Winners for the 2024 Tallgrass Prairie Fiddle Festival are selected by these three judges. NPS/Robert Hartwig
2024
Junior Division
Mikayla Knott—Lincoln, Nebraska
Cyndi Christensen—Omaha, Nebraska
Maddie Bock—Lincoln, Nebraska
Senior Division
Monte Gayload—Nowata, Oklahoma
Joe Fedrizi—Dearborn, Missouri
Anne Nagosky—Omaha, Nebraska
Picking Division
Monte Gayload—Nowata, Oklahoma
Natasha Beckerbauer—
Band Division
Monte Gayload—Nowata, Oklahoma
Rattlesnake and Pearls—
Farewell Trio—Lincoln, Nebraska
2023
Junior Division
Jonah Rabe—Lincoln, Nebraska
Callia Thompson—Lincoln, Nebraska
Maddie Bock—Lincoln, Nebraska
Senior Division
Elya Constable—Blue Rapids, Kansas
Eli Ketter—Home, Kansas
Legends Division
Jason Shaw—Lincoln, Nebraska
Gabriel Marks—Lincoln, Nebraska
Grace Dowd—Lincoln, Nebraska
2022
Junior Division
Lily Bohnart—Lincoln, Nebraska
Madeline Bock—Lincoln, Nebraska
Caroline Soderlin—Omaha, Nebraska
Senior Division
Grace Dowd—Lincoln, Nebraska
Elya Constable—Blue Rapids, Kansas
Kate Little—Montana
Legends Division
Jason Shaw—Lincoln, Nebraska
2021
Junior Division
Jonah Rabe—Lincoln, Nebraska
Senior Division
Julie Ralston—Lincoln, Nebraska
Kady Toole—Washington, Kansas
Elya Constable—Blue Rapids, Kansas
Legends Division
Jason Shaw—Lincoln, Nebraska
Gabriel Marks—Lincoln, Nebraska
2019
Junior Division
Aspen Perry—Blue Rapids, Kansas
Garrett Fincham—Marysville, Kansas
Ben DeLong—Lincoln, Nebraska
Senior Division
Gabriel Marks—Lincoln, Nebraska
Mary Dowd—Lincoln, Nebraska
Riley Shaw—Lincoln, Nebraska
Legends Division
John Shaw—Lincoln, Nebraska
Joe Fedrizzi—Dearborn, Missouri
Jason Shaw—Lincoln, Nebraska
2018
Junior Division
Kady Toole—Washington, Kansas
Garrett Fincham—Marysville, Kansas
Patrick Marks—Lincoln, Nebraska
Senior Division
Mindy Hunke—Omaha, Nebraska
Grace Dowd—Lincoln, Nebraska
Cari-Lynn Wenstrand—Lincoln, Nebraska
Legends
Jason Shaw—Lincoln, Nebraska
John Shaw—Lincoln, Nebraska
Sam Packard—Lincoln, Nebraska
2017
Junior
Kirsten Shaw—Lincoln, Nebraska
Elya Constable—Blue Rapids, Kansas
Patrick Marks—Lincoln, Nebraska
Senior Division
Grant Fincham—Lincoln, Nebraska
Legends Division
Jason Shaw—Lincoln, Nebraska
Joseph Lostus—Denton, Nebraska
2016
Junior Division
Dorothy Marks—Lincoln, Nebraska
Gabriel Marks—Lincoln, Nebraska
Kirsten Shaw—Lincoln, Nebraska
Senior Division
Riley Meyerkorth—Lincoln, Nebraska
Grant Fincham—Marysville, Kansas
Larry Struble—Centennial, Colorado
Legends Division
Jason Shaw—Lincoln, Nebraska
John Shaw—Lincoln, Nebraska
Sam Packard, Lincoln, Nebraska
2015
Junior Division
Gabriel Marks—Lincoln, Nebraska
Dorothy Marks—Lincoln, Nebraska
Riley Shaw—Lincoln, Nebraska
Senior Division
Joseph Loftus—Denton, Nebraska
Alice Boyle—Manhattan, Kansas
Grant Fincham—Marysville, Kansas
Legends Division
Jason Shaw—Lincoln, Nebraska
John Shaw—Lincoln, Nebraska
Joe Fedrizzi—Dearborn, Missouri
2014
Junior Division
Sam Whipple - Lincoln, Nebraska
Ezra Fike - Willow Springs, Missouri
Cecelia Cook – Independence, Missouri
Senior Division
Carl Cook – Independence, Missouri
Joe Fedrizzi – Deerborn, Missouri
Thad Miller – Lincoln, Nebraska
Acoustic Band
Little Brown Jug – Lincoln, Nebraska
Bluegrass Hoppers – Lincoln, Nebraska
Spitfire Fiddle Band – Lincoln, Nebraska
2013
Junior Division
Jessica Buhl –Lincoln, Nebraska
Lizzie Poppe – Blue Rapids, Kansas
Ann Castater – Lincoln, Nebraska
Senior Division
Megan Poppe – Blue Rapids, Kansas
Jason Shaw – Lincoln, Nebraska
John Shaw – Lincoln, Nebraska
Acoustic Band
Little Brown Jug – Lincoln, Nebraska
Spitfire Fiddle Band – Lincoln, Nebraska
Prairie Fire – Blue Rapids, Kansas
2012
Junior Division
Zach Dull – Lincoln, Nebraska
Sue Jennings – Omaha, Nebraska
Ryan Segur – Pacific Junction, Iowa
Senior Division
Jason Shaw – Lincoln, Nebraska
John Shaw – Lincoln, Nebraska
Sam Pachard – Lincoln, Nebraska
