Stuttgart's Wings Over the Prairie Festival turns 80

Every five years, the greatest of the great from across the world gather to see who is the ultimate champion: a battle among the cream of the crop to see who can create the most realistic quack.

It's fitting for a town that bills itself as the "Rice and Duck Capital of the World."

This is the 80th year for Stuttgart's Wings Over the Prairie Festival, which organizers say is the oldest festival in the state, and its World Championship Duck Calling Contest. There are actually 81 sanctioned duck-calling contests across the United States, Canada and New Zealand every year, with the Stuttgart event as the pinnacle. But it's only every five years that brings the Champion of Champions.

One can only win the world championship three times and after that, competitors are only eligible for the Champion of Champions.

"Once you win that, you're retired from the sport," explains Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Bethany Hildebrand. "It's the end-all."

The championship contests may be the most heralded, but they're not the only duck-calling battles going on. There are contests for children, a scholarship bout for high school seniors and one specifically for women.

It's not all about the duck calls.

Main Street in downtown Stuttgart is shut down for the festival, which includes an arts and crafts fair, outdoor and commercial exhibits and sporting collectibles show. Most of the events take place starting 10 a.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday, but the carnival and midway have already started and will be open 1-10 p.m. today.

Saturday will also see the Great 5K/10K Duck Race at 8 a.m., one of the festival's most popular events. Registration is $30.

"It's a great race for beginners because it's a really flat course," Hildebrand says.

They're also serving up some of the tasty fowl at the Duck Gumbo Cook-Off, an adults-only party where alcoholic beverages are served. It will be at the Rice Mill parking lot on Park Avenue, away from the festival proper, and typically draws 4,000 t0 5,000 people. Admission is $20 and Big Stack will provide the music.

The entire festival has become a Thanksgiving tradition for many, attracting about 35,000 to 40,000 visitors each year.

"We get to see a lot of people who only come once a year on Thanksgiving weekend," Hildebrand says. "It's like a big reunion.

"It's fun for the whole family. It's a free event to get into. It's not a bad trip for anyone to make. It's certainly an opportunity after everyone eats their turkey on Thanksgiving to get out with the family and come to downtown Stuttgart and see all we have to offer."

Weekend on 11/26/2015