>> AT 98 YEARS YOUNG VIOLET HENSLEY OF YELLVILLE IS REFERRED TO ARKANSAS' FIDDLE QUEEN AND IN 2004 WAS NAMED ARKANSAS LIVING TREASURE BY THE ARKANSAS ARTS COUNCIL.

SHE BEGAN PLAYING WHEN SHE WAS 12 AND THREE YEARS LATER SHE MADE THEM SINCE PLAYING AND MAKING THEM RUNS IN THE FAMILY.

>> MY FATHER GEORGE WASHINGTON BRUMLEY WHEN HE WAS 14 YEAR'S OLD WANTED TO PLATE FIDDLE AND HIS OLDEST BROTHER HAD ONE AND WOULDN'T LET HIM PLAY IT SO HE MADE HIS OWN FIDDLE AND OWN DESIGN BY DRIVING NAILS IN THE BOARD IN THE SHAPE OF A FIDDLE AND MADE MORE AND DEVELOPED A FRAME LIKE THIS AND WHEN I WAS 15 I WANTED TO BE LIKE HIM, DIFFERENT MAKE MY OWN, I ASKED HIM IF I COULD MAKE A FID AND HE WILL SAID THERE'S THE WOOD AND TOOLS AND GO AT IT AND I WANTED TO MAKE IT BY MYSELF LIKE HE DID AND I DON'T KNOW THE SIZE AND I LEARNED WHAT IT WAS AND I FOLDED A PIECE OF PAPER AND OPENED IT UP AND SORTED IT OUT.

>> AND THIS IS THE EXACT PRESS THAT YOU USED?

>> SAME PRESS THAT I USED.

>> WOW.

>> I MOVED AROUND.

WE MOVED AROUND AND OF COURSE I LOST A PIECE WHEN I WORKED FOR SILVER DOLLAR CITY I HAD TO MAKE A NEW PIECE AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I MADE MY FIRST MIDDLE WITH.

>> THROUGHOUT THE YEARS SHE'S MADE 73 OF THEM AND PLAYS THE ONE SHE MADE IN 1934.

>> THIS ONE IS 80 YEARS OLD AND STILL PLAYABLE.

>> AND THIS THE ONE YOU PLAYED MOSTLY.

>> YES, MY HUSBAND TRAIT TODAY OFF BACK ONCE BUT WE GOT IT BACK.

WHEN I GOT MARRIED AND PLAYING FOR SQUARE DANCES AND NEVER GAVE IT A THOUGHT.

TRADE THE FIDDLE OFF.

WE GOT IT BACK.

THEN AFTER WE MOVED TO ANOTHER PLACE AND PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I PLAYED THE FID AND HE WILL STARTED PLAYING -- FIDDLE AND STARTED PLAYING AGAIN AFTER 27 YEARS.

ONE MAN SAID IF I PLAYED ALL THOSE 27 YEARS I WOULD BE A GOOD FIDDLER.

>> I NOTICED THIS SIGN HERE AND RICKY SCAT RICKY SKAGGS.

>> AND YEAH AND I WENT BACKSTAGE AT SILVER DOLLAR CITY AND I HOLD MY LEADER I WANTED TO MEET HIM AND HE SAID I THINK WE CAN MANAGE THAT SO I WENT DOWN THERE AND I WANT TO TAKE MY FIDDLE AND SHOW HIM AND I DID A LITTLE RAG TIME AND [INAUDIBLE] >> BY THE WAY VIOLET DID MORE THAN JUST MAKE FIDDLE NUMBER 4.

SHE ALSO ACQUIRED THE WOOD FOR IT.

>> I ACTUALLY CUT THE TREE DOWN WITH A SAW AND AX AND SPLIT IT OUT AND HANDMADE IT SMOOTH.

MAPLE, BACK, SIDES AND NECK AND PINE TREE -- THEY SAY PINE COULDN'T USE ANYTHING ABOUT SPRUCE AND WOOD FOR VIOLIN AND MY DAD USED IT AND OUT OF THIS WOOD, AND PINE FOR THE TOP.

DOG WOOD TAIL PIECE.

