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Aerin DeJarnette (left) of Snellville, Ga. won the Randall Franks Trophy at the 1890s Days Jamboree May 26. DeJarnette first won her 16-21 age category for the chance to compete. In the fiddle off, she faced Ashley Sullivan, winner of the 22-50 category, of Mount Juliet, Tenn., who placed second, and Mack Snoderly of Clyde, North Carolina, winner of the 51 and up category who placed third. From left are DeJarnette, Franks, Sullivan, and Snoderly.

Fiddlers and cloggers from five states descended on Ringgold, Ga. May 26 to compete in the 1890s Days Jamboree Fiddlers Contest. Twenty-six fiddlers rosined up their bows and more than 50 cloggers kicked up their heels to win over $5,500 in prize money.

“Our event grew by leaps and bounds this year and we look forward to its continued growth,” said event chairman Lewis Taylor. “We saw a great deal of talent on this stage from 16 months old and up and all of them gave it their all.”

Aerin DeJarnette, 17, of Snellville, Ga. won the Randall Franks Trophy at the 1890s Days Jamboree May 26. DeJarnette first won her 16-21-age category for the chance to compete. In the fiddle off, she faced Ashley Sullivan, winner of the 22-50 category, of Mount Juliet, Tenn., who placed second, and Mack Snoderly of Clyde, North Carolina, winner of the 51 and up category who placed third.
DeJarnette, a Georgia native began fiddling at age five with an interest in Bluegrass music cultivated by attending multiple festivals with her grandparents. She is a member of “Fiddling Siblings” with her older brother and younger sister, who also play fiddle. She has competed in competitions in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. Former awards include Georgia Official State Beginning Fiddler Champion and the Junior Fiddle and Open Division champ at Annual Southeastern Cowboy Gathering Fiddle Contest among others.

The team clogging competition was won by Rhythm and Motion of Cookeville, Tenn. with Rocky Top Revue of Franklin, Tenn., taking second place; Rhythm and Motion Explosion of Cookeville, Tenn., winning third place; and Little Rock Preview of Franklin, Tenn., taking home fourth place.

The top prize is named in honor of Appalachian Ambassador of the Fiddle Randall Franks, “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night.” From the stage he cheers the top three competitors on in their bid to win the Randall Franks Trophy, the $500 prize, and an invitation to compete in the Grand Master Fiddle Championship October 6 at the Nashville Convention Center as part of the IBMA World of Bluegrass in Nashville, Tenn.

Once holding the title of Georgia State Bluegrass Champion, the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame inductee is a former member of Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys, Jim and Jesse Virginia Boys and numerous other groups who as a solo performer often shared his talents for the Grand Ole Opry.

“It’s an honor to see so many talented and energetic performers carrying on the traditions of Appalachia through their love of fiddling and clogging,” he said. “The community of Ringgold is honored to have the distinction to bestow upon our champion fiddler a place in the national championship. This is a rare occurrence and we thank the GMFC board for recognizing our community and state.”

The next 1890s Days Jamboree Fiddlers Contest will be Memorial Day weekend Saturday 2008 at the Ringgold Depot in Ringgold.

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