The Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championships, held on Sunday, featured several young winners this year — an encouraging development, its organizer said.

Gayle Sigurdson said that under-16s won two of the eight competitions, reflecting increasing youth interest in acoustic music in Lawrence.

Musically inclined kids used to just learn instruments through school programs, she said, but now more are picking up instruments such as banjos and mandolins from family members. That’s great news for people interested in the championships and in the genre.

“The idea of the event is to celebrate the music and keep it going,” Sigurdson said.

The festival began in 1980 to encourage local acoustic music and was sponsored this year by the Americana Music Academy, 1419 Mass.

An estimated 1,700 people attended the event in South Park, and 45 musicians participated. The full list of contest winners is below.

Open fiddle

First place: Amber Rogers, Concordia

Second place: Marshall Baker, Lawrence

Youth fiddle

First place: Edith Sigler, Joplin, Mo.

Second place: Glenn Sigler, Joplin, Mo.

Third place: Cecelia Cook, Liberty, Mo.

Mandolin

First place: Dave Ludwick, Lawrence

Banjo

First place: Jai Strecker, Lawrence

Finger-style guitar

First place: Forrest Evans, Topeka

Flatpick guitar

First place: Steve Luper, Andover

Ensemble folk singing

First place: Angel Road (Misty Warren and  Beth LePage), Lawrence

Miscellaneous acoustic instrument

First place: Steve Luper, Andover

Second place: Ruth Byers, Lawrence

Youth award

Jai Strecker, Lawrence