INSTRUCTORS & STAFF FOR BUCKEYE DULCIMER FESTIVAL 'APRIL, 2025

MEET THE BUCKEYE INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF

MOUNTAIN DULCIMER INSTRUCTORS

HAMMERED DULCIMER INSTRUCTORS

DAVE HAAS

Intermediate/Advanced

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Dave Haas lives in Charleston, WV and has been playing the mountain dulcimer since 1990.  He teaches in both private and group settings and was the founding member of the Almost Heaven Dulcimer Club in Charleston.  Dave loves to share the mountain dulcimer and its history with schools, churches, civic organizations, and has even brought the dulcimer to those in prison!  Dave is a popular instructor, performer and jam leader at music festivals and has taught and performed with the mountain dulcimer in over two-thirds of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.  He is known for his gentle, fun, and enthusiastic teaching style.  Dave has released eight dulcimer instructional books/CDs – including the very popular “Let’s Jam!” book/CDs, four instrumental dulcimer CDs, and a popular dulcimer chord chart.  Dave is proud to be an Endorsing Artist for Folkcraft Instruments since 2014.

In 2020, Dave retired Professor Emeritus from the University of Charleston where he exposed countless students the joys of Chemistry.  One of his favorite teaching activities was to sing chemistry songs (on dulcimer and guitar) with his students.  In addition, Dave plays the guitar, sings, and enjoys leading music on Christian retreat experiences such as Kairos Prison Ministry, The Walk to Emmaus, Cursillo, and Teens Encounter Christ (TEC).  Dave has been blessed with a wonderful wife, two sons, and 10 grandchildren! 

More information on Dave can be obtained at www.davehaasmusic.com.

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ZOOM OPTION:  Dave's 10 hours of extended instruction will be offered as a Zoom option for those folks who cannot attend in person.  The Zoom feed will be monitored by BDF staff who will be sure that any questions are answered. 

Zoom Registration form

 

JODY MARSHALL

Intermediate/Advanced

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We are so sorry that Ruth and Steve Smith had to cancel due to health reasons.  We wish them THE BEST!

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Jody Marshall, a native of the Washington, D.C. area, grew up in a musical family. Enchanted by the sound and visual appeal of the hammered dulcimer, she developed a passion for the instrument and began playing in the late 1980s. Her performance credits include the White House, the Kennedy Center, and Wolf Trap’s Filene Center for the Performing Arts.

Jody was a founding member of the popular folk trios, Ironweed and MoonFire, and also performed extensively with the award-winning Celtic ensemble, Connemara. A popular dulcimer teacher, she has been on the faculty of many festivals and arts workshops across the nation and overseas. From 2010 to 2014, she was also the staff coordinator of the Augusta Heritage Center’s Spring Music Week in Elkins, WV.

           The Washington Post describes Jody’s music as “lovely, lively, and shimmering.” She has several recordings to her credit, including Cottage in the Glen (on the Maggie’s Music label) and Carol of the Bells. Her books include Carol of the Bells: Seasonal Favorites for Hammered Dulcimer and Other Instruments  and A Baker’s Dozen: 13 Duets for Hammered Dulcimer and Other Instruments.


 For more information, visit www.jodymarshall.net.

 

 

ZOOM OPTION:  Jody's 10 hours of extended instruction will be offered as a Zoom option for those folks who cannot attend in person.  The Zoom feed will be monitored by BDF staff who will be sure that any questions are answered. 

Zoom Registration form
 

 

 

JOE STEINER

Past Beginner/Early Intermediate

Joe Steiner is a well-respected and innovative instructor on several instruments, and he has several recordings to his credit with various old-time and bluegrass groups. Joe is recognized for his banjo and mountain dulcimer knowledge and skills, but he is just as comfortable with harmonica, guitar, and bass. He has been performing, playing, and teaching stringed instruments all over the Midwest for over 45 years!

A sought-after instructor and jam leader, Joe is involved with workshops and performances at many festivals. In addition to private lessons and workshops, he has coordinated in-school music programs, workshops, clubs, and performances for children and adolescents, and has been instrumental (no pun intended) in running a large bluegrass non-profit organization that sponsors two festivals per year for the last 49 years. In addition to running the festival, you can occasionally see him filling in onstage with some of the bands.

