly competition, Callaghan emerged victorious. True to MeatEater trivia tradition, the winner selected a conservation organization to receive a $500 donation, with Callaghan choosing the NWTF — further reinforcing the shared commitment to conservation that united everyone in the room.
The night concluded with the much-anticipated drawing of raffle prizes and the announcement of the six lucky winners of the turkey hunts. As the celebration wound down, the energy in the room remained electric, with attendees already looking forward to next year’s event.