Betty Scott, of Dallas, has won the first contest at this year’s Walnut Valley Festival and is the 2009 International Autoharp Champion.
Scott bested 11 other competitors ? there were contestants representing 12 states ? to take the title. Scott took third in the same competition at last year’s festival.
Rick Fitzgerald, Franklin, Wisc., finished in second place and Fredona Currie, Heber Springs, Ark., was third. This is Fitzgerald’s first visit to the festival.
Currie entered the contest, which began this morning, for a fourth time.
The three embraced in a group hug before dancing around for a victory lap.
