Great to be here in the Music City! Even better to be here to honor of the ol’ Thunder Chicken at the 2012 NWTF Convention and Sport Show!

Country music and turkey hunting. What more could a backwoods boy like me ask for?

As I write this, exhibitors are setting up, workshops are taking place and I can hear the occasional hoot call as competitors of the NWTF Grand National Calling Championships are warming up. There is a whiff of spring in the air. And this is just the first morning!

There will be more fun, educational and entertaining events that will push my thrill meter to the red-line all weekend. I mean, I have seen some taxidermy outfits setting up their work for display and I didn’t know whether to compliment them on their great work or jump behind the booth and start calling. The birds looked that real! I expected one to bark at me at any time.

There is something here for whole family. Girls, you do not want to miss the Ladies' Luncheon and Auction, "Salute to Pioneer Women - Trailblazers of Conservation" on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.

Young people, students and those just young at heart need to check out The Roost. I know I will be! Get your Roost Passport and play virtual hunting games, catch some fish with the TWRA, explore the NWTF Discovery Zone and throw your hat in all kinds of seminars and shooting competitions. This sure makes learning about our sport fun!

And, of course, you do not want to miss the raffles, autograph sessions and seminars from the best turkey hunters in the world, all the great exhibitors strutting their new turkey gear, Entertainment by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Andy Griggs, Darryl Worley, Eric Lee Beddingfield and Grammy Award winner Brad Davis.

I hope to see you at this wonderland of all things turkey!