For the second year in a row, the overall winner of the Peabody Hale Fiddle Contest and Festival is a teenager.  14-year old Mark Roberto of Cheyenne, Wyo, was the Junior Division winner, then won the Champions Fiddle-Off to win the overall crown.

The 51st edition of the contest begun by musician and local radio personality Ellis “Peabody” Hale drew 32 competitors, down from last year’s record 42, who ranged in age from 8 to 86. The audience of about 350 included visitors from Hawaii and California.

Taking honors in the fiddle Pee Wee Division was Clay Harris of Cheyenne, while the Adult winner was Jane Dailey of Chadron…the Crawford city administrator and wife of Dawes County Sheriff Karl Dailey. The Senior Division drew only one entry this year, Jim Bingham of Hot Springs, SD.

Claiming top honors in the Miscellaneous Instrument category with her mandolin was Deb Horst of Crawford, while the vocal competition saw Sarah Sonnenschein of Chadron win the Junior Division and Dwain Soester of Chadron take the Adult Division.