I TRIED TO STAIN THAT BLACK BUT DIDN'T WORK WELL AND [INAUDIBLE] >> OUT OF THE 73 FIDDLES SHE MADE ONLY EIGHT REMAIN IN THE FAMILY.

THE REST WERE GIVEN AWAY OR SOLD.

HER EYES ARE NOT THE SAME AS THEY USED TO BE FOR MAKING FIDDLES AND NOW SHE ENJOYS PLAYING THEM AND WITH SON, GRANDSON AND SON-IN-LAW AND YOURS TRULY WE SPENT AN AFTERNOON IN THE KITCHEN PLAYING AND ENJOYING THAT OZARK FOLK MUSIC.

>> ALL RIGHT!

>> I HAVE ALWAYS HEARD NOW THAT THE FIDDLE OR VIOLIN IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT INSTRUMENTS TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY.

>> WELL, SOME SAY IT IS, BUT TO ME IT'S THE EASIEST.

IT DEPENDS WHETHER YOU THINK YOU CAN DO IT, AND YOU JUST HAVE THIS -- I KNOW I CAN DO IT, AND A LADY FRIEND OF MINE GOT A BOOK AND SHE'S A FIDDLE STUDENT.

I AM TEACHING A 74 YEAR OLD LADY AND SHE WACHS ME AND LEARNED A TUNE "POP GOES THE WEASEL" AND SHE SAID HOW DO YOU TEACH BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SEE?

I SAID I DON'T HAVE TO SEE.

YOU HAVE TO SEE WHAT I AM DOING AND LISTEN TO ME AND SHOW YOU WHERE THE NOTES ARE AND HOW TO FIND THE NOTES RIGHT WHERE THE NOTE IS SINCE IT DOESN'T HAVE A THREAD AND YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THAT.

I WENT AND GOT THE FIDDLE AND THAT IS A, E, G ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO USE THE FOUR AND I STARTED PLAYING "LITTLE STAR -- 2A, 1A -- HOW I WONDER WHERE YOU ARE?

AND SHE PLAYED IT.

>> WOW.

>> SHE SAID I AM COMING BACK AND GET MY FIDDLE AND I AM COMING BACK HERE.

SHE GOT IT QUICK AND HAD MUSIC IN HER SOUL.

SOME PEOPLE ARE TALENTED FOR MUSIC AND SOME ARE NOT.

>> WE WERE LOOKING AT ALL OF THE PICTURES HERE.

MY GOODNESS, ALL OF THE CELEBRITIES, GLEN CAMPBELL, CAPTAIN KANGAROO, LIVE WITH REGIS, ART LINK LETTER AND ALEX TRIBECK.

>> CHARLES COROUTE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> HE CAME HERE FOR THREE DAYS.

>> THREE DAYS?

>> YEAH, I WAS WORKING AT THE HOSPITAL AND HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THE KIDS GOT HOME FROM COLLEGE TO SEE THEM AND [INAUDIBLE].

MY HUSBAND HAD TO TAKE HIS -- >> WIN A BAGO.

>> YEAH, PULL IT UP THE HILL.

PARKED IT DOWN HERE AND MY HUSBAND -- WHAT HE CALLED A CARRY ALL.

GET HIM UP TO THE PAVEMENT.

>> VIOLET HENSLEY ARKANSAS' FIDDLE QUEEN AND A ARKANSAS LIVING TREASURE.

SHE OUGHT TO WRITE A BOOK YOU SAY.

WELL, SHE HAS, "WHITTLIN' AND FIDDLIN' MY OWN WAY".

BREAK IT DOWN VIOLET, BREAK IT DOWN.

>> (FIDDLE MUSIC).

>> WOW!

[APPLAUSE] NOW I SEE WHAT KEEPS YOU YOUNG.

>> YEAH, YOU GOT TO HAVE A LITTLE FUN IN LIFE.

YOU'RE ONLY LIVING ONE LIFE ENJOY IT WHILE YOU'RE AT IT.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> WHEN THE BALD EAGER BECAME THE NATIONAL SYMBOL BEN FRANKLIN DIDN'T MAKE THAT MANY FRIENDS AND SAYING THAT THE TURKEY SHOULD BE CHOSEN BECAUSE IT'S A MORE RESPECTFUL BIRD AND THAT GOT AS FAR AS BEING ON THE THANKSGIVING DINNER TABLE AND BE THAT AS IT MAY BUT AN EXCELLENT TIME TO SEE THEM IS A FESTIVAL AT BULL SHOALS WHITE RIVER STATE PARK AND HELD ANNUALLY IN THE SECOND WEEK IN JANUARY.

