Steven Bradley makes local Bigfoot Calling Contest history on Saturday

Kyles, Sims, Coleman, Upton and Bradley.

Steven Bradley of Repton made local Bigfoot Calling history on Saturday when he captured top honors in two Bigfoot Calling contests on the same day.

Steven is well over six feet tall and is built like an SEC lineman, and those of you who have heard him belt out one of his famous Bigfoot calls knows that he’s hard to beat. During Saturday’s Collard Green Festival at Evergreen Regional Airport, Steven claimed top honors against some stiff competition in the festival’s Bigfoot Calling Contest. Gary Coleman finished second, James Sims came in third and past-champion Tony Kyles received honorable mention honors.

Steven’s first-place winnings amounted to $200, and Coleman received a $100 prize. Sims received $50 for his efforts.

Loretta Bradley, Steven Bradley and David Busby.

Later on Saturday night, at the Baggett’s Chapel 14^th Annual Wild Game Supper, Steven also captured first-place honors in a Bigfoot Calling Contest that featured five adult competitors. Steven’s sister, Loretta Bradley, came in second, and David Busby finished third. Other competitors included Logan Blake and Matthew Kirkland. Loretta’s performance was noteworthy and memorable because she incorporated sticks and rocks in her performance.

In the youth division contest, Hunter Nichols came in first, Grady Busby came in second and Will Acreman finished third. Other competitors included Anna Bradley, Payton Adams, McKenzie Nichols, Colt Busby, Gunner Busby, Isabella Johnson and Kinsley Spencer.

Bigfoot expert Ashley McPhaul of Excel and I judged the competition at Baggett’s Chapel, and we had our work cut out for us. All of the contestants did a good job and deserve a pat on the back for their willingness to take the stage in front of such a large crowd.

Here at The Courant, Butch and I are maintaining the “Official Conecuh County Bigfoot Calling Record Book,” and those of you familiar with previous contests will recognize many of the names in this so-called book.

Many in the reading audience will know that the first-ever Bigfoot Calling Contest in county history was held during the Conecuh Sausage Festival on Oct. 21, 2017. Contestant John “Little John” Davis captured top honors in that contest, winning a $500 grand prize and a “Yeti Stick” hand-crafted by Ricky Upton of Excel, the brother of Evergreen City Councilman Luther Upton, who MC’d the contest.

Tim Stewart of Greenville won the $100 second-place prize, and Tony Kyles came in third. Bigfoot witness Carl Pugh and Benjamin Whatley received honorable mention. Other contestants in the contest included Katie Brand, Jacob Baggett, Dakota Coleman, Gary Coleman and Ricky Hicks. Judges in that contest included McPhaul, local Bigfoot skeptic Stacey Turner Middleton and myself.

On March 3, 2018, McPhaul and I judged another Bigfoot Calling Contest during the 13^th Annual Baggett’s Chapel Wild Game Supper. There were seven contestants in the youth division, and there were five contestants in the adult division. Contestants in the youth division included Will Acreman, Tristan Bradley, Hunter Nichols, Robert Farish, Bucky Farish and Brady Busby. Adult competitors included Sue Brown, Bobby McInnis, Steven Bradley, Dennis McKinley and Will Driver.

In the adult division, Steven Bradley was named the Grand Champion Bigfoot Caller, and Dennis McKinley finished a close second. Hunter Nichols took home top honors in the youth division, and Tristan Bradley came in second. All of the other contestants were honorable mention winners in my book.

During the Conecuh Sausage Festival on Oct. 25, 2018, Tony Kyles of Evergreen won Grand Champion honors and a $200 grand prize during the 2^nd Annual Conecuh Sausage Festival Bigfoot Calling Contest. Terry Crook of McKenzie finished second, and Anna Kay Bradley of Repton came in third. Honorable mention honors went to Steven Bradley and Gary Coleman. Judges in the competition were Evergreen Mayor Pete Wolff, Probate Judge-elect Steve Fleming and Olivia Ballard.