Banjo contest starts ‘Weiser’ with another winning week

Published by admin on Tue, 06/17/2025 - 7:00pm

Intermediate banjo contest winner Jesse Martin, left, met long time NOTFC competitor and sometimes judge, Jacie Sites Sunday afternoon. The pair competed in and placed third in Sunday evening’s banjo and fiddle contest. Photo by Nancy Grindstaff

2025 Banjo/Fiddle winners, Vi Wickam and Rod Aquayo

Entering his first banjo contest, eight-year-old Declan Homey, Boise, placed third in Sunday afternoon’s intermediate banjo contest division. Photo by Nancy Grindstaff
By: 
Nancy Grindstaff
There’s barely been a break since June 5 in the sounds of music pouring out of the area around the Snake River Heritage Center, Slocum Hall and Weiser High School.
 Campers for the 72nd National Oldtime Fiddlers’ Contest and Festival started arriving as early as Wednesday, June 11, and the area has continued to fill in every day since.
 Kicking off the week on Sunday, June 15, the 13th annual Banjo Contest got underway at noon, with no age limits on competitors. The Intermediate competition drew four contestants, Raynaye Redman, Payson, Utah, Jesse Martin, Blackfoot, Idaho, Declan Homey, Boise, and Tim Turner, Boise. 
 Those earning the top three highest points take home prizes of specially made plaques, and homemade pies, along with the status among fellow musicians that comes with winning the titles.
 Martin won first, Turner, second, and eight-year-old Homey third, in his first ever competition.
 Playing out among six seasoned competitors, the advanced division concluded with Kaleb Dion, Spokane Valley, Wash., first, James Skeary, Kuna, second, and Rod Aquayo, Patagonia Chile, third. Filling out the list of talented competitors were Mia Edsell, Bellevue, Idaho, Kim Ray, Boise, and Bart Carpenter, New Meadows.
 Aquayo and fiddler Vi Wickham put on an outstanding performance in the evening Banjo/Fiddle contest to win first. Nathan and Alisha Townley, won second, and meeting for the first time that afternoon, Martin and Jacie Sites, now from Pendleton, placed third.
 Rounding out the contest’s duos were Carpenter and Danick Jensen, Mindy Little and Madeleine Schreeder, and Petra Swarthoff and Kathy Allyn.
 Organized by the Idaho Bluegrass Association, the Banjo contest has become a popular opening act for Weiser’s long-lived national treasure that draws musicians from all corners of the country and around the world. 
 

Category:

Signal American

18 E. Idaho St.
Weiser, ID 83672
PH: (208) 549-1717
FAX: (208) 549-1718
 

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