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Reed Honored with James G. “Bobo” Driver Memorial Award
beginner
First place in Beginner Banjo went to Alex Davis of Madison, AL, (center) while second place was awarded to Will Turner of Brentwood (right). Reagan Brown of Springfield came in third (left).

The future of Bluegrass seems to be in some good hands with some fine talent performing in the Beginner’s categories at the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree. One young fiddle player said he had some butterflies before taking the stage, but ended up coming away with the top prize.

Finley Reed of Normandy, TN, took the top Jamboree award Saturday afternoon, named as the best fiddler in the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners. Reed was presented with the James G. “Bobo” Driver Memorial Award. Members of Mr. Driver’s family were on hand to present the award, including Mickey and Jimmy Driver, sons of Bobo, and grandson Adam Driver.

Another young musician also earned a big prize, with Reagan Brown of Springfield being honored with the Nolan Turner Memorial Best Overall Instrumental Entertainer of the Year award. The award is presented to the best overall instrumental entertainer among winners in the dobro guitar, mandolin, five string banjo, and flat top guitar competition. Nolan Turner, who passed in October 2017, was a long time Fiddlers’ Jamboree supporter and photographer.

The overall awards in the Beginner categories are as follows:

In the Beginner Fiddle category, first place went to Finley Reed of Normandy, TN, while Ace Walters of Lebanon earned second. Third Place went to Deacon Collier of Gallatin, TN.

For the Beginner Buck Dancing competition, first place went to Colleena Ralston of Lebanon, with second place going Trebel Chunn of Greenbrier. Third place was awarded to Elizabeth Clark of Barren Plains, TN.

In Beginner Clogging Colleena Ralston of Lebanon took the top spot, with second going to Trebel Chunn of Greenbrier. Third place went to Aaliyah Flynn of New Johnsonville, TN.

The Beginner Dobro Guitar First Place prize went to Reagan Brown of Springfield, TN, with second place going to Eden Harris of Rockvale, TN.

In the Beginner Mandolin category, Ace Walters of Lebanon earned first place, while Reagan Brown of Springfield, TN, coming in second. The third place award went to Ty McMeans of Athens, AL.

For the Beginner Banjo competition, the first place prize went to Alex Davis of Madison, AL, while second place was awarded to Will Turner of Brentwood. Reagan Brown of Springfield came in third.

In Beginner Flat Top Guitar, first place went to Ty McMeans of Athens, AL, while second place went to Regan Ray of Bloomington. Third place was awarded to Reagan Brown of Springfield.