Zink Turkey Callers Light Up the Stage

by Zink Calls Staff
27 July 2009

Port Clinton, Ohio - Zink Calls' competitive turkey callers, Josh Grossenbacher, and Shane Hendershot, recently had a chance to strut their stuff on stage at the 67th Annual World Turkey Calling Championships held in Birmingham, Alabama. Hendershot, a native of Zanesville, Ohio, had captured the 2008 world title, while Grossenbacher, a Seville, Ohio native now living in Port Clinton, had taken the sixth position in the '08 contest. Both men currently work full-time for Zink Calls.

The contest, which featured 25 of the country's best and most recognized names in turkey calling, began early on the morning of Saturday, 18 July. At the end of the preliminary round, both men had scored well above the requisite 450 points - Hendershot with a 461, and Grossenbacher with 459. The final round came off without a hitch; however, before the final tallies could be read, an announcement of several "tied" scores was made. Following a call-off, all ties had been broken - but what were the final scores?

The voting was in, and the decisions of the judges had been made. Reigning champion, Hendershot, had earned a third-place finish, while Grossenbacher had improved his 2008 competition sixth-place finish to the number four slot. Runner-up was Missourian, James Harrison, with Chris Parrish, another Show-Me-Stater, had walked away with the coveted first place trophy. Later, the Zink Team would discover they had indeed tied for third and four position with a score of 456, only two points off first! "We were awful close to that one-two finish," said Grossenbacher. "But we're certainly not disappointed with a three-four finish. Just to be up there on stage calling against the best in the nation is an honor. And to represent Ohio and Zink Calls just makes it all the better. Plus," he said with a smile, "there's always next year."