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Come join us for the FUN!!
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Fun at Turkey Trot
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 Monty Davenport |
5K Run
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2004 Turkey Trot Festival
Turkey Trot Festival
1946-Present
How It All Began
Our grandfathers said that homemade fun was the best fun. Their reasoning, of course, was that homemade fun was the only fun available to most of them. Colonial community gatherings for the purpose of games, contests, and eating were not uncommon. Wild game and fowl were plentiful and often adorned the tables at home and at community gatherings. No restrictions were placed on killing of the game and fowl. For this reason, many varieties were at risk of extinction.
It was for two reasons that Mr. Bill Wilson and other members of the Dennis Estes Post No. 61, (since renamed Estes Williams Post No. 61), American Legion, of Yellville, Arkansas, conceived the idea of a wild turkey festival in 1946. About this time a closed season of five years was placed on the hunting of wild turkeys in this territory, which, according to old timers hereabouts, is the center of the “last stand” territory of the nearly extinct game fowl. The turkey festival was promoted primarily for the purpose of creating interest in the restocking of this area with wild game for which this part of Arkansas was noted, and, secondarily, for the purpose of a community project of fun and fellowship. Because no other festival of its kind was known, the name given to it was “The National Wild Turkey Calling Contest and Turkey Trot.” From its infant stage, “Turkey Trot” has grown to adulthood and just recently celebrated its 58th birthday. Many features combined to make this festival a success. Among them were square dances, talent shows, turkey target shoots, the procurement of nationally known entertainers and artists, and a beauty contest. The most sensational, however, is the National Wild Turkey Calling Contest. Callers from many parts of the United States have given their interpretations of the wild turkey.  As the festival has continued to grow, new events and traditions have been added, to include, North central Arkansas’ largest parade, a 5K run, labeled the “Turkey Trot Trot,” a turkey dinner with all the trimmings, food and crafts booths around the town square, and street dances. In the 1980s, the traditional Turkey Trot button was added. It carries the annual theme and logo of the festival. Also added was the Turkey Trot tee shirt, which is also designed around the theme and logo of the festival. The festival is held annually on the second Friday and Saturday of October. To one who lives here or to one who has lived here, no place on earth is as beautiful as the Ozarks in autumn. Nature outdoes herself in revues of every imaginable color. Natives of the area return every year at this time to experience Turkey Trot and to meet with family or friends. The festival has become a homecoming to many. Whether a native, a new or occasional visitor to the area, the festival will be a memorable one for all. Programs of events from the earlier festivals were typed on standard sheets of typing paper and reproduced to be given to the festival attendees. The program in 1954 gave this schedule of events:
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