Joe is the host and programmer of Blue Ridge Breakdown, a bluegrass and old-time music program on WLFC 88.3, University of Findlay, now in his 26th year behind the controls. You can listen to him any Monday night from 8-10 pm. EST, on http://www.pulse.findlay.edu/listen-live

Joe currently performs with several ensembles including the Old-Time Duo with his wife, Chris Steiner, and Buckeye Roadshow with Chris and Shari Wolf.  Joe can be reached at banjo_one@yahoo.com
 

 

 

CHRIS STEINER

Past Beginner/Early Intermediate

In 1997, when Chris Steiner responded to a newspaper ad that said, “Learn to play 10 songs on the dulcimer in 2 hours.  Keep the dulcimer. $35”, little did she know where it would lead.  That first dulcimer turned out to be a cardboard mountain dulcimer. Within two weeks, she was performing at the county fair and local nursing homes. A few months later, she saw her first hammered dulcimer, and fell in love all over again. The very first dulcimer festival that she attended was none other than Buckeye, and she has attended every one since then, as a participant the first four years, and an instructor the last twenty-two. (Yes, she has all of her name badges to prove it!) As someone who never touched a stringed instrument until she was in her 40s, Chris is living proof that you are never too old to learn, and she just LOVES teaching “old dogs new tricks”.

In addition to private lessons, Chris conducts workshops and performs at several festivals and venues yearly.  Her vita has included assisting with in-school music clubs and programs, and conducting workshops for school teachers for “Bluegrass in the Schools” in conjunction with the International Bluegrass Music Association in Nashville.  Chris (and Joe) are also very instrumental in running a large, twice-yearly bluegrass festival, now in it’s 49th year.

Chris (Cooperrider) Steiner is one-half (the better half, she says!) of Chris and Joe - Old Time Duo.  Chris’ instrument of choice is the hammered dulcimer, but she can also be found playing upright bass when the opportunity arises. For more information about Chris or Old Time Duo, email Chris at Cooperrider@yahoo.com.

 

DIANE HOCHSTETLER

New Players/Beginners

Once again, Diane will bring her love of music to the Buckeye Dulcimer Festival.   At her home in NE Ohio Amish company, her home is filled with music as she gives lessons on piano, guitar, and mountain dulcimer to many in the community.

She has given freely of her time and talent to help new players on the mountain dulcimer along their musical journey.  Her orientation introductions have included comparing learning the dulcimer to football, fishing, and I know that I am forgetting some good ones.

For many years, we knew Diane as the mother who brought (sat in class )two of her daughters (Hannah and Joanna) to the festival. 

 

MELANIE SHAPIRO

New Players/Beginners

Melanie Shapiro began playing the marimba when she was 10 years old and earned a degree in percussion performance from Indiana University.  Soon after college she took a break from playing music and instead kept her connection to music through listening to it at folk dances.  At dances she would frequently see a hammered dulcimer in the band and thought “someday...” but raising kids and working kept her from pursuing the dulcimer for many years.  After her husband gifted her with her first hammered dulcimer, she brought it to her first festival in 2012—the Buckeye Dulcimer Festival—for her first ever lessons on the dulcimer.  She soon fell in love with and became thoroughly addicted to the hammered dulcimer.  Melanie studied hammered dulcimer with Mark Alan Wade for 10 years.

With Melanie’s classical background, her repertoire tends to include a fair amount of classical music but Celtic music  and ragtime are other favorites.  Melanie is co-founder of the Central Ohio Hammered Dulcimer Club and can be found at one of the Columbus Irish Sessions on most Tuesdays. Melanie loves to share her enthusiasm for the hammered dulcimer with people who are new to the instrument and looks forward to working with you!

CHARLES WHITMER

Autoharp

Charles Whitmer has 35 years of public school music teaching experience 31 of them teaching band. He has also been teaching autoharp classes from 1985 to the present.  

In 2008 he was inducted into the Autoharp Hall of Fame. He is a current staff member of The Autoharp Quarterly and was also a long time staff member for The Autoharpoholic, a former international quarterly magazine.  

