Left to Right: Josh Bailey of Victoria, TX ( 2nd Place), Josh Hungate of Kearney, MO ( 1st Place) and Scott Pearson of Warren, PA ( 3rd Place)

Winfield, KS — The Walnut Valley Festival has announced the winners of its Walnut Valley Mandolin Championship contest held on September 20. 17 Contestants from 15 states vied for the Walnut Valley Mandolin Championship crown this year.

This years Mandolin Champion is Josh Hungate of Kearney, MO. Hungate picked up $250 in prize money along with Collings MF-Custom Mandolin Collings Guitars of Austin, TX. Josh Bailey of Victoria, TX picked up 2nd place and collected a Weber Custom “F” Mandolin by Weber Fine Acoustic Instruments by Sound to Earth of Manhattan, MT. Scott Pearson of Warren, PA was the 3rd place trophy winner and took home a brand new BRW FT-MS Mandolin by BRW Musical Instruments of Delaware, OH

Held annually each year on the 3rd weekend in September, the Walnut Valley Festival is the home of the International Autoharp Championship, the International Fingerstyle Guitar, the National Mountain Dulcimer, the National Flat Pick Guitar Championship, the National Hammered Dulcimer Championship and the National Bluegrass Banjo Championship. Other contests held at the Walnut Valley Festival are the Walnut Valley Mandolin Championship and the Walnut Valley Old Time Fiddle.