On September 19th, 2002 Mel Bay author John Standefer won the National Fingerpicking Guitar Championship in Winfield, Kansas. He received a trophy, a custom Larrivee guitar and several other prizes. Officials at Winfield are quoted as saying that this was the biggest, most competitive fingerstyle contest in the thirty-one-year history of the Walnut Valley Festival.

Standefer said, "Considering the level of players I was competing against in this event, I feel extremely blessed to have been chosen as the 2002 champion. As a result of this accomplishment, doors are opening for me. Praise God!"