He has a Bachelor of Music degree in education (1980) and a Master of Curriculum & Instruction (music education) degree (1989) both from the University of Houston. He is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and the Association of Texas Small School Bands. He also formerly taught music for the Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) at the US Army's Camp Zama in Japan for one year. 

His workshops outside the public schools are primarily teaching autoharp classes. He also teaches workshops in Sacred Harp shape note singing, an American folk hymn tradition.

Programs for which he has taught autoharp and performed include Northwest Autoharp Gathering, Co-Founder of The Midwest Autoharp Academy, North Georgia Foothills Dulcimer Association Fall Festival, QuaranTune Virtual Dulcimer Fest, Palestine Old Time Music & Dulcimer Festival, Winter Creek Reunion Dulcimer Fest, California Autoharp Gathering, Lagniappe Dulcimer Fête, Augusta Heritage Arts Workshops, Ozark Folk Center, Mountain Laurel Autoharp Gathering, Willamette Valley Autoharp Gathering, California Traditional Music Society's Summer Solstice Festival, Summer Stringalong in Wisconsin, Winter Festival of Acoustic Music in Texas, Little Rock Dulcimer Getaway, Lone Star State Dulcimer Festival, Gateway Dulcimer Music Festival, New Mexico Dulcimer Festival, Cranberry Dulcimer Gathering in New York, Buckeye Dulcimer Festival, Central Florida Dulcimer & Autoharp Festival as well as other festivals across the US and a few in Japan.

In addition to teaching autoharp workshops and performing on autoharp, he currently has 720 traditional song arrangements written out for autoharp in print. He is also the author/arranger of a major work for concert bands entitled 52 Hymns and Chorales for Winds, published by Wingert-Jones Publications (a division of Excelcia Music Publishing).

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ZOOM OPTION:  Charles' 10 hours of extended instruction will be offered as a Zoom option for those folks who cannot attend in person.  The Zoom feed will be monitored by BDF staff who will be sure that any questions are answered. 

Zoom Registration form

 

 

We are so sorry that Ruth and Steve needed to cancel for health reasons.

 
UKULELE CLASS on Thursday & Friday
Is CANCELLED.

There will be a ukulele mini session on Saturday.
 

SHARI WOLF, BAND IT!  INSTRUCTOR  


SHARI WOLF, BAND IT!  INSTRUCTOR   
CLASS on THURSDAY AND FRIDAY IS CANCELLED FOR 2025.
THERE WILL BE MINI SESSIONS ON SATURDAY.


For many years, Shari created, taught, led, and facilitated the Band It! workshop here at Buckeye.  It's the type of workshop that draws on a lifetime of music experience to bring out the best in all players.  Shari has been involved in teaching music workshops on guitar and mountain dulcimer, developing workshop schedules, cr
eating and running festivals and camps as a member of Sweetwater, Country Strings, and as a past officer, president, and member of the Mountain Dulcimer Society of Dayton, music leader for a local community group, Nine Mile Creek out of Russia, Ohio.  Just before the pandemic, a new group was arose from the festival, Buckeye Junction (Chris & Joe Steiner, Joyce Harrison and Shari).  We lost Joyce to covid in 2021.  Lots of things changed, but the music continued to be a driving force.  Later in 2021, Joe, Chris, and Shari continued as a group now called Buckeye Roadshow.    This trio created monthly online Buckeye Roadshow Zoom Jams, serve as leadership of the long-time Buckeye Dulcimer Festival, and you might see them at local festival events and live music venues.

Since coming back from the pandemic, Shari seized the opportunity to once again lead the Band-it! workshop. This workshop is so special in that each participant has a purpose and will add to their music.  It's a wonderful class to keep and sharpen music skills.   She is really excited to be doing it again this year, 2025.

 

 

BUCKEYE DULCIMER FESTIVAL STAFF
As the Buckeye Dulcimer Festival has grown, the 'behind the scenes' work and details have grown. 
With so many 'extras' planned for this year, look for these folks helping to make this year the BEST ever.

Director - Shari Wolf

... has been involved with the Buckeye Dulcimer Festival since it's inception 31 (plus 2) years ago.  The first 20 years was spent in helping Louise Ziegler start and organize the festival.  For the next nine years, Shari along with co-director,  Joyce Harrison, moved the festival forward until Covid when she passed in early 2021.  Thanks to help from Joe & Chris Steiner, the festival continues to move forward and be challenged in a changing dulcimer music world made up of many online instructional opportunities.  Shari, Chris, and Joe are dedicated to keeping LIVE music as an important component of festivals, jams, and clubs.  

