[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 25, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1326]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   HONORING SMITHVILLE FIDDLERS' JAMBOREE AS AN OUTSTANDING NATIONAL 
                      JAMBOREE AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART GORDON

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 25, 1997

  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the Smithville 
Fiddlers' Jamboree and Crafts Festival and The National Championship 
for Country Musician Beginners which are a great source of civic and 
cultural pride in Smithville, Tennessee.
  As a matter of fact, it was recently named the Official Jamboree and 
Crafts Festival of the State of Tennessee. Since the Festival's 
inception in 1972, attendance has grown from 16 States represented and 
8,000 people present to 44 States and four foreign countries 
represented with over 110,000 people attending in 1996.
  The Smithville Jamboree has set high standards of excellence for 
music, crafts, hospitality and fellowship. The Jamboree has been 
televised each year and broadcast worldwide, and has even had the 
distinction of being featured in the National Geographic Traveler and 
Southern Living. An example of how popular the Annual Jamboree has 
become worldwide, was its recent listing in the International Datebook 
of the New York Times on Sunday, June 8.
  The Jamboree and Festival, which is held annually over the Fourth of 
July holiday, has been named one of the top 100 tourist events in North 
America, according to a list compiled by the American Bus Association. 
Additionally, the Jamboree has been selected as a ``Top 20 Tourist 
Favorite'' by the Southeast Tourism Society, which includes the states 
of Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, 
Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Virginia.
  I congratulate the founders of this event, the staff, and volunteers 
who have kept and continue to keep this piece of American tradition 
alive. I further recognize the local community organizations who have 
worked so diligently to make this event a success year after year. They 
include: Smithville/DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Merchants 
Association, Smithville Volunteer Fire Department and local individuals 
who begin planning in early January. They work all the way up until a 
new Champion Fiddler of the Upper Cumberland and the National 
Championships for Country Music Beginners are announced.
  As always, the 1997 Jamboree and Crafts Festival stands to be 
recognized as the best ever. On behalf of all those who dedicate their 
hard work and effort to making this event possible, I encourage all who 
might be traveling through the great State of Tennessee to stop off, 
kick back and enjoy this time honored tradition of old-time Appalachian 
country music, dance, and authentic Appalachian art and culture.




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