CEDAR CITY — The hunting began a couple of days before Thanksgiving as the sounds of gobbles echoed throughout the elementary school last Monday.

Even though the sounds of turkeys were heard, the hunt was not for the bird of November but for the best turkey caller at Three Peaks Elementary in Cedar City.

The elementary school students registered and competed in a school turkey-calling contest with prizes to win to help celebrate the beginning of the holiday season.

This was the eighth annual turkey calling contest at Three Peaks Elementary.

Iron County School District Communication and Foundation Coordinator Shauna Lund said the contest was split into two age categories: kindergarten through second and third through fifth.

As part of picking out the competitors, each class held its own contest. Both the first- and second-place winners were chosen to represent each class as their champion and alternate. The younger group had 10 contestants; the older group had 12.

After each class champion and alternate competed, students and staff judges weighed in on who did the best job calling in and bringing the dinner for Thanksgiving.

Some students used their hands to generate different sounds. Other students imitated the movement of a turkey as well. Some calls were as simple as “gobble, gobble,” while others were quite elaborate.

As for the talent and skill of the gobblers, Lund said she was stunned.

“I was really impressed,” she said.

There were no restrictions on making the turkey gobbles other than they must use their mouth to make the gobbling.

The prizes were donations from the PTA and one local family. First, second and third place in each age category were given turkey pails full of fun prizes, including holiday-themed candy, Swig gift cards and more.

There was a challenge within the older age category competition. The competition was so stuffed with good callers they had a difficult time choosing the final winners. They “feathered” through it and finally decided to award two honorable mentions as well.

Final winners for the kindergarten through second-grade category:

• First place: Grayson White
• Second place: Kennedy Knowles
• Third place: Stella Moreno

Final winners for the third through fifth-grade category:

• First place: Jack Clark,
• Second place: Haylee Blackner and
• Third place: Jaxton Melling.

Leo Liddle and Taylee Barker both received honorable mentions.

Lund said everyone had fun, and the student competitors had great sportsmanship and cheered for one another. There was much laughter and smiling.

“It was a fun and good way to celebrate the time of the year,” Lund said.

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