Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Scholarship

High School seniors may compete for college scholarships totaling $9,000 at the Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest.

A copy of the contestant’s high school transcript must be provided at registration along with a proper ID. Seniors who are furthering their education through traditional school, trade school, or other educational and career opportunities are eligible to compete.

The first-place winner will receive $5,000. Second place will receive $2,000, 3rd place will receive $1,250, and 4th place will receive $750.

Open to any current high school senior graduating in 2025, the competition will be on Saturday, November 30, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. The contest is associated with the World’s Champion Duck Calling Contest and will take place on the Main Street Stage beside the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce. Seniors will be required to blow a Main Street duck calling routine for eligibility.

During its 49-year history, the renowned contest has awarded more than $114,000 in scholarships to young duck callers attending 32 different colleges and universities in 13 different states. 2024 will be the program’s 50 year anniversary!

Some of the winners have attended Arkansas Tech University, East Arkansas Community College, Arkansas State University, Iowa State University, Wisconsin University, University of Central Arkansas, UA Monticello, Southwest Tennessee Community College, Spartan School of Aeronautics, Mississippi State University, Louisiana Tech, and University of Arkansas.
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Honoring the memories of Stuttgart’s legendary champion duck callers and duck calls makers, Chick and Sophie Major, the competition began in 1974 with a single $500 scholarship given to the winner.

Throughout the years, funds for the scholarships have been raised in many different ways, including duck call sales, print sales, duck call pin sales, raffles, fish frys, hamburger cookouts, skeet and sporting clay shoots, donations, and memorials.

Anyone desiring to make a donation to the Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest is encouraged to contact committee members, Dixie Holt at (870) 364-2551 or Brenda Cahill at (501) 208-0949, bdcahills@aol.com