Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – One of Northeast Arkansas’s largest traditions is gearing up for its 24th year as the annual Duck Classic prepares to return this December.
Billed as the primary fundraiser for the NEA Baptist Charitable Foundation, the two-day event kicks off Thursday, Dec. 10, with a banquet at the First National Bank Arena, followed by the tournament hunt on Friday, Dec. 11.
While the weekend brings together outdoor enthusiasts for premier hunting and auctions, its primary purpose is ensuring that six crucial foundation programs—including the Center for Good Grief, HopeCircle, and ShareHope—remain 100% free for local families year-round.
“Thanks to the generosity of our community, the event has grown and allowed us to expand so that we now have six free programs. Duck Classic is pivotal and plays a huge part in making sure we’re continuing to offer those,” said Kim Provost, Executive Director of the NEA Baptist Charitable Foundation.
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Coming off a massive turnout last year that raised a record-breaking $885,000, Provost said the financial goal for this year remains simple: Top the previous year’s total. To keep the banquet fresh and engaging for hunters and non-hunters alike, auction committees have curated a wide array of “experiential packages” for both live and silent bidding, alongside grand raffles.
Provost said pulling off an event of this scale requires a massive community effort, including roughly 120 volunteers on the night of the banquet and a dedicated group working with area landowners to ensure quality hunting experiences the following day.
“You can’t control what the outcome of the hunt will be, but you can control the experience of the hunt, and so our team works very diligently to make sure that happens,” she said.
Over nearly a quarter-century, that community backing has translated into life-changing support for Northeast Arkansas.
According to Provost, in the years that the Duck Classic has run, they have been able to provide $97 million worth of free medication to patients in need, serve over 1,700 clients at the Center for Good Grief, aid 200 families through ShareHope, and deliver more than 50,000 meals to cancer center infusion patients through HopeCircle.
But Provost emphasized that you don’t have to hit the duck blind to make a difference.
“For someone who is not into hunting, there are still many opportunities to serve through this fundraiser,” she added. “Whether they want to serve on one of our committees, or if they own a business and would like to donate something to our auction or sign up for a sponsorship—it takes the whole community.”
For information on team registrations, banquet tickets, volunteer sign-ups, or corporate sponsorships, visit DuckClassic.com.
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