12-year-old Ella Lees is the youngest Women’s World Elk Calling Champion in history
By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Wednesday, July 27th, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE – 12-year-old Ella Lees of La Grande is the Women’s World Elk Calling Champion and the youngest in history.
Ella won this competition this past weekend at the 2022 World Elk Calling Championship in Park City Utah.
Ella began calling about three or four years ago according to her mentor, her Uncle Mike Kaup, who says when she (Ella) was younger, she showed an interest in calling so they just ran with it! Kaup said that she (Ella) is super dedicated to calling but she also has a natural talent that can’t be taught.
Ella’s mother, Angela Lees, says they couldn’t do these competitions and events without the help of Uncle Mike and Ella’s grandmother Shirleen Kaup, who will help get Ella places when the family is busy with other activities with Ella’s siblings.
Mark Holyoak, Senior Director of Communications & Content with Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation told Angela Lees “I still remember back to last year when she took the stage for the first time and unleashed that first bugle. A lot of us were looking around the room at each other like, “Wait, that little girl just did THAT?!” And this year she was even that much more impressive.”
Ella sat down and spoke with Elkhorn Media Group News Director Shannon McKone yesterday to talk about calling and the competition.
(SM) What got you started with calling?
(EL) My Uncle, he introduced it to me because he had been doing it for a while and wanted to share his interest.
(SM) Have long have you been elk calling?
(EL) Three or four years.
(SM) Is this the first competition you have participated in, or have you done others?
(EL) I have done competitions before in Idaho and Utah. Those are about the only competitions I have done but it has been great.
(SM) What do you like about elk Calling?
(EL) It’s unique and not a lot of people do it so it’s pretty fun, and I get to hang out with my uncle and gives me opportunities I wouldn’t have had before.
(SM) What do you use to call?
(EL) I use a reed from Phelps and bugle tubes from multiple different companies.
(SM) You competed in Utah, how long were you there and can you tell me about your experience?
(EL) We were there for around five days. We camped out and I got to meet so many people and make friends that I wouldn’t have made. I got to compete which was great.
(SM) Ella, you competed in the women’s division, not the youth division, how many women did you compete against?
(EL) Eight
(SM) And those competitors where from all around the country, what was that like?
(EL) It was nerve-wracking to compete, I was shaking the whole time. All the different women were so nice, and great sportsmen.
(SM) How does it feel to be the youngest in the women’s division to win?
(EL) It feels pretty good. I just think I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my uncle.
(SM) Do you think you will keep competing?
(EL) Yes, I plan to compete every year they have it, if I can and any others that I can compete in too.
(SM) You are about to be a 7th Grader at La Grande Middle School, what other things to you like to do?
(EL) I like to hunt and ride dirt bikes, and my bike and hang out with my friends.
(SM) What would you tell other young people who are interested in learning things like elk calling?
(EL) They should definitely do it. Just try and practice and if there is anyway you can get involved in anything to do with elk calling, they should just do it.
(SM) Thanks Ella and congratulations, you should be so proud.
Below is a list of top finishers in each division.
Professional Division:
1st – Beau Brooks, La Center, Wash.
2nd – Tony Gilbertson, Veronia, Ore.
3rd – Corey Jacobsen, Donnelly, Idaho
4th – Joe McCarthy, Caldwell, Idaho
Men’s
1st – Erik Berglund, Pasco, Wash.
2nd – Dayton Vaughn, Clinton, Mont.
3rd – Patrick Littrell, Peyton, Colo.
4th – Kody Garvin, Elberta, Utah
Women’s Division
1st – Ella Lees, La Grande, Ore.
2nd – Marisa Pagano, Anaconda, Mont.
3rd – Jessi Jacobsen, Donnelly, Idaho
4th – Jessi Sletten, Berthoud, Colo.
Youth Division:
1st – Kelton Allman, Santa, Idaho
2nd – Landon Tweedy, St. Maries, Idaho
3rd – Samuel Jacobsen, Donnelly, Idaho
4th – Hadrian Hodge, Pueblo West, Colo.
Pee Wee Division:
1st – Sam Wolcott, Rexburg, Idaho
2nd – Hunter Littrell, Peyton, Colo.
3rd – Jace Wangsgard, Eagle Mountain, Utah
4th – Breuna Phillips, Harrisville, Utah
A full write up from the Rock Mountain Elk Foundation can be found at https://www.rmef.org/elk-network/beau-brooks-wins-2022-world-elk-calling-championship/
All photos Courtesy the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
