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2022 Game Fair Duck and Goose Calling Contest Results

The Gopher State's Game Fair draws a massive crowd of waterfowlers, contest callers, and outdoor enthusiasts.

2022 Game Fair Duck and Goose Calling Contest Results

Matt Rustad (with his wife Liz and Labrador pup "Ice") took 1st place in the Minnesota State Duck at the 2022 Game Fair to punch his ticket to the World Championship Duck Calling Contest in Stuttgart, Arkansas. Matt also placed 2nd in the Game Fair Regional Duck, 3rd in the Bernie Boyle Regional Duck, and 3rd in the Open Meat Duck contests.

One of America’s longest running and most popular waterfowl-centric outdoor summer sporting events, the annual Game Fair was held in Ramsey, Minnesota, Friday-Sunday, August 12-14 & 19-21, 2022. 

Since 1982, Game Fair has been a prominent event to celebrate a shared passion for the outdoors. Well-known for a series of duck and goose calling contests and retriever events, Game Fair also features dozens of vendors, exhibitors, activities, concessions, and other happenings for all things outdoors. With nearly 30,000 people having attended the 2022 show, Game Fair is proving to remain as a strong summer tradition for waterfowlers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Setting the Stage

Lucas Adamski, a contest caller, organizer, and MC, has been facilitating the series of duck and goose calling contests at Game Fair for the past few years. He mentioned that while participation had taken a slight downturn during the COVID-19 pandemic, things are really looking up now. “If you would have asked me before this year’s event, I would have said that we’ve been seeing the same old crowd, but after this past weekend, I saw so many more people involved, with many new faces I’d never seen before, especially with young and novice callers. I heard from several seasoned callers that we had one of the best novice competitions of the summer—we had 16 competitors for novice goose!”

The numbers don’t lie; contest calling is on the rise with a surge of new entrants. Adamski agrees. “I’ve been seeing the names of several individuals pop up consistently in the placings. Like Alden Pugh, a 16-year-old kid from Virginia. This was his fourth competition event this summer, and now he’s heading to North Carolina this weekend. Seeing this gives me hope that we’re doing the right things to get youth and new callers involved. Without them, we won’t be able to have these events in the future.” 

classic upland bird and waterfowl hunting books
Youth and novice callers are eagerly flocking to the contest stage for a chance to win cash, prizes, and take home some titles. (Photo courtesy of Lucas Adamski

Game Fair also features three sanctioned duck calling contests, including the Bernie Boyle Regional, Game Fair Regional, and Minnesota State, giving Main Street duck callers multiple chances to punch their ticket to the World Championship Duck Calling Contest in the mallard mecca of Stuttgart, Arkansas, later this fall. While the state-sanctioned competition is reserved for state residents, anyone and everyone is eligible to enter the regional sections for a chance at the “big dance.”

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2022 Game Fair Contest Calling Results

Youth Duck

1st - Alden Pugh

2nd - Carey Mitchell

3rd - Jason Smith

4th - Josh Elchynski 

5th - Wyatt Warweg 

Youth Goose

1st - Alden Pugh

2nd - Josh Elchynski 

3rd - Carey Mitchell

4th - Kyler Auseson

5th - Sloan Sherrett

Bernie Boyle Regional Duck

1st - Cahill Horner 

2nd - Cody Palen

3rd - Matt Rustad

4th - Mike Anderson 

5th - Chandler Martin 

Game Fair Regional Duck

1st- Mike Anderson 

2nd - Matt Rustad

3rd - Cody Palen

4th - Kyle Dennis 

5th - Chandler Martin 

Minnesota State Duck

1st - Matt Rustad

2nd - Jeff Foster

3rd - Wyatt Warweg 

Open Meat Duck

1st - Chandler Martin 

2nd - Cahill Horner 

3rd - Matt Rustad

4th - Mike Benjamin 

5th - Chance Wadsworth 

Novice Goose

1st - Austin Schelander

2nd - Chance Wadsworth 

3rd - Alden Pugh 

4th - David Goos

5th - Tony Strauss

Open Goose

1st - Mike Benjamin 

2nd - Austin Schelander

3rd - Joe Heintz

4th - Cody Palen

5th - Josh Elchynski 

2-Man Goose

1st - Chance Wadsworth/Alden Pugh 

2nd - David Goos/Cody Palen

3rd - Chance Wadsworth/Tim Steele 

4th - Jordan Keil/Austin Shcelander

5th - Jordan Keil/Joe Heintz

Get in the Game

With a schedule stretching across six days and two weekends, Game Fair isn’t just for stage callers. This longstanding, waterfowl-focused event is the ideal way to get in gear for opening day. “There are several dozen vendors, from guns, ammo, and decoys, to calls, retrievers, and other gear,” added Adamski. “There’s something for everyone, and Game Fair is the perfect venue to get your hands on gear before you buy it. Where else can you walk up to a booth and talk with some of the biggest names in the industry? And all of them are ready to have a conversation, not just make a sale; it’s an opportunity for community and connection.” 

Don’t be left out of the flock, be sure to put Game Fair into your calendar. To learn more about all of the fun and festivities for you and your entire family, visit www.gamefair.com




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