SMITHVILLE FIDDLERS' JAMBOREE®

If you would like to be considered for a judging position for the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Crafts Festival, please email your information to smithvillejamboree@gmail.com

Five judges will score each music contestant. The high and low scores will be thrown out, and the remaining three scores will be averaged to determine the contestant’s final score.

Dance contestants will be scored by three judges, with no scores being thrown out. All three scores will be averaged to determine the contestant’s final score.

Music Judges for 2025

Head Judge - Greg Hallums began his fiddling career in the mid-1980s, touring with Bobby Smith and the Boys from Shiloh. By the early 1990s, he had joined country artist Roger Springer on the road, further solidifying his reputation as a skilled and passionate musician. In 2005, Greg earned top honors as the Grand Champion at the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree, one of Tennessee’s premier national music festivals where he now serves as head music judge. Over the years, he has shared the stage with legends including Alabama, the Stoneman Family, Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys. A protégé of fiddling icon Bobby Hicks, Greg benefited from a long and influential mentorship that helped shape his distinctive style. Later, Greg joined forces with Sam Stout to form the band Stoney Lonesome. Together, they brought traditional bluegrass to new audiences through regular performances at T.B. Sutton General Store in Granville, TN. They launched what is now known as The Sutton Ole Time Music Hour - a LIVE bluegrass show & syndicated radio show airing across 153 countries worldwide. Toured with: Bobby Smith and the Boys from Shiloh, Roger Springer, The Stoneman Family, Ron Williams, and Carl Tipton. Performed with: Alabama on CMA Awards, Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys, 2004 Blue grass Along the Harpeth Musician of the Year, 2005 Smithville Fiddler's Jamboree Grand Champion, 2025 Uncle Jimmy Thompson Award Recipient.

Becky Buller is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter from St. James, Minn., who has traversed the globe over performing bluegrass music to underwrite her insatiable songwriting habit. Becky has written songs for three Grammy award-winning albums: she co-wrote "Freedom", the lead-off track of The Infamous Stringdusters Laws of Gravity (2018 Best Bluegrass Grammy), "The Shaker" on The Traveling’ McCoury’s self-titled release (2019 Best Bluegrass Grammy), and "Good-bye Girl" on Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway’s Crooked Tree album (2023 Best Bluegrass Grammy). Her compositions can also be heard on records by Ricky Skaggs, Rhonda Vincent, and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, to name just a few. Becky is the recipient of 10 IBMA awards, including the 2016 Fiddler and Female Vocalist. She is the first woman in the history of the awards to receive the Fiddler nod; she is also the first person ever to win in both vocal and instrumental categories. Her other awards include the 2020 Collaborative Recording for "The Barber’s Fiddle" and the 2020 Song for co-writing and fiddling on Special Consensus’ "Chicago Barn Dance." She has made multiple guest appearances on WSM’s Grand Ole Opry and tours extensively with the Becky Buller Band. Becky has released seven albums. “Distance And Time,” her third album for the Dark Shadow Recording label, was a nominee for the 2021 IBMA Album award. Becky’s new album, Jubilee, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Bluegrass Album Chart for the week of June 1st, 2024. It features her brilliant road band along with special guest and co- writer Aoife O’Donovan. Jubilee is a song cycle that shares the story of Becky’s lifelong struggle with depression and anxiety, how it reached a crisis point during the pandemic years, and how she made it to the other side. In April 2023, Becky was inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame. Becky moonlights with the First Ladies of Bluegrass, an all-female ensemble composed of the first women to win in their respective instrumental categories at the IBMA awards: Alison Brown (banjo), Missy Raines (bass), Sierra Hull (mandolin), Becky (fiddle), and Molly Tuttle (guitar). Equally passionate about bluegrass music education, Becky has over 20 years experience teaching fiddle, singing, and songwriting, both privately and at workshops and camps around the world. She currently serves on the board of the IBMA Foundation, which awards $50,000 annually in scholarships and grants to spread the word about bluegrass music and support those who create it. Becky proudly calls Manchester, Tenn., her adopted hometown, where she lives with husband and daughter. Visit her online at BeckyBuller.com.

