32nd Annual Turkey Hunt in Duncan Focuses on Economic Development

April 13, 2019

By Charlene Belew The Duncan Banner

Duncan Mayor Ritchie Dennington, Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, Scott Chance, who works with Congressman Tom Cole, and Dream Team founder Chad Simpson visit with each other before the beginning of the Lt. Gov. Turkey Hunt Dinner.

Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell stopped in Duncan Thursday during the 32nd annual Lt. Governor’s Turkey Hunt.

The multiple-day-long turkey hunt kicked off on Wednesday, April 10 in Oklahoma City and made stops in Elk City, Woodward, Alva, Ardmore, Duncan, Okemah, Pawnee and Hugo with a goal of highlighting the state’s businesses and site selections who are considering Oklahoma for relocation or expansion. 

The annual turkey hunt began in 1988 as an invitation-only event in conjunction with the Oklahoma Department of

Commerce as a way to attract business partners to communities around Oklahoma. The hunt has come to Duncan for well over 20 years now.

Duncan Area Economic Development Foundation President and CEO Lyle Roggow introduced Pinnell to the audience attending the hunt, but only after recognizing other special visitors first. These visitors included Dream Team prosthetic users, some of whom had traveled from Norway, Poland, the United Kingdom, Guatamela and other countries. In total, six different countries were represented inside the Simmons Center.

“We talk about opening doors, allowing folks to come and see what our culture is all about in Oklahoma,” Roggow said. 

“When Dream Team came to the community, we said, ‘Hey, I think we’ve got a great partnership and a great opportunity.’ Chad refers to me as his business development manager. They have their bilateral camp and it just so happened it fell exactly at the same time as our turkey hunt. It worked out really well. We did not want for you guys to have to miss this event because … this is a fun experience with a great opportunity so we asked them to be our guests with us tonight and enjoy some of our communities culture and what we’re about. It’s a tremendous opportunity for us to open our doors, it’s how we want to take care of our businesses, it’s how we want to work with our citizens, and move forward.”

Pinnell took the stage next, highlighting what the Turkey Hunt was about: economic development, attracting business and establishing relationships with those already existing.

“Every one of these communities is fired up for the Lt. Gov. Turkey Hunt, but they’re fired up because this is economic development,” Pinnell said. “This is why we’re doing this hunt, because we’ve got to create more private sector jobs in the state of Oklahoma. Listen, I want to kill birds, gobble, gobble, boom, I want to do as much of that as possible, but this is about economic development. This is about making sure it’s not just Oklahoma City and Tulsa. I want to make sure we have big thriving cities in Oklahoma, don’t get me wrong, but we have 77 counties in Oklahoma and we will not be a thriving, healthy state if we’re not making sure our local economic development directors have the support from our Department of Commerce and our Executive Branch.”

Pinnell said he loved what the event is about and the vision is brings with it and has had for the last 32 years.

“This is why I ran. We’ve got four kids of our own and I want them to grow up in a state they’re proud of and that hopefully when they start growing up, we diversify this economy and we get more diversified, what? We’ll create more jobs in the state, and then maybe they’ll choose to go to school here and find their own job here,” Pinnell said. “I know that’s what you want for your kids and your grandkids as well. Private sector job growth has got to be a main goal of government policies down at the state Capitol.”

Pinnell called on Rep. Marcus McEntire, Sen. Brad Boles and Sen. Paul Scott. He told the audience that while these men make the legislation, he encourages them to keep private sector job growth in mind.

“Is what we’re pursuing hurting or helping the people like you sitting in this room? They (Companies) create jobs everyday, small businesses and big businesses alike,” Pinnell said. “If that’s what we’re laser focused on, doing your work down at the state Capitol, then we will diversify the economy and we will start creating more jobs in this state.”

For the last five years, DAEDF has played host to a wounded warrior who is included in the hunt. This year’s wounded warrior was Joshua Wells, who was guided by Hal and Matt Labyer.

Roggow said: “It’s just wonderful for us to host somebody who has sacrificed so much for our country and for our freedom.”

Wells got the chance to talk about his experience during the hunt. On his way to the podium, he was greeted by a standing ovation.

“Before I tell you about the hunt, I want to tell you the main reason I’m here,” Wells said. “If we could, I want to recognize Chad Simpson and Randy Richardson, founders of the Dream Team. The name really says it all, they really are the Dream Team. If it wasn’t for those two guys, I wouldn’t be standing up today, as well as the fine group you see over here (the Bilateral Life campers). They really make a difference in people’s lives.”

The funny stories started next for Wells and the Labyers. Wells recounted his experience, noting the first five hours was spent bird watching crows and doves while they waited for turkeys. Then, he told about how Matt was able to help lead turkeys into his direction.

“We travel in a river bed and we get down there, we’re bounding,” Wells said. “(Matt) decided he wanted to go a bit ahead of me to spot them and see where they were. Scared they were going to see him, he stuck to the woodbine and made a big circle. Luckily they didn’t see him. He brings them back in, we’re sitting there like he said, we hear the tom call, and out of no where we see three white heads just pop up. He said, ‘don’t move!’ but he didn’t know I had already stopped breathing all together … Maybe a minute and a half felt like ten seconds before these three turkeys all standing in a row, shoulder to shoulder, and he brought them right up to us, maybe 20 yards, it was absolutely perfect. He gives me the go ahead for the shot and you heard my bird, we didn’t win, but hey we’re on the board and we placed. I’ve been turkey hunting many, many times as a kid, but I’ve never had success so this is my actual first time to bag a bird. It has truly been a hunt of a lifetime … everyone that made this happen, thank you.”

Winners of the Lt. Gov. Turkey hunt included Shawn Roberts for Duncan with Plains Pipeline and his guide Tony High.