Worldwide Rock Tumbling Contest

Tumbling Application

WE ARE OUT OF ROCK FOR THE 2026 TUMBLING CONTEST!!!

All Jasper from the Dead Camel Mtns, Nevada prepared for the contest has been shipped.
At this time we cannot accept any further tumbling contest applications.
Good luck and happy tumbling!

Thank you,
Tami and Manuel

Click HERE to access the tumbling application in PDF form.

***IMPORTANT***

Contest Entry Fee is $39.
You may have an old entry form – please make sure to use the current form linked above and include payment of $39.

Thank you!

Tumbling Rock Sample - 2026

Here is a quickly polished sample of jasper from the Dead Camel Mtns, Nevada that is being used for the 2026 World Wide Rock Tumbling Contest.

Tumbling Contest Rules

The rock for 2026 is Dead Camel Jasper from Nevada. Entry fee is $39 for 3 pounds of rough rock for continental US residents. This includes shipping the material to you. Outside the USA will be $39 plus any additional shipping.

Three pounds of rough rock will be shipped to you when the application and payment are received beginning January 1, 2026.
Deadline for application is June 1, 2026.
Mail 5 (yes only 5) of your best finished rocks and your name postmarked no later than August 15, 2026 to Tami’s address given below.
Apply early in the year to have plenty of time to tumble. Take your time tumbling!
Cash prizes = $250, $100, and $50 for first, second, and third place winners!

To enter the contest:

Digitally: Download and fill out the application linked above and email the completed form to Tumbling@FeatherRiverRocks.org (save completed document to your computer or print to pdf). Mail your payment to the address below.
Hard Copy: Download, print, and fill out the application. Mail the application in with your payment to the address below.
Payment by Mail is required!
Please make check or money orders payable to “FRLMS” and mail to: Tumbling Contest, c/o Tami Hays, 1336 Euclid Ave, Oroville, CA 95965

How the returned polished stones are judged/graded:

Stones are graded for 5 different characteristics:
Finish
Chips
Polish left on rock
Grinding marks
Overall appearance
Each characteristic is scored from 1 (poor) to 5 (best).
Stones are judged by 4 different individuals (a possible 25 points per judge).
Scores for the 4 judges are added together for a total possible score of 100.

For more information, call Tami at (530) 990-1894 or email Tumbling@FeatherRiverRocks.org

Results will be posted on Facebook and here after the show in mid-September.

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To all contestants: Only the stones in your purchased box may be used. It is not okay to buy several boxes to increase your chances of winning.

If you have any questions about this contest, please email me, Tami Hays, at Tumbling@FeatherRiverRocks.org

Some info floating around on facebook is absolutely false!

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RETURNING YOUR STONES TO FRLMS

Please return your 5 polished stones to:

Tami Hays/Tumbling Contest
1336 Euclid Ave
Oroville CA 95965

I DO NOT need an application form with your stones.

Please clearly mark your full name on or in the shipping box or envelope that you are using to return your stones.

Thank you again for joining in on the fun!

2025 Worldwide Tumbling Contest Results!

Updated: September 15, 2025

The Feather River Lapidary & Mineral Society, Inc. would like to congratulate the top 3 winners of our tumbling contest.

1st place winner: Adam Rittenhouse of Uniontown, Pennsylvania

2nd place winner: Steven Smith of Orchard Park, New York

3rd place winner: Stefan Wawrzynski of Holland, New York

   Well, well, well. Here we are again, and ya’ll have blown my mind with your tumbling skills once again. I haven’t seen this great of work in a long while. As the finished stones came to me and I had to unwrap them all, I just kept shaking my head and mumbling to myself, “the judges are going to have a very tough time deciding first, second and third place”.   And I was right! It was a long day at the club’s rock shop. There was much discussion between them and trips out to the sunshine while scoring these little beauties. But at the end of the day the four of them came to agreement on the top three winners.
   We will send you three your winnings shortly after our annual show at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico, September 20 & 21.   We have a yearly display at said show of all of the returned stones. It is always a big attraction for us. Thank you all.
   I would also like to thank you tumblers for joining in on this yearly endeavor. I have enjoyed emailing with you and phone conversations every once in a while.   Sadly though, due to my physical abilities, I am confidently handing over this competition to two fellow rock hounds: Jim and Tami. I’m counting on all of you to be as kind and generous to the two of them as you have been with me.   Good luck to you in the future. I will be checking with them as often as I can.
   The judges wanted you to know that this year’s contest came down to the most minute of fractures, pits and a bit of polish left in those cracks. My suggestion to you is take the rough and hammer off any end cracks or obvious pits where you can. For those of you that have a grinder, take it off immediately.   While going through the stages of polish, look at your stones dry and in the sun. And if possible, buy the very best grit and polish that is available to you.
   I would like to thank the 4 judges for this year’s contest. It was not easy for them, but they quietly stuck it out till the end – Mike, Susi, Erin, and Kim – hats off to you!
   I would also like to give a big thank you to those club members out there finding, hauling and crushing all the rough rock. Not an easy task. Many long hours behind the wheel and gathering it all is a heavy lift in itself. I would also like to thank our new President, Doug Elliott, for trusting me with this contest throughout the year.
   Keep an eye on the FRLMS website and facebook pages for the 2026 contest information and application. It should be posted some time in November. The sooner you join the sooner you will receive your rough. Many thanks to all the tumblers from the past and those yet to come.   I took a look at next year’s rough and it’s a fabulous specimen. It’s going to be stunning. Good luck to you all!

Lori Millard, Tumbling chair, FRLMS 2025

Score Listing:

Here are the points scored by the top 10 contestants on the returned stone for the World Wide Tumbling Contest, 2025. Contestants with the same score are listed in no specific order. There may be more than 10 listed because of identical scores.

Here are the points scored: 1 being poor and 5 being the best for each of 5 categories (Finish, Chips, Polish left on rock, Grinding marks, and Overall appearance). I then add each of the four judge’s total scores together to get your final score, the highest being 100 points. I do want to apologize in advance for any misspellings. If you are not in the list you may contact the current tumbling contest chair for your score.

At 100 points and the contest winner is Alan Rittenhouse, Uniontown PA

With 99 point and the 2^nd place winner is Steve Smith, Orchard Park, NY

With 98 points and the third place winner is Stefan Wawrzynski, Holland NY

97 points: Larry Sevich, Chagrin Falls OH; Jackie Pariseau, Kasson MN; Mary Davidson, Reno NV; Matthew Wolff, Yorkville IL; Terry Knight, Creston IA

96 points: Austin Sandifer, Alvin TX; Jason Wing, McKinney TX

Lori Millard, Tumbling chair, FRLMS 2025