The Mississippi Ducks Unlimited Convention had something for everyone.
"Wow, it's been a great few days, from the cook-off to seminars and demonstrations to the banquet," said DU's outgoing state chairman Guy Ray of Greenwood. "We are so proud of the support from the Greenwood community to host such a big event like this."
About 175 folks attended Saturday night's fundraising banquet at the Episcopal Church of the Nativity's Parish Hall, where U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran was the keynote speaker.
Cochran talked to the crowd about Mississippi's waterfowl hunting heritage and DU's vital conservation work in Mississippi as well as across the continent.
Saturday's events kicked off at Tallahatchie Flats with an educational and entertaining dog training seminar by Mike Stewart, president and owner of Wildrose Kennels in Oxford, for a crowd of about 50 people.
Stewart used all the kids in attendance as part of the show, letting them give retrieving commands to his highly trained Labradors of British and Irish influence.
Stewart used Deke and Drake, the DU mascot dogs, during the demonstration along with many others.
"We use this seminar as an outreach for waterfowl conservation. Sixty-nine percent of DU members have hunting dogs," said Stewart, who recently put on a demonstration at the national Ducks Unlimited Convention in Dallas. "We probably do about 20 of these a year from Florida to Colorado to Montana."
Wildrose Kennels, which was originally formed in Grand Junction, Tenn., in 1972, specializes in the breeding, training and importation of fine Labrador's of British and Irish influence for wingshooters.
On Friday evening, the DU Road Kill Cook-off drew a crowd of about 150 to the Tallahatchie Flats for good food and good times.
Six teams took part in event, half the number that was expected. Ray said the extreme afternoon heat made some people pull out at the last minute.
"It was still a great time. The Bridge Choir started things off with some great music, and everybody had a lot of fun," Ray said.
Bill Henderson's Cotton Belt Aviation team won first place in the cooking competition. The group smoked ribs and chicken and had grilled sausage and corn.
"It's good to win, but we were more in it for the fun," said Cotton Belt team member Keith Chapman.
• Contact Bill Burrus at bburrus@gwcommonwealth.com.
