INTRODUCING your 2024 nATIONAL TROUT FESTIVAL® ROYALTY

The Directors of the National Trout Festival received a record number of nominations this year for Trout King and Trout Queen. Our community really stepped up in wanting to honor their fellow Kalkaska County residents. Every nominee was very deserving of the titles so it made the decision difficult. In the end, we are all confident we selected two people who are wonderful role models and inspirations.

Watch in February when we will begin accepting nominations for the 2025 National Trout Festival King & Queen.

In 2008, Eric Lucyk was already a big fan of disc golf so signed up to play in an ice bowl called Tilley’s Frozen Finger Frenzy in Traverse City. In talking with his Dad, 2022 NTF King Randy Lucyk, about his experience, Randy remarked they should get something like that going in Kalkaska. The K-Town Ice Bowl started that very year with 30 players. It was decided that the money raised would go to help out Kalkaska families experiencing food insecurities. The K.A.I.R Food Pantry and the Kalkaska Commission on Aging’s Home-Delivered Meals program split $500 that first year. It has grown almost every year and for the 2024 Ice Bowl, 120 players, nine volunteers, and countless regional businesses raised over $14,000 to split between the two charities. 

Eric gives thanks to his family, including wife Misty, daughter Lauren, dad Randy, mom Cathy, and brother and sister-in-law Brent and Miranda, and their son Zane, for their support and help in making the K-Town Ice Bowl so successful. His family was also very instrumental in the development of Carter’s Course, a golf disc course at the Springfield Township Recreation Area. Sadly, in 2013, Eric and Misty lost their baby son, Carter James. In honor of him, as a lasting memorial and giving something for the community and region to enjoy for many years, Eric designed a course which was opened in 2015.

The Trout Festival has been a big part of Eric’s life and a favorite memory is from when he was around 10 years old. He caught a Golden Trout which was huge. His dad had to help him reel it in and then they got it mounted. 

Kim Stephens is the 2024 National Trout Queen! 

Kim is married to Todd Stephens and mom to daughters Mackenzie and Alison Luck. Travel and organizing are just two of Kim’s favorite things in life. Enjoying the beauty that Northern Michigan offers, especially by bike, in summer and fall, is another much loved pastime. Discovering new biking paths and trails adds to the excitement. 

Kim’s volunteerism has been a part of her life for many years. She serves on the Kalkaska Memorial Health Center board and its sub committees, coaches the Kalkaska High School Dance Team, serves as president and volunteer for the Kalkaska Baby Pantry, and is the co-director of the Miss Kalkaska Scholarship Pageant. As a proud member of the Kalkaska Church of Christ, Kim also serves on the women’s ministry team. 

Kim says that her biggest blessings are her family and her amazing friends. 

This year’s National Trout Festival® Grand Marshal for the Grand Royale Parade is lifelong Kalkaska resident Sue Hubble Vowels, having been raised in the little village of Spencer. 

Sue graduated from Kalkaska High School in 1966 after having been active in many leadership roles, varsity basketball, and was First Runner Up Miss Kalkaska. She attended Siena Heights College and the University of Madrid in Spain, attaining a Humanities Degree. Sue launched a successful career in real estate as a salesperson, broker, manager, and business owner in Kalkaska, receiving numerous awards over the years.

Sue has served as vice president and president of Rotary Club, and a board member for Rotary Charities TC, the EDC and IDC, and Hospice. She provided building space for KAIR, Hospice, Narcotics and Alcoholics Anonymous, and the Women’s Resource Center. She was instrumental in bringing Hospice to Kalkaska and was named Volunteer of the Year. Other volunteer roles include Chalker Park building project, the American Cancer Society (Diamond Award), the Vietnam Moving Wall, and Kalkaska County’s Sesquicentennial committee. She was named Kalkaska’s Citizen of the Year in 1995.

On a personal level, Sue is mom to daughters Clarissa Kniss and JoAnn DeGraaf, Her extended family includes son-in-law Scott, grandchildren Kaitlyn (Josh) Wakefield, Cameron (Autumn) McCumby, Tyler (Ashley) Vowels, Dallas (Amanda) Kniss, Brittney (Brian) Maidens, and nine great-grandchildren. Sue lost the love of her life, husband Sam Pashigian, in 2012.  

In her “spare” time, Sue enjoys creating beautiful wreaths to gift to family and friends. She finds great enjoyment in helping out at community dinners and finding ways to pay it forward. As a lifelong Kalkaska resident, Sue has her share of favorite Trout Festival recollections. One of her dearest memories is working alongside best friends, and fellow founders of the local hospice, at the Shady Belle. They volunteered each year in the old time setting at the Village offices downtown complete with swinging saloon doors, and local Kalkaska talent, while crunching peanut shells under their feet and serving food to the patrons of Shady Belle. Another treasured memory is participating in the Grand Royale parade as there were many years she walked with her fellow realtors representing her company and passing out American flags.

  Emily Willis was born and raised in Kalkaska, Michigan, and is the daughter of Troy Willis (Carri Hendry), and Amelita Ingersoll (Chris Schaub). She finds love in her large family that includes siblings Mackenzie, Christian, Brooklyn, Vanessa, and Hunter. Emily, an 18 year old senior, is a 4.00 student athlete that is kind, outgoing, work driven, and enthusiastic. She has hopes to attend college to pursue law enforcement, along with forensic sketch. One of Emily's favorite things to draw are realistic pictures of humans. Emily finds great joy in drawing pictures of loved ones that have passed, and has hopes to continue that throughout her career. When asked what her favorite classes are she said "100% Art and AP Biology." In Emily's free time, she enjoys hiking, fishing, spending time with friends and family, and of course, drawing. Emily greatly appreciates this opportunity and wants to thank those that believed in her.