>> IT'S FRIDAY AND SATURDAY FOR THE PUBLIC.

TYPICALLY THERE WILL BE ON FRIDAY NIGHT HUGE MEET AND GREET, THE ZOO, THE REHABBERS, ALL BRING THEIR BOATS OUT.

GREAT PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC.

ALL OF THE EVENTS ARE FREE, AND THAT EVENING WE WILL HAVE OWL PLOWL AND SATURDAY MORNING IT STARTS WITH VAN TOURS, BIRD HIKING, WALKS AND BIRD WATCHING HIKES, AND WE WILL DO SOME MORE VAN TOURS, LAKE CRUISES, RIVER BOAT TOURS.

YOU KNOW IT'S JUST A WONDERFUL EVENT.

THEN WE MOVE TO THE THEATER AND THE FALCONER WILL SPEAK, THE REHABBERS WILL SPEAK AND THE LITTLE ROCK ZOO AND EVERYBODY WILL GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE ALL OF THE BIRDS IN ONE PLACE.

IT'S JUST A GREAT EVENT.

I MEAN WE WILL SEE IN A TYPICAL YEAR ABOUT 6,000 PEOPLE, VISITORS AND SCHOOL CHILDREN.

WE TAKE THIS PROGRAM TO THE SCHOOLS BEFORE THE PUBLIC, SO IT'S A GREAT COMMUNITY EVENT, AND IT'S ALL FREE EXCEPT FOR THE RIVER CRUISES AND LAKE CRUISES, BUT IT'S ALL FREE, SO JUST A GREAT EVENT, AND A CHANCE TO GET TO SEE A BALD EAGLE IN THE WILD COME THERE IS MORE AND MORE OF.

>> THERE ARE MORE EAGLES HERE BECAUSE THEY HAVE STARTED BUILDING NESTS ALONG THE WHITE RIVER.

>> THEY NEVER NEST THRD BEFORE AND BALD EAGLES WILL COME BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR AND ADD TOO SO THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR.

THEY MATE FOR LIFE AND BOTH SIT ON THE EGGS AND IT'S RIGHT ON THE RIVER.

IT'S FINALLY SOMETHING WITHIN OUR REACH WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO TRAVEL OUT ON THE LAKE OR SEARCH FOR IT OFF IN THE WOODS.

FROM THE RIVER -- I MEAN THEY BUILT RIGHT ON THE RIVER RIGHT BELOW THE DAM.

INCREDIBLE.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY I HOPE FOR YEARS TO COME FOR US TO WATCH THESE BIRDS AND THEIR OFF SPRING AND THEIR OFF SPRING AND THERE IS GETTING TO BE MORE AND MORE.

I HAVE BEEN AT THIS PARK FOR SIX YEARS I HAVE SEEN MORE AND MORE NESTS, SO WHATEVER WE'RE DOING WE'RE DOING IT RIGHT .

>> IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN EXTRA EFFORT YOU CAN TAKE THE BIG BLUFF HIKING TRAIL TO A OVER LOOK ON THE WHITE RIVER FOR EVEN A BETTER VIEW.

ALLOW YOURSELF AT LEAST ONE AND A HALF HOURS FOR THE ROUND TRIP HIKE.

IT'S ALL WORTH IT WHEN YOU SPOT AN EAGLE IN THE WILD FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME CONSIDERING THEIR AVERAGE WING SPAN IS SEVEN AND A HALF FEET AND THEY CAN SOAR TO AN ALTITUDE OF 10,000 FEET.

NOW WHAT TURKEY CAN DO THAT BENJAMIN FRANKLIN?

>> I BLOW A LITTLE CALL.

THAT'S WHEN YOU WANT THE ATTENTION OF THE DUCKS AND TELL THEM WHERE YOU ARE AND THIS DUCK CALLER REALLY HELPS.

.