Fred Duggin Fred Duggin played with Wynn Osborne early in career working festivals throughout the country. He played on CMH records with this band. Fred also played with New Tradition Band releasing five national CD’s and number one video on CMT. Other work he has done includes playing on Grand Ole Opry and Crook and Chase and Nashville Now tv shows. Placed twice in WV National flatpicking contest and first in Wayne Henderson Contest. Won local contests including Smithville, Holiday, Clarksville, and WV state flatpicking.

Randall Franks the Appalachian Ambassador of the Fiddle, brings unmatched expertise, tradition, and star power to fiddle contests nationwide. With a 48-year career rooted in Georgia’s rich fiddling heritage, Randall honed his craft under masters like Dallas Burrell, Cotton Carrier, Anita Sorrells Mathis, and Gordon Tanner during his youth. As a teenager, he led The Peachtree Pickers, finding mentorship under Bill Monroe and stepping into the Blue Grass Boys in 1984 as a successor to Kenny Baker. He later joined Jim & Jesse’s Virginia Boys, solidifying his status among bluegrass royalty. Influenced by fiddle giants—Kenny Baker, Chubby Wise (with whom he toured), Buddy Spicher, Jim Buchanan, Vassar Clements, Red Taylor, Benny Martin, Curly Ray and Charlie Cline, Bobby Hicks, Mac Magaha, Tommy Jackson, and Paul Warren— Randall’s playing has enriched the legacies of over 40 Hall of Famers across country, bluegrass, gospel, and rock genres. His fiddling mastery earned him the 2024 Josie Music Awards: Musician of the Year – Fiddle at the Grand Ole Opry House, a testament to his enduring talent. It was in 1992, that he was honored with the prestigious Fiddlin’ John Carson Award. During his association with the Grand Ole Opry guest star, he was made a regular feature entertainer at the Grand Ole Opry’s Grand Master Fiddler Championship in the 1990s, a contest he competed in a decade earlier. Randall Franks, the Appalachian Ambassador of the Fiddle, brings unmatched expertise, tradition, and star power to fiddle contests nationwide. With a 48-year career rooted in Georgia’s rich fiddling heritage, Randall honed his craft under masters like Dallas Burrell, Cotton Carrier, Anita Sorrells Mathis, and Gordon Tanner during his youth. As a teenager, he led The Peachtree Pickers, finding mentorship under Bill Monroe and stepping into the Blue Grass Boys in 1984 as a successor to Kenny Baker. He later joined Jim & Jesse’s Virginia Boys, solidifying his status among bluegrass royalty. Influenced by fiddle giants—Kenny Baker, Chubby Wise (with whom he toured), Buddy Spicher, Jim Buchanan, Vassar Clements, Red Taylor, Benny Martin, Curly Ray and Charlie Cline, Bobby Hicks, Mac Magaha, Tommy Jackson, and Paul Warren— Randall’s playing has enriched the legacies of over 40 Hall of Famers across country, bluegrass, gospel, and rock genres. His fiddling mastery earned him the 2024 Josie Music Awards Musician of the Year – Fiddle at the Grand Ole Opry House, a testament to his enduring talent. It was in 1992, that he was honored with the prestigious Fiddlin’ John Carson Award. During his association with the Grand Ole Opry guest star, he was made a regular feature entertainer at the Grand Ole Opry’s Grand Master Fiddler Championship in the 1990s, a contest he competed in a decade earlier.

As a young musician, Randall competed in fiddle, mandolin, and bluegrass band contests such as Hiawassee, Yellow Daisy, Menlo, Prater’s Mill, Dalton, Lake Lanier, Chattahoochee, Athens, and Dogwood across Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama, consistently ranking among the top performers. He claimed titles such as the 1982 WKHX Fiddling Champ, the 1983 Cumberland County (Tenn.) Fiddle Champion, and the 1985 Georgia State Bluegrass Band Champion at Stone Mountain, while narrowly missing the Georgia Mandolin title by a fraction of a point, securing second place on Mountain Music Showdown airing on national PBS at the Yellow Daisy Festival. The National Folk Festival tapped Randall Franks to teach their fiddle styles workshop in 1985 representing Southern Appalachia fiddle styles while he was there performing with the legendary fiddle band – Doodle and the Golden River Grass. Rising to music and TV stardom, in the 1990s, he became the second-most visible fiddler of his generation, alongside Alison Krauss, showcasing his musical talents to over 150 million viewers worldwide as "Officer Randy Goode" on In the Heat of the Night (1988–1993).

