Louisiana State Fiddle Championship
July 19, 2025
The purpose of the Louisiana State Fiddlers’ Championship (LSFC) is to perpetuate the traditional music and styles of fiddling integral to many kinds of Louisiana music, to help develop an appreciation and understanding of traditional music, to encourage young fiddlers to pursue musical endeavors, and to encourage jam sessions and contests as a way to promote creativity and the continuation of the fiddle tradition.
2024 Louisiana State Fiddle Championship Winners
Championship Round
1st Place: Joe Suchanek
2nd Place: Ben Robinson
3rd Place: Clancey Stewart
Twin Fiddles Competition
1st Place: Clancey Stewart & Joe Suchanek
2nd Place: Ben Robinson & Ron Yule
3rd Place: Samuel O’Kelley & Sarah O’Kelley
First Round Championship
Ages 0-21
1st Place: Samuel O’Kelley
2nd Place: Asher Hotard
3rd Place: Ruth Hotard
Ages 22-59
1st Place: Ben Robinson
2nd Place: Clancey Stewart
Ages 60+
1st Place: Joe Suchanek
2nd Place: Ron Yule
3rd Place: Phillip Mayo
Non-Championship Round
1st Place: Sarah O’Kelley
2nd Place: Dorothy Livingston
For more information, contact us at folklife@nsula.edu or (318) 357-4332
Prather coliseum and CAPA Annex/Magale Recital Hall are wheelchair accessible.
Supported in part by grants and donors:
Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival Venue/LA State Fiddle Championship
Grand Champions
(2004—present)
2004 Lauren Hodges – Ragley, LA (17 years old)
2005 Ben Robinson – Choudrant, LA (19 years old)
2006 Emily Young – DeRidder, LA (19 years old)
2007 Vic Middleton – Homer, LA (29 years old)
2008 Hallie Yarbrough – Bastrop, LA (41 years old)
2009 Ben Robinson – Choudrant, LA (23 years old)
2010 Jason Saucer – West Monroe, LA (33 years old)
2011 Lauren Ford- Monroe, LA (17 years old)
2012 Beau Thomas -Abbeville, LA (39 years old)
2013 Thomas Jenkins – Bush, LA (29 years old)
2014 Carson Taylor – West Monroe, LA (12 years old)
2015 James Linden Hogg – Prairieville, LA (15 years old)
2016 Joanna Calhoun – West Monroe, LA (17 years old)
2017 Joe Suchanek — Fields, LA (60 years old)
2018 Clancey Stewart — Florien, LA (20 years old)
2019 Ron Yule — DeRidder, LA (76 years old)
2022 Mary Harris — Breaux Bridge, LA (17 years old)
2023 Curry Perkins — Ragley, LA (53 years old)
2024 Joe Suchanek — Fields, LA (67 years old)
Louisiana State Fiddle Championship/Rebel State Historic Site Venue
Grand Champions
1970 Thomas Ray Beebe
1971 Tex Grimsley
1972 Charlie Walding
1973 Hank Strickland
1974 Bob Henderson
1975 Ken Smith
1976 Jamesette Kile
1977 Jewels Lasyone
1978 Jewels Lasyone
1979 Scarlett Johnson
1980 Ken Smith
1981 Greg Edwards
1982 Louis Darby
1983 Ken Smith
1984 Chuck Nation
1985 Johnny Johnson
1986*
1987*
1988 Mary Grimsley
1989 Curry Perkins
1990 Ken Smith
1991 Fred Beavers
1992 Curry Perkins
1993 Ken Smith
1994 Bill Grass
1995 John Johnson
1996 Amanda Dark
1997 T-Bo Lairscey
1998 Britton Currie
1999 Curry Perkins
2000 Ron Yule
2001 Jamesette Kile
2002 Dallas Cooley
2003 Fred Beavers
* The Championship was not held during 1986 and 1987.
List provided by Stacy Cates, Interpretive Ranger at Rebel State Historic Site in Marthaville, LA on June 15, 2010.
Phone: 1-888-677-3600 · email: rebel@crt.state.la.us