Musically, she was a founding member of Sweetwater, an Ohio-based dulcimer/folk trio.  The Sweetwater group was a cornerstone of the festival until their group finale' in 2008. 

Since that time, Shari has been involved with her educational materials business, Country Strings (which is no longer), manages websites for a wide variety of music-related groups, past president of the Dayton Dulcimer Society
, and music leader for Nine-Mile Creek, a community stringband in southwest Ohio.

Shari and Joyce directed three years of a wonderful and unique festival, DULCIMERS IN THE CORNFIELD Festival co-ordinating with Famous Old Time Music located near Wapakoneta, Ohio at that time. 

Until Covid, Shari joined Country Strings in  kicking off Friday night's concert and in leading the Sunday morning Gospel Sing.  In addition to being involved with Buckeye, she helped with the organization of the Old Time Gospel Music Retreat as a member of Country String, and as a duo (Dulcdaze) with Joyce.  

Several years before the Pandemic, Joyce and Shari combined talents with Chris and Joe Steiner to become Buckeye Junction, strengthening the Buckeye Dulcimer Festival connection. 

After Joyce's passing, the three combined to form Buckeye Roadshow moving forward with BDF Zoom jams and now BDF 2024.

Assistant Directors - Chris and Joe Steiner

Chris and Joe have been great supporters of the Buckeye Dulcimer Festival for well over 25 years. Their willingness to help out with whatever needed done has been invaluable. 

Both are fine instructors ... Chris on the hammer dulcimer and for several years, the Band it! class.  Joe has taught clawhammer banjo, mountain dulcimer, and Band It!.

For the past 15 years they have worked as a team in running the sound for concerts, open stages and some jams.

Thanks Chris and Joe for being there to support us all.


Several years before the Pandemic, Joyce and Shari combined talents with Chris and Joe Steiner to become Buckeye Junction, strengthening the Buckeye Dulcimer Festival connection. 

After Joyce's passing, the three combined to form Buckeye Roadshow moving forward with BRS Zoom jams and now BDF 2025.

 

THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTORS THAT WILL JOIN
OUR STAFF FOR OUR SATURDAY NEW PLAYER/BEGINNER SESSIONS.
 

SATURDAY BEGINNER INSTRUCTORS

Autoharp

Hammered Dulcimer

Mountain Dulcimer

PHYLLIS DAVIS
(Urbana, Oh) 

Phyllis has been playing autoharp since 2006. Mountain Laurel Autoharp Gathering at Newport, Pa was her first experience playing an autoharp. Her musical background goes back to the age of 8 when she received an accordion for her birthday.

Playing Clarinet and Saxophone became her passion while at Graham Local Schools. After graduation, keyboard playing was once again her top priority. In 2003 she joined the West Central Ohio Community Concert Band (Clarinet) and The Fountainaires Jazz Band (Saxophone). In 2007, she joined the Mad River Valley Dulcimer Society playing the autoharp. Phyllis enjoys all types of music and believes everyone should enjoy playing the autoharp as much as she does. 

On Saturday, Phyllis will be helping folks get started on the right track by teaching 5 hours of New Player/Beginner autoharp.
 

MELANIE SHAPIRO
(Columbus, OH)
 

Melanie Shapiro began playing the marimba when she was 10 years old and earned a degree in percussion performance from Indiana University.  Soon after college she took a break from playing music and instead kept her connection to music through listening to it at folk dances.  At dances she would frequently see a hammered dulcimer in the band and thought “someday...” but raising kids and working kept her from pursuing the dulcimer for many years.  After her husband gifted her with her first hammered dulcimer, she brought it to her first festival in 2012—the Buckeye Dulcimer Festival—for her first ever lessons on the dulcimer.  She soon fell in love with and became thoroughly addicted to the hammered dulcimer.  Melanie studied hammered dulcimer with Mark Alan Wade for 10 years.

