I almost wrote Saturday off. After experiencing the crowds on Friday, I expected Saturday at the National Wild Turkey Federation Convention to be heavier, louder, and harder to move through—the kind of day where meaningful conversations get swallowed by foot traffic and noise. It would’ve been easy to assume the experience and stay back.

Walking was the only option that made sense. I parked back at the hotel and walked the entire stretch to the convention center—1.1 miles, according to Apple Maps. Due to traffic being backed up well beyond reason, it was faster to cover the distance on foot. That walk turned out to be a fitting primer for what Day One of NWTF Convention 2026 would feel like.