Nearly 1,500 people gathered at the Convocation Center the evening of Dec. 8 for the Duck Classic Banquet, enjoying a meal, auctions and raffles. Kevin James won the Grand Classic Raffle Polaris Ranger donated by Barton Powersports. Chad Speer was the winner of the Grand Classic Raffle Duck Truck, donated by Glen Sain and DNW Truck Accessories.
The following morning, 31 teams participated in a competitive duck hunt with local landowners, who donated prime hunting spots. Hunters and landowners gathered for the check-in event at DNW Outdoors to roll the dice and tally the scores that afternoon. Landowner Chris Bauschlicher and Team NECA 1 took home first place in the hunt.
The hunt is based on a scoring system; points are allotted for types and amounts of ducks. Each team had a host/blind monitor to keep track of the scoring. When the hunt ended, the dice were rolled to determine the value of each duck, and the team with the most points and the earliest recorded score wins.
With blinds (timber and rice fields) donated from all over Northeast Arkansas, the event provides participants with the opportunity to hunt some of the top spots in the area that otherwise may not be accessible. The success of the Duck Classic has been recognized nationally on the television show Drakes Migration Nation.
Sponsors for the 2016 Duck Classic event included: NEA Baptist, DNW Outdoors, Under Armour, Jonesboro Radio Group, Barton Powersports, Glen Sain Motors, Refuge, KAIT, Yeti Coolers, Arkansas Dentistry and Braces, KJNB 39, Gillis Inc., Drake, Mattress King, East Arkansas Broadcasters, Sissy’s Log Cabin, Baptist Medical Group, Bear State Bank, Task Electric, Greenway Equipment, Vineyard Outdoor, The Sun, Arkansas Continued Care Hospital, Pagans Jewelry and Avery.
Proceeds from the Duck Classic support NEA Baptist Charitable Foundation’s Medicine Assistance Program, HopeCircle, ShareHope, Center for Healthy Children, and Wellness Works. For more information about NEA Baptist Charitable Foundation, visit NEABaptistFoundation.org.
