Kennett to host inaugural waterfowl festival

The Missouri Waterfowl Festival and Sports Show will be held Friday, Oct. 31 and Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008 in Kennett Missouri at the Kennett American Legion Building and Fairgrounds.

According to Charley Hilburn, director of the festival, "Southeast Missouri, and in particular the Missouri Bootheel has become the place to be to hunt waterfowl in the Mississippi Flyway."

"Nearly 250,000 acres of rice farms have been developed in the last twenty years, and the ducks and geese are stopping here by the thousands," Hilburn said.

"Area farmers reflood their rice fields after harvest and hold the water until the birds migrate back to the breeding grounds in the spring."

The Missouri Waterfowl Festival and Sports Show is a celebration of the migration and is designed for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts and their families.

"Our emphasis is on youth involvement but there will be fun activities for outdoor sports fans of all ages," Hilburn noted.

Recently Hilburn and several other individuals who are actively involved in the coordination of the event met at the Kennett Chamber of Commerce to discuss early arrangements.

The group has already established an informative Internet Web site, www.missouriwaterfowlfestival.com, where individuals can learn more about the first annual event and its main attractions.

This year's festival boasts "big name" hunting enthusiasts and professionals such as Ralph Duren, Rick Dunn, Buck Gardner, John Braun, Dan Heard, Christian Curtis and John Fleck, among others.

Some of the activities at the festival will include retriever demonstrations and seminars by Dan Heard, old duck call appraisals by John Fleck, outdoor vendors and exhibitors, a kid's decoy painting contest, a $2,500 duck calling contest, a $2,500 speed Retriever contest, duck calling contests, live entertainment, duck call demonstrations and seminars by Buck Gardner, a rock climbing wall provided by the Missouri Army National Guard, inflatable moon walks, a kid's B-B gun shoot-off, free outdoor seminars and an aerial archery shoot.

"There will be something for everyone," Hilburn said of the activities.

The outdoor activities will be set up on the grass area of the Delta Fairgrounds, where there will be a lot of room available to accommodate the large displays.

The indoor locations will be within the American Legion building itself, next to the fairgrounds.

Since the festival is still in the planning stages, Hilburn and other volunteers are encouraging area exhibitors and vendors to sign-up for participation.

The festival's online site offers an exhibitor and sponsor form available for download, and interested parties may also contact the Chamber of Commerce at (573) 888-5828 for more details.

Additional information is also available by e-mail at info@missouriwaterfowlfestival.com.