Performers picked, sang, and danced all day Friday until around 10:30 p.m. during the first day of the 46th annual Smithville Fiddler’s Jamboree and Crafts Festival.
The jamboree opened Friday morning with Lloyd Tisdale doing a little dance accompanied by a band even though he had to use a walker to access the stage.
State Representatives Terri Lynn Weaver and Mark Pody presented flags flown over the state capitol to two Jamboree visitors Friday evening. Pam Muller of Eugene Oregon received a Tennessee State flag and Oren Kagan of Mount Juliet was awarded a United States flag. He was born in Israel.
Following a Jamboree welcome Friday evening from Coordinator Sam Stout and an introduction of local public officials, the Community Chorus entertained the crowd with a patriotic program. Stout, who became the new Jamboree Coordinator in February, presented a plaque to former Coordinator Jack Barton for his years of devoted service to the Jamboree as Coordinator. Barton remains a member of the Jamboree Board of Directors. Members of the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department presented colors to begin the Jamboree welcome Friday evening.
Preliminaries were held in sixteen categories of music and dance competition followed by the finals featuring the top three acts in each event.
The following are the winners in each category:
*Old Time Appalachian Folk Singing (Solo):
First Place-Ivy Phillips of Chapmansboro, Tennessee
Second Place- Maddie McKenney of Cullman, Alabama
Third Place-Michael Klug of Shelbyville
*Junior Clogging (Ages 13-39):
First Place-Kody M. Hash of Walland, Tennessee
Second Place- Sierra Ivie Tomlin of Springfield
Third Place-Tanner Dunn of Cookeville
*Junior Buck Dancing (Ages 13-39):
First Place- Chris Stewart of Lebanon
Second Place-Sierra Ivie Tomlin of Springfield
Third Place-Kody M. Hash of Walland, Tennessee
*Old Time Appalachian Folksinging (Duet, Trio, Quartet)
First Place- – The McKenneys of Cullman, Alabama
Second Place- Daniel and Elizabeth Seber of Smithville
Third Place- Suff Hollar Ramblers of Mount Juliet
*Dobro Guitar:
First Place-Chad Davis of Sparta
Second Place-Makala Carr of Rickman
Third Place-Ivy Phillips of Chapmansboro
*Mountain Dulcimer:
First Place-Keith Oler of Murphy, North Carolina
Second Place-Tyler Andal of Nashville
Third Place-Donita Brown of Springfield
*Hammer Dulcimer:
First Place-Betty J. Groulx of Arcadia, Florida
Second Place-Daniel Amick of Centerville
*Novelty Event:
First Place- David Turner of Alexandria
Second Place-Hillary Klug of Shelbyville
Third Place-Ivy and Tyler of Nashville
*Autoharp:
First Place- Logan Purtear of Hixson
Second Place-Betty J. Groulx of Arcadia, Florida
Third Place-Kurt Stephenson of Dyersburg
*Gospel Singing (Solo):
First Place-Amanda McKenney of Cullman, Alabama
Second Place- Annabella Dakas of Smithville
Third Place-Eryn Jenkins of Wilder, Tennessee
*Country Harmonica:
First Place-Daniel Amick of Centerville
Second Place-Tyler Martelli of Chattanooga
Third Place- Rob Pearcy of Smyrna
*Old Time Banjo:
First Place- Daniel Amick of Centerville
Second Place- Tyler Andal of Nashville
Third Place- Conner Derryberry of Shelbyville
*Youth Square Dancing:
First Place- Main Stage Explosion of Pleasant View
Second Place- Little Texas of Franklin
Third Place-Jackson Hollow of Franklin
*Gospel Singing (Duet, Trio, & Quartet):
First Place- Eryn Jenkins and group of Wilder, Tennessee
Second Place- Lonesome Tradition of Cookeville
Third Place-Harvey Brownsmith and group of Signal Mountain
*Mandolin:
First Place-Ivy Phillips of Chapmansboro
Second Place- Daniel Amick of Centerville
Third Place-Tyler Andal of Nashville
*Old Time Fiddle Band:
First Place-Uncle Shuffelo and his Haint Hollow Hootenanny of Unionville
Second Place-Puddle Jumpers of Dyersburg
Third Place- Slim Chance Band of Smyrna
The Fiddler’s Jamboree resumes at 9:00 a.m. today with preliminaries in the following categories:
*Junior Old Time Appalachian Flatfoot dance (ages up to 39)
*Senior Old Time Appalachian Flatfoot dance ( ages 40 and over)
*Senior Buckdancing (ages 40 and over)
*Senior Clogging (ages 40 and over)
*Bluegrass Banjo
*Junior Fiddlers (ages 13-39)
*Flat Top Guitar
*Contest Fiddle for the Neil Dudney Award
*Bluegrass Band*
*Senior Fiddlers (ages 40 and over)
*Square Dancing (4 Couples-8 Total Dancers).
Preliminaries will be held in each event and then the top three finalists will be called back tonight to compete for first, second, and third place.
The winners of the Junior and Senior Fiddling competition will square off for the Grand Champion Award, the Berry C. Williams Memorial Trophy at the conclusion of the festival.
The Jamboree Blue Blaze Award will be presented at 5:00 p.m. to recognize a band that is actively cultivating a love of bluegrass music. This year’s winner is the Tennessee Mafia Jug Band.
Meanwhile, the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners will be held this afternoon during the Jamboree featuring competitions for children, up to age twelve, in the categories of Buck Dancing, Clogging, Dobro Guitar, Mandolin, Five String Banjo, Flat Top Guitar, and Fiddle.
Preliminaries will be held in each event and then the top three finalists will be brought back to compete for first, second, and third place.
WJLE will broadcast the on-stage entertainment LIVE on AM 1480/ FM 101.7 and LIVE streaming at www.wjle.com.
In addition to music and dancing competitions onstage, the Fiddlers Jamboree also features dozens of crafts displayed along the downtown streets, plenty of delicious foods for sale at local food booths, and lots of shade tree picking under trees around the town square.
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