The songwriting contest theme for 2018 is Roots
Songwriters are invited to submit their entries for the song writing contest. A preliminary screening will be done by a committee who will select the top ten entries, plus alternates in case any of the top ten are not able to attend the festival. The top ten will perform their entries on Saturday on the West Stage at 4:15 PM. The winner and runners-up will be selected at that time. The first-place winner also will perform during the Saturday Evening Concert.
The 10 finalists for 2018 (listed alphabetically) and their song titles, are:
- Ron Dalton - The Roots You Left Behind
- Alan Ehrlich - Hang on to What You Got
- Mary J. Hartman - Two Strong Roots
- Michael "Hawkeye" Herman - Rock Island
- Kay Miracle - Rebel Gene
- Claudia Nygaard - Lucky Girl --- Winner!
- Loretta Simonet - Roots Grow Strong
- Patrice Webb - Idaho
- Fae Wiednhoeft - No Roots for Me
- Mark Williams - The Roots from Which I Came
The three alternates, in order, are:
- Barrie Dempsey - I Don't Live in That Town
- Stanislove - Refugee
- Eli D. Ashley - 10 Miles Into Oregon