Woody Hawkins took an interest in playing music at an early age, but the truly life changing event was the first-time hearing Lester and Earl play the soundtrack to "Bonnie and Clyde". Since that time, Woode has been active playing in a variety of styles ranging from Merle Haggard to Santana, but bluegrass has always been the first love. Woode is a multi-instrumentalist who has played and sung with some of the most recognized names in bluegrass from Bill Monroe to Jamie Dailey, including a time on the road with Jerry and Tammy Sullivan. Opting for a more lucrative career, Woode has mostly chosen to play with some highly regarded regional bands from Clear Creek to Highland Rim and has currently been with regional favorite Fredonia Bluegrass Band since the fall of 2013.

Old-Time Appalachian Dance Judges

Tammy Scruggs – Head Judge – is proud to celebrate sixty years of life, and a lifelong journey rooted in dance and dedication. She has spent decades not only performing but also serving as a judge. Her dance career began with a special milestone: She was the very first winner of the Smithville Jamboree in 1972. Since then, Tammy has proudly placed in all three major categories—Buck Dancing, Clogging, and Appalachian Flatfoot —earning forty-two placements over 54 years of competition. She danced with a variety of teams, all of which have taken the stage at the Jamboree. Even in 2020, when the pandemic moved competitions online, she began her involvement with the virtual and autistic categories—the only year off from competing. Tammy has been honored to hold multiple national titles: 6-time National Old Time Clogging Champion, 5-time National Buck Dancing Champion, and 4-time National Old Time Flatfoot Champion— achievements earned at the renowned Dave Macon Days in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. She was also the first and only woman to win the Best of the Best World Champion Buck Dancer title at Cedar Fest in Lebanon on July 17, 1997.

Tammy spent 13 years as President of Jaycees of Smith County, Tennessee leading the Defeated Creek Bluegrass Festival and its dance competitions. Tammy’s journey has taken her across the South—dancing in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas, Kentucky, and Indiana—and onto iconic shows like Ralph Emery, Carl Tipton, and Hee Haw. She was also fortunate to manage Nashville Palace for seven years, working with some of country and bluegrass music’s finest.

Tammy gives thanks to the Good Lord above for blessing me with the gift of dance and for walking beside me throughout every step. I am also eternally grateful to my late mother, Ella Mae Oliver Scruggs, whose wisdom, encouragement, and unwavering support shaped both my life and my career. My heartfelt thanks go as well to my father, Tommy Scruggs Jr.—a former dancer and winner at the Smithville Jamboree—who, at 94 years young, continues to inspire me.

Dance has been the rhythm of her life, and she cherishes every step, every memory, and every moment shared in this incredible community. Tammy is thrilled to continue this journey as part of the Smithville Jamboree family—where tradition lives and the music never stops.

Danny Campbell – has cherished memories of being a musician and dancing for most of my life, thanks to his father, Ray Campbell. Ray danced on the Grand Ole Opry from 1953 to 1956 and played a huge role in Danny’s dancing career as a square dance caller. Danny’s musical journey started at the age of nine, and by ten, he was calling square dance like his dad. He started playing guitar and singing, eventually picking up the bass and forming his country band at 17. In 1986, Danny had the honor of performing at Twitty City in Hendersonville, TN, while Conway Twitty was still alive. In 1976, Danny was part of his father’s square dance team, performing at the Gaslight Theater at Opryland. His dancing career has been a wonderful experience including being a member of the Tennessee Toe Tappers square dance team, which danced at the Grand Ole Opry in 1996, after winning first place in a competition. Danny also ran a square dance team, the Mid-State Ramblers for one year and placed well. Blessed with good health, he competed in clogging, buck dancing, and flatfoot competitions, winning National Championships. Danny has fond memories of dancing all over Middle Tennessee and Alabama. He is grateful to God for allowing him to be a part of good, clean music and dancing most of his life.

