86th Annual Fiddler’s Festival crowns champion Smith

Photo by Jacque Fleming

By Jan White
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CROCKETT – At the Annual Fiddler’s Festival held at the Porth Agricultural Arena on Saturday, September 24, a new Champion was announced. After a long, hot, music-filled day at the arena, judges chose Roberta Rast Smith as their new World Champion Fiddler.

The contest was divided into several categories, the 0-18 age group, the 65+ group, and the Open division. In the 0-18 group, McKenna Peterson took home the first place award, with Tristan Paskvan, Georgia Halverson, Kaitlyn Netely, Ezra Short, and Afton Halverson following. Brad Riley won the title in the 65+ category, followed by Eddie Davis, Richard Harnes, Tom Fonville, Brent Young, Cliff McCall, and Ed Henson.

Thirteen contestants vied in the Open Category for the title of World Champion Fiddler. 

It was a hotly contested race, with many of the fiddlers called back to perform before the judges several times. The final three were called back twice before the champion was announced. First place went to Roberta Rast Smith. Katrina Nicolayeff, the favored to win, took second place, while third place went to Carl Hopkins. Other winners in the Open category were Marty Elmore, River Lee, Shira Ellisman, Jason Andrews, Nathan Pednaught, Rebecca Glass, Jessica Henderson, Aimee Peterson, Kevin Freeman and Huey Buxton.