Our NFBA picking at Dixieland Music Park in Waldo September 15-16 was a big success. There were more than 70 campers and over 100 day-time vehicles on Saturday. The large turnout was due to the free concert sponsored by the NFBA, which featured Ryan Holladay from Nashville, TN. Ryan is 14 years old and is two-time national banjo champion and holds one national mandolin championship title. Also featured was our own youth band, Coastal Blue. Other performers included The Wilson Family, Sweetwater Special from P.K. Young Middle School, and several other bands with young musicians. The concert was part of our Music in the Schools program which is aimed at introducing more young people to bluegrass music. The coloring books passed out to the children attending the concert were also a hit. Welcome to all of the new members who joined the NFBA while at the concert and welcome back to the members who renewed their membership. I've been told that you met an (unofficial) bluegrass "ambassador" and received autographed coloring books as part of your membership. She is my granddaughter and I want to personally thank you for the kind words and your support of all of our young musicians. Your encouragement is vital to their continued interest in bluegrass music.

This concert was a combined effort involving all of your Board members. Members participated in various committees from selecting and booking the talent, developing and printing the coloring books, advertising, sound, MC, and the multitude of other details which had to be handled. My hat's off to each of them for doing an outstanding job in pulling this together.

Vic Tauro and his staff at Dixieland were also very instrumental in the success of our concert and picking. As always, they were on-hand throughout our stay to ensure everything ran smoothly. We are fortunate to have Dixieland as one of our strong supporters of bluegrass. I look forward to seeing you at the next picking so don't forget our Picking in the Park on October 7th in Green Cove Springs and the NFBA Expo/Festival November 17-18 at Twin Oaks Park in Hoboken, GA.