With Melanie’s classical background, her repertoire tends to include a fair amount of classical music but Celtic music  and ragtime are other favorites.  Melanie is co-founder of the Central Ohio Hammered Dulcimer Club and can be found at one of the Columbus Irish Sessions on most Tuesdays. Melanie loves to share her enthusiasm for the hammered dulcimer with people who are new to the instrument and looks forward to working with you!


 

SHANE BRADEN
(Clayton, OH)

I have played a folk guitar and sang in choirs since my elementary school years.  During high school I even played and sang around town at local coffee shops (they had real beatnik coffee shops way back in those days!).  I gave beginning guitar lessons in the basement of my parent’s home, and sang locally around the northern Indiana area (I’m a Hoosier) to help fund my college education.  It must have worked, as I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Indiana U., and an Associates degree from Purdue U.   Then I put my music aside to raise a family, and do “normal” work.  However in 2011 I heard this wonderful sound coming from a strange looking acoustical instrument.  I didn’t know what it was!  I had to find out!  A mountain dulcimer?  What was that?  Not knowing the first thing about a mountain dulcimer, I purchased a plywood dulcimer from Craig’s List.  A friend told me about a dulcimer club that was meeting somewhere near Dayton, Ohio, and boy did that start a new path to my life!  I had to know how to play this plywood marvel,  so I went to this “dulcimer jam” meeting, which ultimately led me to purchasing my first real FolkRoots mountain dulcimer, and eventually going to my very first real festival, Buckeye!  Wow,  what an inspirational few days.  I was hooked!  I have attended Buckeye every year since then.  I also started attending many different dulcimer festivals, learning all I could about this wonderfully diverse instrument.  I have helped instruct past beginner players of the “Mountain Dulcimer Society of Dayton” prior to monthly jams, and was lucky enough to be asked to play with “9 Mile Creek” a wonderful group of diverse dulcimer/acoustic instrument players.  We have played at several venues throughout the south/central Ohio area. 

In addition to playing with 9 Mile Creek, and playing with the MDSD dulcimer club, I have the privilege of teaching children and young adults at the Hickory Trail Educational Center, introducing them to the mountain dulcimer and teaching them the wonder of playing this acoustical instrument.   I also give beginner and past beginner dulcimer private lessons at my home.  Last year at Buckeye,  I had the great privilege of giving a very beginner dulcimer Saturday workshop.  So the adventure continues….all because I heard the sweet sound of a mountain dulcimer being played in the hills of Tennessee.

I now play guitar, mountain dulcimer, Ukulele, and recently have undertaken the great sound of the bluegrass banjo!  Soooo many instruments….just hope there is enough time!!

 

 

MORE STAFF   .....  WE COULDN'T HAVE BUCKEYE WITHOUT THEM!

DEBBIE & BRIAN DOGGETT

are long-time friends of the Buckeye Dulcimer Festival.  Many years ago, Louise presented to them the challenge of handling the registration table during the entire festival.  They accepted the challenge. 

We can't imagine the festival without them!

They also organize and  manage the performers' sales table as well and make it their business to have that extra bit of knowledge about the performers and their product to help enhance sales.   On Friday and Saturday night with help from other volunteers, they make sure that CDs are at the Lodge for additional sales.

This all consuming job can be stressful at times, but every year they show up with smiling faces ready for the challenge.

Debbie is a fine hammered dulcimer player while Brian learned the mountain dulcimer from Louise Ziegler many years ago and continues to play locally in Richmond, IN.

 

 

SHIRLEY GREEN

is a local resident living about ten miles from Recreation Unlimited.  She has been involved in the local dulcimer community for many years.  She started taking lessons from Buckeye's own, Louise Ziegler and became her playing companion until life got in her way.  

Several years ago, she contacted us about getting back involved with the festival.  It has been wonderful having her back with us.   You'll see her smiling face in the Dining Hall as she checks your name in the food line.  It's such an important job.  You might see her driving a golf cart helping folks to get from building to building. 

She also helps with festival preparation doing anything we need done.  Her willingness to step up and being responsible for instructor copies has been invaluable.

Thanks, Shirley, for all you do!!!

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For many years, Sh
irley's mom, Erma helped us on the weekend at the Performer's Table. 
Thanks, Erma!


