FIDDLERS HELP BRING THE FAIR TO A CLOSE

Backstage warming up for the Fiddler's Contest Saturday afternoon at the SEMO District Fair, 84-year-old Bob King handed 16-year-old Liesl Schoenberger his fiddle to try out.

"I like the A and E strings," she said after whipping through some runs.

Half an hour later, the two were onstage playing an impromptu duet on "The Green, Green Grass of Home."

Age is no boundary to fiddlers.

King finished third in the senior division. Schoenberger could have won without trying in the junior division of the contest she has won every year since she was nine. No one else entered, perhaps because of her out-sized talent.

Fifteen seconds into her first tune, "Tom and Jerry," jaws dropped and eyes widened in the audience and Schoenberger couldn't resist a little smile as she hit her stride. The R&R Tent at the fair was nearly full and the applause as she finished "Forty Years Ago Waltz" and her favorite song to play, "Draggin' the Bow " was enormous.

Schoenberger is a sophomore at Notre Dame Regional High School and a classically trained violinist. But John Heizer, who won the senior division of the Fiddler's Contest, says some of the older fiddlers think she must be an old-time fiddler reincarnated.

"She's very talented and God-gifted," he said.

A Prairie Du Rocher, Ill., resident, Heizer is a diesel mechanic who has been playing the fiddle only seven or eight years. He displayed a warm, full tone in playing his three tunes -- "Buffalo Gals," "Mockingbird Hill Waltz" and "Soldier's Joy."

Richard Harness of Fulton, Mo., finished second. The competition was strong. Tim Stokes of Anna, Ill., didn't place even though he won the Illinois State Fiddle Championship senior division title just last week.

The judges were Jim Hickam of the KRCU FM radio show "Your Folk Connection," Cape Girardeau Fire Chief Dan White and longtime local musician Fred Horrell.

Ed Fravell of Orient, Ill., played guitar accompaniment for all the fiddlers except King.

There's just one secret to accompanying a fiddler, Fravell said.

"Play the right chords."

King is a Jackson resident who formerly operated a service station. His son, Gene, accompanied him on guitar. Gene King retired as the Altenburg postmaster.

After the contest, both Schoenberg and Heizer were off to compete in the fiddle contest at the Apple Festival in Murphysboro, Ill., Saturday night.

The Fiddler's Contest was one of the events held on the sparkling final day of the fair. Among them was the Poultry/rabbit Dress-up contest.

Adam Brown of Jackson won for the prettiest chicken, Olivia Brown of Jackson won first place for funniest chicken and Charles Wallgreen of Jackson won for more original chicken.

Best over all chicken was won by Charles Wallgreen, with Adam Brown finishing second and Olivia Brown third.

Amber Nenninger of Leopold won for prettiest rabbit, Jonathan Sinn of Cape Girardeau had the funniest rabbit and Josh stone of Jackson had the most original rabbit.

Josh Stone won for best overall rabbit, with Amber Nenninger finishing second and Jonathan Sinn third.

Other contests included a 4-H/FFA public speaking competition, Pee-Wee Showmanship, a Pedal Tractor Pull, Hitch Classes and a 4-H Horse Show

The evening was capped by a Don Williams concert at the grandstand.