Kreuter competed against 61 other callers from U.S., Canada.

Angelle Barbazon

abarbazon@etruth.com

ELKHART — An Elkhart man is back home after competing in the World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest in Stuttgart, Ark.

Thomas Kreuter finished 37th out of the top 62 duck callers from across the United States and Canada. He qualified for the championship after snagging the top spot at the Indiana State Duck Calling Contest earlier this year.

“For my first time down there, I was pretty happy with it,” said Kreuter, who performed a 90-second duck calling routine at the event.

Saturday’s championship was by far the largest competition Kreuter had ever participated in. Among the 500 people who watched the competition was Kreuter’s wife, who cheered her husband on from the stands.

“He told me when he first started getting into competitions, his dream and his goal was to make it to the world championship,” Jocelyn Kreuter said. “Just sitting there watching him, I was just really proud of him.”

Mark Holcomb, Thomas Kreuter’s hunting buddy, also went along for the ride in support of his friend.

“I think he did great,” Holcomb said. “I’m extremely proud of him. It was a great weekend.”

Thomas Kreuter said this weekend’s duck calling competition was good training for the future. He plans to enter Indiana’s statewide contest again in February in hopes of qualifying for next year’s championship.