Acoustic Band
Little Brown Jug – Lincoln, Nebraska
Chamber Music – Kansas City, Missouri
Rivertown String Band – Omaha, Nebraska
2011
Junior Division
Emmi Moll - Seward, Nebraska
Gretchen Moll-Seward, Nebraska
Chloe Pinkman-Lincoln, Nebraska
Senior Division
Amber Rogers-Concordia, Kansas
Jason Shaw—Lincoln, Nebraska
Joe Fedrizzi – Deerborn, Missouri
Acoustic Band
Moll Sisters-Seward, Nebraska
Spitfire Spinoffs-Lincoln, Nebraska
High Strung-Nehawka, Nebraska
2010
Junior Division
Chloe Pinkman - Lincoln, Nebraska
Emmi Moll - Seward, Nebraska
Tricia Schmitz—Axtell, Kansas
Senior Division
Jason Shaw—Lincoln, Nebraska
Joe Fedrizzi – Deerborn, Missouri
John Shaw – Lincoln, Nebraska
Acoustic Band
Spitfire – Lincoln, Nebraska
Kopsa – Omaha, Nebraska
Boneheart – Omaha, Nebraska
2009
Junior Division
Cecilia Cook - Independence, Missouri
Emmi Moll - Seward, Nebraska
Makayla Urbauer-Lincoln, Nebraska
Senior Division
Larissa Fesmire-Golden, Colorado
Mindy Hunke-Omaha, Nebraska
Gabriel Chambers-Kansas City, Missouri
Acoustic Band
Chamber Music-Kansas City, Missouri
Urbauer Family-Lincoln, Nebraska
Kopsa Family-Omaha, Nebraska
2008
Junior Division
Sam Whipple - Lincoln, Nebraska
Ezra Fike - Willow Springs, Missouri
Cecelia Cook – Independence, Missouri
Senior Division
Carl Cook – Independence, Missouri
Joe Fedrizzi – Deerborn, Missouri
Thad Miller – Lincoln, Nebraska
Acoustic Band
Little Brown Jug – Lincoln, Nebraska
Bluegrass Hoppers – Lincoln, Nebraska
Spitfire Fiddle Band – Lincoln, Nebraska
2007
Junior Division
Jessica Buhl –Lincoln, Nebraska
Lizzie Poppe – Blue Rapids, Kansas
Ann Castater – Lincoln, Nebraska
Senior Division
Megan Poppe – Blue Rapids, Kansas
Jason Shaw – Lincoln, Nebraska
John Shaw – Lincoln, Nebraska
Acoustic Band
Little Brown Jug – Lincoln, Nebraska
Spitfire Fiddle Band – Lincoln, Nebraska
Prairie Fire – Blue Rapids, Kansas
2006
Junior Division
Zach Dull – Lincoln, Nebraska
Sue Jennings – Omaha, Nebraska
Ryan Segur – Pacific Junction, Iowa
Senior Division
Jason Shaw – Lincoln, Nebraska
John Shaw – Lincoln, Nebraska
Sam Pachard – Lincoln, Nebraska
Acoustic Band
Little Brown Jug – Lincoln, Nebraska
Chamber Music – Kansas City, Missouri
Rivertown String Band – Omaha, Nebraska
2005
Junior Division
Joe Fedrizzi – Deerborn, Missouri
Jim Christensen – Clarinda, Iowa
Joey Argo – Maryville, Kansas
Senior Division
Riley Metz – Axtell, Kansas
Zach Dull – Lincoln, Nebraska
Sue Jennings – Omaha, Nebraska
2004
Junior Division
Billy Welter – Crescent, Iowa
Joe Fedrizzi – Deerborn, Iowa
Corey Cushmere – Lincoln, Nebraska
Senior Division
Matt Finchman – Maryville, Kansas
Roger Davis – Council Bluffs, Iowa
Michelle Finchman – Maryville, Kansas
2003
Junior Division
Megan Poppe-Blue Rapids, Kansas
Preston Brodley-Lincoln, Nebraska
Michelle Fincham-Marysville, Kansas
Senior Division
Matthew Fincham-Marysville, Kansas
Bethany Borg-Van Meter, Iowa
Benjamin Borg-Van Meter, Iowa
2002
Junior Division
Joe Fedrizzi – Deerborn, Missouri
Jim Christensen – Clarinda, Iowa
Joey Argo – Maryville, Kansas
Senior Division
Bethany Borg - VanMeter, Iowa
Matthew Finchan - Marysville, Kansas
Michelle Finchan - Marysville, Kansas
2001
Junior Division
Amy Carmody-Omaha, Nebraska
Anders Borg-Van Meter, Iowa
Megan Poppe-Blue Rapids, Kansas
Senior Division
Bethany Borg – Van Meter, Iowa
Jenni Wallace-Grate—Omaha, Nebraska
Sam Loken-Lincoln, Nebraska
2000
Junior Division
Joe Fedrizzi – Deerborn, Missouri
Jim Christensen – Clarinda, Iowa
Joey Argo – Maryville, Kansas
Senior Division
Riley Metz – Axtell, Kansas
Zach Dull – Lincoln, Nebraska
Sue Jennings – Omaha, Nebraska
1999
Junior Division
Cindy Huebert-Henderson, Nebraska
Brad Rutledge-Lincoln, Nebraska
Cheyanne Swarthout-Beatrice, Nebraska
Senior Division
Laurie Kmen-Omaha, Nebraska
Jim Christensen-Clarinda, Iowa
Bill Langford-Hastings, Nebraska