(DUCK CALLING).

>> BREND BREND IS THE ONE OF THE DAUGHTERS OF A DUCK CALLER AND CHICK MAOR MADE THE CALLS AND DINS THEN HE HAS 172 WORLD AND 98 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS.

THIS FAMILY TRADITION IS CARRIED ON BY BRENDA AND HER HUSBAND DON AND THEIR SHOP IN MORRILTON.

WELL, I WOULD SAY THAT YOU ALL, YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY FROM WAY BACK WHEN ARE THE ORIGINAL DUCK SIGN -- DUCK DYNASTY.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT.

IT COULD BE THAT WAY BECAUSE WE STARTED OFF AS A FAMILY AND GROUP WAY BACK IN THE 50'S, KIND OF IN OUR PRIME IN THE 50'S.

>> ACTUALLY CHICK MAOR YOU SAID THE FIRST ONE HE MADE WAS BACK IN -- >> 1939 BUT I WASN'T HERE THEN AND BORN LATER DOWN THE ROAD BUT HE MADE HIS FIRST CALL OUT OF WALNUT AND A CEDAR INNER PIECE AND NO JIG BUT CEDAR WAS AN EASIER WOOD TO KNIFE CUT SO THAT'S WHAT HE USED AND THEN IN 1942 HE HAD A GIG MADE AND CASE HARDEN AND IT'S WHAT WE USE TO THIS DAY TO MAKE DUCK CALLS AND WE HAD IT WAY INTO THE 60 SOME ODD YEARS.

HERE WE GO WITH THAT, BUT GETTING INTO 70 AND HE WON THE FIRST WORLD TITLE IN 1945.

>> NOW MOST PEOPLE AREN'T A AWARE THAT YOU'RE DOING THIS, STILL MAKING THESE CALLS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

BUT WHEN HE PASSED AWAY IN 1974 WE STARTED GOING BACK AND FORTH TO WHERE MY MOTHER LIVED AND MAKING THEM FOR HER SO SHE WOULD HAVE SOMETHING AT THE HOUSE OR SHE NEEDED SOMETHING AND HAD HER OWN REED AND TUNE THEM UP AND AWAY THEY WENT, BUT WE HAD OUR OWN SHOP MADE IN 1975 BECAUSE IT WAS GOING BACK AND FORTH EVERY WEEKEND AND WE HAD CHILDREN INVOLVED IN ACTIVITIES AND PINE BLUFF WHERE WE LIVE SO WE HAD OUR OWN MADE IN 75 AND HAVE MADE THE DUCK CALLERS EVER SINCE.

HAVEN'T MADE THAT MANY.

IT JUST IS A HANDMADE CALL OUT OF SOME FOREIGN WOODS, A DIAMOND WOOD AND REGULAR DOMESTIC WOODS FROM ARKANSAS.

>> HANDMADE, THAT'S THE KEY WORD.

>> HAND MEAT YOU.

>> DON'T FIND WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN THIS SHOP ACROSS THE UNITED STATES VERY OFTEN.

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

YOU HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE AND YOU KNOW IT'S DONE BY HAND.

IT MAKES A MESS.

WE MAKE A MESS EVERY NOW AND THEN BUT THEY'RE OUT OF WOOD AND BY HAND.

>> JUST LIKE WE SEE A BLOCK OF WOOD.

>> YEAH, THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

IT'S EXCITING TOO.

LET ME TELL YOU.

WHAT MAKES A HANDMADE CALL FUN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE UNTIL YOU'RE THROUGH AND EVERY WOOD HAS ITS OWN GRAIN AND MAYBE IT'S THE WAY YOU CUT IT OR BURN IT, BUT YOU'RE NOT SURE UNTIL IT STOPS WHAT THE CALL IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

>> WHAT IS IT ABOUT OBTAINING THE TRUE DUCK SOUND WITH THIS CALL?

