The 51st Annual Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Crafts Festival is in the books with the Junior Fiddler winning as Grand Champion and earning an opportunity to play on the Grand Ole Opry stage this year. Noah Goebel of Elkton, KY, faced some stiff competition but impressed the judges and the crowd during Saturday night’s highlight events and walked away with the Barry C. Williams Memorial Award.
Earlier in the evening, in the Junior Fiddlers event, 13-year-old Goebel took the top spot, while Tyler Andal of Nashville placed second. Trenton “Tater” Caruthers of Cookeville placed third.
For the Senior Fiddlers competition, Heather Browncurrie of Springville, TN, took first place as Senior Fiddler, with Sarah Harris of Rockvale, TN, coming in second. Billy Gene Hazelwood of Spring Hill, TN, placed third. Browncurrie, would go on to face Goebel during the Fiddle Off competition at the end of the evening.
In the popular Square Dancing competition, Rocky Top Review of Franklin, TN, earned the first place prize, while Step Aside of Dickson, TN came in second. Tennessee Dance Alliance of Mt. Juliet won the third place spot.
In the Contest Fiddle category, Justin Braunum of Murfreesboro won the Neil Dudney Award, while Noah Goebel came in second. Tyler Andal of Nashville placed third. The award was presented by Dudney’s grandchildren Brandon and Ethan Shaw, and daughter Janet England.
Another crowd favorite, the Bluegrass Band competition saw the Mountain Cove Bluegrass Band of Chattanooga win the top prize. Clearview out of Hilham, TN, won second place, while J.D. and the No Crowes came in third.
In the Junior Old Time Appalachian Flatfoot Dance competition, Jacob Fennell of Dickson, TN took the top prize, while Treble Chunn of Greenbrier, TN, came in second. Matthew Campbell of McMinnville came in third.
In the Senior Old Time Appalachian Flatfoot Dance competition Bridget Esterhuizen of Murphy, NC, won first place, with Anthony Harrell of Mt. Juliet coming in second. Tim Hartman of Lyles, TN came in third.
In the Senior Buck Dancing category, Ben Heithcock of College Grove, TN, came in first place, with Tammy Scruggs of Lebanon taking second. Anthony Harrell came in third.
For the Senior Clogging event, first place went to Ben Heithcock of College Grove, while Tammy Scruggs came in second. Anthony Harrell came in third place.
The Bluegrass Banjo competition saw Trenton “Tater” Caruthers take the top prize, with Axel Rico of Smithville taking second. Noah Goebel of Elkton, KY, came in third.
In the Flat Top Guitar category, Tyler Andal of Nashville won first place, with Noah Goebel taking second. Brock Ealey pf Cookeville came in third place.
