Outdoor enthusiasts flock to Bryant Game Calls at State Fair

By Stephen Baldwin, RealWV

Phillip Bryant was born and raised in Blue Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, a small community near Dawson in western Greenbrier County. 

“My parents would bring my sisters and I to the State Fair once a year,” Bryant remembers. “They always brought us on the last day of the fair. Those are good memories.”

This year, he is back in a big way at the 100th State Fair of West Virginia. “It’s so exciting to be part of the 100th fair!” 

Bryant is a three-time West Virginia Turkey Calling Champion, who also holds multiple other state titles including Florida and North Carolina. He has come within a few points of winning the world championship several times. 

Underneath the grandstand (three booths in from the left on the carnival side), Phillip, his wife Samantha, and his son Noah will be operating the Bryant Game Calls booth. Just look for the 16-point whitetail! 

“It’s not a West Virginia buck, but it’s a good one people will enjoy seeing, I think,” says Bryant. “I’ll also have my titles there, including the North Carolina trophy that looks like a WCW Ric Flair belt!” 

In addition to meeting Phillip and talking about the outdoors, folks can purchase his renowned turkey calls. 

“We have several pot calls out,” he says. “We also have mouth calls plus merchandise including over 100 hats.”

Everyone who visits the booth can enter to win a free turkey call. And if the famous turkey calls sell out, Bryant says his customers will have the option to place pre-orders at the booth and receive new products as soon as they’re available. They take cash and cards at the booth. 

This is Bryant’s first year at the State Fair of West Virginia. He and his wife, Samatha, put in an application for a booth in January 2025.

“We didn’t think we’d have a chance, but we kept on callin’ and askin’,” he recalls. “Then around February they called and offered us a booth. We were thrilled to be included as part of the 100th fair! It’s a real honor.” 

Bryant said he immediately went to work after getting that phone call, gathering inventory to be ready for the crowds at the fair. He and his wife both work full-time jobs in addition to operating Bryant Game Calls, and he has bigger plans in store. 

“Hopefully, one day I can do this as my job,” Phillip says. “It’s a good way to support my family and then one day I can pass it down to my son, Noah.”

Visit Bryant Game Calls underneath the grandstand in booth A19, on the carnival side. For more information, visit www.bryantgamecalls.com.