Organizers of the 42nd annual National Hollerin' Contest in North Carolina said turnout was high with 27 competitors and hundreds of spectators.

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Chief organizer Wayne Edwards said people from across the country came Saturday to Spivey's Corner to share their best hollers, hoots, yodels and bellows to benefit the Spivey's Corner Volunteer Fire Department, the Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer reported Monday.

Tony Peacock of Silver City, N.C., said he was surprised his hollering rendition of Gershwin's "Summertime" earned him the top prize.

"I just didn't have any expectations ... I guess you just get lucky," he said. "I had to cut that last holler short, because I only had two seconds left."

Sheila Frye, who won the women's competition for the fourth time, said the key to a good holler is preparation.

"You have to have a knowledge of hollering, you have to be prepared, and you have to have a good hollering voice, and you got to practice," Frye said. "You have to be committed to the tradition."