>> WELL, THEY SAY -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT CHICK DID WHEN HE CREATED THAT ONE BECAUSE I WASN'T HERE THEN, BUT IT HAS A TRUE, WHAT THEY CALL A ARKANSAS SOUND, AND THEY'RE WOOD CALLS WHICH I LIKE WOOD CALLS, BUT THEY DO USE SOME ACRYLIC, BUT IT'S JUST GOT A KIND OF TONE THAT CALLS THE DUCK OR I THINK WHAT THEY USED TO SAY WHEN IT WAS ONE OF THE PRIME DUCK CALLERS AT ONE TIME, AND NOW THEY'RE ARE A LOT OF DUCK CALLER MAKERS AND CHICK WAS ONE OF THE FEW TO MAKE THEM BUT NOW THERE'S A LOT OF DUCK CALLER MAKERS BUT IT HAS AN ARKANSAS RHYTHM AND ARKANSAS SOUND AND A GUTTURAL SOUND -- >> A RASPINESS.

>> YEAH, YOU CAN MAKE THAT COME AND WITH IT IT'S NOT MASS PRODUCED SO YOU CAN GET ANY SOUND YOU WANT.

>> THIS IS A HAIL CALL WHEN YOU SEE DUCKS AT LONG DISTANCE.

(DUCK CALLING).

>> AFTER CHICK MAOR'S DEATH IN 1974 THE FAMILY BEGAN A SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST.

>> WE GAVE A $500 SCHOLARSHIP TO HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WHO BLEW A CONTEST ROUTINE TO THE CONTEST FORMAT JUST LIKE THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CONTEST IS, AND SO THAT YEAR WE GAVE A 500 AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS BUT WE HAD ONE EVERY YEAR, AND THE SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNTS HAVE GROWN.

WE HAD FUNDRAISER AFTER FUNDRAISER.

WE COOKED HAMBURGERS AND FISH.

WE HAD CLAY TARGET SHOOTS.

WE HAD PRINT SALES FROM PRINTS -- AN ARTIST MADE PRINTS AND PHILIP CROW DID A SET OF DOG PRINTS AND WE SOLD THOSE AND WE SOLD DUCK CALLS FROM A WOOD THAT FRED BEAR GAVE TO US FROM THE BOWS AND WE DID ALL SORTS OF THINGS TO GET A BASE BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE GIVING $4,250 OF SCHOLARSHIPS EVERY YEAR.

WE HAVE DONE IT TO 34 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AND 13 DIFFERENT STATES OVER THE YEARS AND IT'S OVER $80,000 THAT WE HAVE GIVEN AND THIS IS STILL HAPPENING AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ENTER YOU CAN BE A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR ANYWHERE.

IT DOESN'T MATTER, AND IS TO BRING SOMETHING TO THE CONTEST THAT SAYS YOU ARE -- A COPY OF THE TRANSCRIPT, A SCHEDULE, SOMETHING THAT SHOWS YOU'RE A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR, AND IF YOU CAN WIN ONE OF FOUR SCHOLARSHIPS, $2,000 FOR FIRST PLACE.

$1,000 FOR SECOND PLACE.

750 FOR THIRD AND 500 IS FOURTH AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO A MAJOR COLLEGE.

CAN YOU GO TO A VO TECH SCHOOL.

YOU CAN GO TO A MECHANIC SCHOOL.

WE WILL PAY -- YOU CAN GO TO FIREFIGHTER SCHOOL.

I PAID ONE TO FIREFIGHTER SCHOOL NOT TOO LONG AGO AND IT'S SOMETHING TO BETTER YOURSELF, AND WE WILL SEND THE MONEY DIRECTLY TO THE SCHOOL HAPPILY MAY I SAY.

>> THEY ARE HOPING THAT LATER THEIR GRANDCHILDREN WILL CARRY ON THE FAMILY'S DUCK CALL MAKING DYNASTY.

>> I BELIEVE YOU'RE READY TO GO.

>> THE LAST ONE WAS A LONESOME DUCK CALL.

THAT'S IT FOR ME.

>> MUST NOT BE HOLDING MY MOUTH RIGHT OR SOMETHING.

NEED TO FINE TOOTH THAT.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ENJOY THIS EPISODE OR ANY OF OUR OTHERS VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT AETN.ORG/EXPLORINGARKANSAS AND ALSO DON'T FORGET TO LIKE US ON OUR FACEBOOK FAN WALL AND WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR ANOTHER EXCITING ADVENTURE OF "EXPLORING ARKANSAS".