Sherry Guenther – is from Muddy Pond, Tennessee. She has been dancing for 52 years, since she was 9 years old. She is a self-taught clogger. Sherry grew up in Crossville Tennessee listening to and traveling with her family's band, the Lantana Drifters. This fast-driving old time, traditional fiddle music is what inspired her to start clogging. She says that she feels the music in her soul. Once she hears that good old time fiddle music, she cannot sit still. Sherry has won and placed in numerous clogging competitions including Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree, Loudon Smoky Mountain Fiddlers Convention, Defeated Creek Bluegrass Festival, Wartrace Bluegrass Festival, Livingston Pioneer Days, Cumberland County Fair to name a few. Sherry is a 7-time National Champion Old Time Clogger, having won the title at Uncle Dave Macon Days. For six years, Sherry was a judge for the National Champion Old Time Clogging and Old-Time Buck dancing competitions at Uncle Dave Macon Days. She also judged clogging at Korn Pone Day in Sparta, Tennessee after winning her age group and Grand Champion for 4 years. Sherry and her husband Mark are part of the family who own Muddy Pond Sorghum Mill. They travel with their horses and mules and conduct sorghum- making demonstrations.

Clogging Dance Judges for 2025

Jeff Driggs Jeff Driggs grew up in West Virginia where he learned to dance from watching old time masters like the late D. Ray White, and modern cloggers like Tony Burgess and Jamie Bullins. The West Virginia style he developed early on was often referred to as "back-stepping," a combination of flatfooting (a low to the floor dance style punctuated by heel skuffs and pitter patter on the ball of the foot) and Appalachian style clogging which is recognized by its constant drag-slide motion on the flat of the foot with the heel keeping time.

Jeff was offered the opportunity to dance with a local team and learned the terminology and techniques of precision clogging. The team performed locally and on the road with cast members of the Hee Haw Road show and opening in concert shows for Kenny Rogers, Charlie Daniels and others. His first festival teaching engagement was in 1983 and since that time he has taught in all fifty U.S. states, as well as Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia and has received numerous awards and honors, both as a competitor and an instructor.

As a performer, Jeff made his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry in 1985, after winning the U.S. male clogging title. He has danced on that hallowed stage many times throughout the years, and in shows with country music artists such as Brad Paisley, Vince Gill, Kenny Rogers, Bill Monroe, Ricky Skaggs, and others. His routines are taught and danced worldwide, and his choreography has been performed in international parades and festivals, bowl game halftime shows, theme parks and more. Jeff has written several books on clogging and old-time square dancing, owned and distributed the Double Toe Times magazine read by thousands of dancers worldwide and has served as an officer in many national clogging organizations.

He has been honored with the Clogging Champions of America’s (CCA) Legacy Award, the Clogging Leaders Organization (CLOG, Inc.) Pioneer Award and was been inducted in the America’s Clogging of Fame in 2014.

Jeff lives in Winfield, West Virginia, where he works for West Virginia University’s School of Medicine.

Susan Phillips is the Co-Executive Director with her husband David of the National Clogging Organization, Inc. Susan has taught clogging since she was 15 and recently stopped to devote her attention to C.L.O.G. activities. She was a member of the National Champion Southern Connection Cloggers of Hendersonville, NC. She is a Certified Clogging Instructor and serves on the Steering Committee of the program. She is a Certified Clogging Judge with all 4 competition circuits.

She and her husband coordinate the National Clogging Convention and the USA National Clogging Championships. They also direct the Silver Dollar City Clogging Championships in Branson, MO and the Southern National Clogging Classic in Pigeon Forge, TN. David and Susan reside in Dacula, GA.

Chip Summey has been clogging since 1982. He is a Certified Judge and Certified Clogging Instructor, with active participation in leading training sessions.

Chip has traveled throughout the world, including Mexico, Russia, Switzerland, France, Italy and 47 States, as a workshop instructor, judge, event promoter, and dancer. Chip has been a board member for the Clogging Champions of America as well as the National Clogging Hoedown Council.

His competition team, the Southern Connection cloggers of Asheville, North Carolina has been National Champions in 4 or More Couple Precision, 4 or More Couple Hoedown, Country Hoedown, Running Set Hoedown, and Open Smooth Mountain Square Dance.

Chip has taught and judged all over the US, including the many CLOG National Conventions.

He has had teams to Dance in International and World Festivals with a recent trip to Moscow, Russia and the surrounding countryside with the Southern Connection Cloggers.

Professionally, Chip is a Travel Consultant & Coordinator with Wilcox Travel.