The Iowa State Fair is in the midst of its 171st year with many attractions to visit, both old and new. But none are as old as the fiddlers’ contest, which celebrated its 100th year Sunday.
Throughout those 100 years, individuals have boasted their skills with the fiddle in front of spectators and judges at Pionneer Hall with the hopes of taking home the first prize. This year’s winner was Kirk Brandenberger of Keokuk, who now can claim two fiddlers’ titles — 52 years apart.
Brandenberger, who turns 70 next Saturday, last competed in the contest in 1973 in the under-18 division and took home the title in his third attempt at the time.
“I first came when I was 11 years old, which is many years ago,” he said. “There was always something going on somewhere else. And it’s a long ways up here (from Keokuk).”
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Brandenberger went on to become a successful fiddler after his 1973 fair title, releasing two albums (“Fiddlin’ Around” in 1977, “Fiddler on the Hoof” in 1988), serving on the Board of Directors of the International Bluegrass Music Museum, starting Prime Cuts for Bluegrass, a bluegrass radio service, with his wife, Becky, and managing several record stores in his hometown of Keokuk.
And after all that work throughout the years, he was inducted into the Iowa Bluegrass Hall of Fame in 2014. And yet he still goes around the Midwest playing his fiddle in front of crowds — none as sweet as the one where his career started.
Mike Bergman of West Des Moines performs during the 100th fiddle contest at the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 10, 2025, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.
“Well, it’s real gratifying,” Brandenberger said. “I read the names of the men that had won it in the past 25 years on a board here, and I saw lots of old friends. Lots of good memories here.”
Brandenberger went into Sunday’s contest looking to have fun and recall some childhood memories. He ultimately came out as the top fiddler in the 100th competition. Whether he’ll participate again remains a mystery, but he fully expects the competition to stick around for years to come.
“Oh yeah, it’ll keep going,” he said. “I can’t see a reason for it not to.”
Chris Meglio is a reporter for the Register. Reach him at cmeglio@gannett.com or on X @chris_meglio.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowan wins fair’s 100th fiddlers’ contest 52 years after first title