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
Rock Tumbling Contest Rules
The rock for 2027 is Moonshine Jasper from Eastern Oregon from the Steve Schultz collection. 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, 2027.
- Deadline for application is June 1, 2027.
- Mail 5 (yes only 5) of your best finished rocks and your name postmarked no later than August 15, 2027 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.
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!
2026 World Wide Rock Tumbling Contest Results!
Updated: September 9, 2026
The Feather River Lapidary & Mineral Society, Inc. would like to congratulate the top 3 winners of our tumbling contest.
- 1st place winner: Casey Konopacky of Stevens Point, Wisconsin
- 2nd place winner: Chris Paquette of Howell, Michigan
- 3rd place winner: Tony Oxley of Houghton, Michigan
Wow! That is all we can say about the beauty and quality of the finished stones we received this year.
As our first year coordinating the World Wide Tumbling contest, we were thrilled and amazed at the 200+ applications that we received from 43 states and Australia. The enthusiasm of all the applicants was very heartwarming. We would like to thank all of you for your hard work and for joining in our yearly competition. This year’s rock was extremely tough to tumble!
Our judges had a very long day going through the incredible tumbled finished entries. Close scrutiny of each aspect of the tumbling process was given to each submission. By the end of the day, the top three winners were agreed upon.
We will send out the top three winnings shortly after our annual show at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico, CA on September 19 & 20, 2026. We have a display at our show each year of the winners alongside all the returned stones. It is always a big attraction for us. Thank you all.
Thank you to our fantastic judges for their time and expertise. This year’s contest came down to the most minute of fractures, pits and a bit of polish left in those cracks. Jim and I appreciate all of you!
We would also like to thank Lori for answering our endless questions as we take on this contest. As Lori suggested last year, “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.”
We would also like to thank the club members that find, haul and crush all the rough rock. All your hard work is much appreciated!
Keep an eye on the FRLMS website and Facebook pages for the 2027 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. We are pleased to announce that next year’s rough will be Moonshine Jasper from South East Oregon from the Steve Schultz Collection.
Happy Tumbling!
Jim & Tami Hays, Tumbling Chairs, FRLMS 2026
Score Listing:
Here are the points scored by the top 10 contestants on the returned stone for the World Wide Rock 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.
At 98 points and the contest winner is Casey Konopacky, Stevens Point, WI
At 96 points and the 2nd place winner is Chris Paquette, Howell, MI
At 92 points and the 3rd place winner is Tony Oxley, Houghton, MI
90 points: David Pope, Albany, OR: Philip Nicholson, Troy, MI: Dan Lowczys, Fulton, NY
86 points: Gary Conti, North Andover, MA: Tina Campbell, Loomis, CA: Chris Hebert, Rose City, MI
84 points: Earl Anderson, Salt Lake City, UT
We had 227 entries this year from 43 states and Australia. Here is the state by state breakdown:
Previous World Wide Rock Tumbling Contest Pages
Rock Tumbling Information
RockTumbler.com … learn about using 1,000 grit
RockTumbler.com has the largest library of rock tumbling articles.
Rock and Gem Magazine article in March 2015
Winning 2026 Tumbled Rock:
