2017 - Amanda Roberts hails from Dayton, OH and she placed first in this competition. This was Amanda’s first time to Winfield and the Festival. She is the mother of four children and the staff Pianist at Wright State University. She considers herself a musician and a teacher. She teaches music in the elementary grades and at the high school level it is music history. Amanda won the Mid-East Regional Hammer Dulcimer competition and that qualified her for the Festival’s contest. In addition to the hammer dulcimer she plays the piano and percussion.

2017 - Third place was awarded to a 29 –year old stay at home mom to 4 beautiful children. Jessica Hoskins of Arkansas City, KS says she has attended the Festival for 29 years of her life starting when she was 5-months old. She entered this competition because of the encouragement from friends and family. Jessica also plays the guitar, bodhran, fiddle, and autoharp. While at the Festival she looks forward to spending time with family and friends to pass on the tradition to her children. Music, photography, and crafting along with her children keep her very busy.