Last year was busy for the Green family. We spent a lot of time on the road, competing at some of bluegrass music’s most respected contests. It was exhausting, exciting, and incredibly rewarding.

Ezekiel had an amazing run. He placed second in the Youth Mandolin Contest at the Old Fiddlers’ Convention in Galax, Virginia – a competition with a long history and serious talent. He also won the top mandolin spot at the Vandalia Gathering right here in West Virginia, which was especially meaningful since it’s our home state.

The Southeast Bluegrass Banjo Championships in Manchester, Tennessee, was a family affair. The boys and I won or placed in every category except fiddle. I took home top spots in banjo, guitar, and dobro. Ezekiel won the mandolin contest, and Ezra placed second in the 14-and-under category for bass – pretty impressive considering he’d only recently switched from uke-bass to upright.

I also had the honor of placing third in the International Fingerstyle Guitar Championship, which was a personal highlight for me.

Competitions aren’t everything, of course. We do them because they challenge us to get better and because they’re a chance to meet other musicians and learn from them. But they’re also nerve-wracking and humbling. Every time we compete, we’re reminded that there’s always more to learn and room to grow.

We’re grateful for the success we had in 2025, and we’re looking forward to whatever 2026 brings – whether that’s more competitions or just more opportunities to play the music we love.