President of the Fiddler’s Competition Brent Miller said the crowds have been down some in the past few years, and with each new year it becomes increasingly harder to put on the event.
Miller explained that it cost the Rotary Club, who sponsors the event, about $12,000-$14,000 each year to put on the fiddler’s competition.
He added the proceeds from the event come back to the Grayson County.
“The proceeds go to the Cloth-a-Child program, a $1,000 Jodie Hall (in honor of one of the founders of the fiddler’s competition) scholarship, and a vocational school scholarship,” explained Miller.
The annual event, held the third Friday and Saturday in July, was started by Jodie Hall a Grayson County businessman who loved old time music.
Miller explained, “He (Jodie Hall) went to Leo Mudd to help get things going. The first couple of years it was held at the Grayson County fairgrounds.”
The event started in 1974, and was declared the state fiddlers contest in 1975.
In the very beginning all the proceeds went to the March of Dimes.
“It (the fiddlers competition) got to be a big deal,” said Miller. “It was more than the guys could handle alone. The Rotary Club took it over in the mid 80’s.”
In 1990 Brent Miller became president of the fiddlers corporation.
This is the 34th year for the competition. Anyone who pays a normal ticket can compete in the competition.
“If you are sitting in the crowd and feel the urge to jig then come on down,” said Miller. “Contestants come from all of the border states to participate.”
The competition’s purpose is to preserve old time music by honoring it with a festival, and to celebrate old time music as a way to keep it alive.
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