Branson has named our Mid-America Fiddler’s Championship winners at the 25th Annual Downtown Branson Fiddle Festival. The festival saw an increase in attendance and fiddler contestants despite a rainy Sunday. Raffle ticket sales soared as hopefuls wanted their chance at Branson Airport’s two, round-trip tickets. The talent could definitely be heard in the downtown from the terrific fiddlers on stage to the strolling entertainers on Main and Commercial streets. And the winner is …
Branson’s 25th Mid-America Grand Champion is Tom Weisgerber from St. Peter, Minnesota. Tom also won First Place in the Open Division. Other competition winners were Marty Elmore of Bowie, Texas for the Adult Division, Wayne Head of Hugo, Oklahoma for the Senior Division, Anthony Mature of Huntsville, Texas for the Accompanist Division, River Lee of The Woodlands, Texas for the Junior Division, and Tanner Marriott of Ava, Missouri for the Pee Wee Division.
Top Branson talent including headlining act on the Showboat Branson Belle Janice Martin, Baldknobber’s Jamboree Show’s Brandon Mabe, Mike Ito, and Nathan Agdeppa, Grand Country’s Wayne Massengale, Ricky Boen from the Sons of the Pioneers, and Titanic Museum Branson’s Maid Jamie and The Gambler, among others, entertained during contest breaks.
Downtown Branson Betterment Association’s Event Coordinator Jessica Luthardt says “We learn more each year on the art of fiddling contests and can’t wait for next year’s 26th Mid-America Fiddler’s Championship.â€Â Save the dates August 2 – 3, 2014 on your calendar.
