Valleyfest XXXV

E.B.F.H.S. Marching Band Wins at Valleyfest!

20^th Year in a Row!

The Eddyville Blakesburg Fremont Marching Band had a very exciting day Saturday as the band placed 1st in the Valleyfest and Showdown Competitions in West Des Moines. EBF won the Valleyfest 2A competition with a score of 56.1, 7 points ahead of their rival, North Polk. Eddyville Blakesburg Fremont also won the Outstanding Marching and Maneuvering, Hornline, Drumline, Color Guard, Drum Major, and Soloist of the Day Awards. Emma Haselhuhn was chosen as the Outstanding Soloists in class 2A. EBF outscored 11 bands at the Valleyfest contest including Tri Center, North Polk, Harlan, Knoxville, Keokuk, Adel DeSoto Minburn, and Des Moines East. The judges selected Andrew Hart as the best marcher in the band for the 2nd year in a row.

In the evening contest, the “Showdown” of bands, the E.B.F.H.S. Marching Band placed 1st in class C with a score of 50.4 This is the 20th consecutive year that the band has placed 1st at the “Showdown” Contest. The band also won the Outstanding Drumline, Marching, Hornline, Drum Major, Color Guard, and Soloist trophies. Emma Haselhuhn was once again honored with the Outstanding Soloist Trophy for her tenor sax solo.

The E.B.F.H.S. Band has 65 members this year. The band is directed by Joe Overton, assistant director Dezirae Fairchild, and color guard instructor Paige Langstraat. The field commanders are Courtney Durst, Emma Haselhuhn, and Claire Jager. Drumline Section leaders are Nathan McGinnis, Courtney Durst, and Blaire Moore. The soloists for this year’s show are Claire Jager, Emma Haselhuhn, Gage DeLaCruz, and Madeline Mock.

This Saturday, the E.B.F.H.S. Marching Band will compete at the State Marching Band Contest in Pella and then travel to Ankeny that evening to defend their title at the Mid-Iowa Band Championships. The band performs at 11:00 in State competition where they have earned a Division I rating for the last 28 years in a row. In the evening Mid-Iowa Band Championships competition, the band performs at 6:05 where they have placed 1st 17 times in the last 19 years.