 

DIANE AND MIKE HOCHSTETLER

 

 

 

 

JOYCE HARRISON (in memorial)


We miss you tremendously!  Thank you so much
for all you did for the Buckeye Dulcimer festival
for the last 25+ years. 

Your spirit and driving force along with Louise's
legacy will always remain with us.
 
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Some of Joyce's contribution to the hammered dulcimer world and the Buckeye Dulcimer Festival.

Joyce ... has been actively involved in the Buckeye Dulcimer Festival for the past 21 years, first as a participant, then in 1997 as an instructor, and in 1998 assisting Louise Ziegler and Shari Wolf in the organization of the festival. 

She has researched and made the initial contacts for the hammered dulcimer instructors.  She also revised the design of the brochures and registration forms along with creating name tags, schedules, and other various office duties. 

This year, 2020, Joyce will be attending to festival operations and problem solving as co-Director.   You'll see her leading jams with the hammered dulcimer and upright bass.  She'll join Country Strings in  kicking off Friday night's concert and in leading the Sunday morning Gospel Sing. 

In addition to being involved with Buckeye, she organized the Old Time Gospel Music Retreat for 15 years as a member of Country Strings.  Joyce and Shari Wolf organized the DULCIMERS IN THE CORNFIELD Festival held in April, and they were involved with many other 'live' music events at the Famous Old Time Music Company formerly in Wapakoneta, OH.  

Joyce is also member of a community based stringband out of Russia, Ohio, Nine Mile Creek and along with Shari Wolf, the duo, Dul-C-Daze.

During the last year, Joyce and Shari have combined talents with Chris and Joe Steiner to become Buckeye Junction, strengthening the Buckeye Dulcimer Festival connection.

DOROTHY BUCHANAN

Dorothy, THANK YOU for all your work, support, and friendship!  We miss your smile and all the things you did for us!

has been with this festival since the very first year.  She is no longer on staff, but is still a valued member of our festival.  We still hope to see her at the festival "if the weather be right!" 

She served as a hammered dulcimer instructor and music advisor for many years.   Dorothy also ran BDF open stages.  When presented the challenge of organizing a "CLASS" open stage, Dorothy came up with the most innovative way of making it work.

 

MIKE & MARY JO LEPAGE

It is with much regret that we report that Mike passed away the summer of 2021. We will always remember..

have been wonderful supporters of Buckeye for many years. 

You'll see Mike driving the golf carts from early Wednesday until the last person leaves on Sunday.  Mary Jo does so m
any things that we know, but many things we don't even know to help make BDF a success.   

I was looking for a nice posed picture for Mike and Mary Jo, but this one seems more in character.  You just never know what's going to happen when Mike and Mary Jo are around.

Hello to All Who Love the Buckeye Dulcimer Festival  (May, 2017) 

It is with a heavy heart, but a joyful and peaceful soul that we must let you know that Louise Ziegler (a driving force of the festival and director for the first 20 years) passed away early Friday morning, May 19, surrounded by family. She stood up to cancer and it didn't take her spirit. She was peaceful ... Hospice was wonderful.  I treasure the time we had with her and the special 'sharing' time with her daughter, Jan, early in the week.  Thinking of all the family and friends with which she has been reunited, makes my spirit smile.

There was a Celebration of Louise's Life on June 10  at her home in Ashley, Ohio.     We filled the yard with music, remembrances and JOY! 

We are thinking of her family but also of her music family from the Buckeye Dulcimer Festival, The Old-Time Gospel Music Retreat,
The Heritage group, many area dulcimer groups, and just folks that she was able to share the joy of the dulcimer.

God Speed wonderful friend!   ~~ Shari and Joyce 
 

JOYCE HARRISON ... We miss you tremendously!  Thank you so much for all you did for the Buckeye
Dulcimer festival for the last 30 years.  Your spirit and driving force along with Louise's legacy will
always remain with us.
 

From left to right:  Joyce Harrison (BDF co-director), David Hudler (RU business director and liason), and Shari Wolf (BDF co-director).  David gave us a magic wand that we wave occasionally and He Makes It Work!
      Up close and personal are the three folks responsible for a smooth running festival with a lot of fun added in for good measure.   And ... for the background in this picture ... people visiting, laughing, and a little studying.  2019

 

             

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