Tickets on sale for WBDC Country Showdown, benefiting Dubois County 4-H

Every advance ticket to the WBDC Country Showdown will send $2 to the Dubois County 4-H Council, turning a night of country music at the Jasper Arts Center into direct support for youth programs across the county. The 44th annual competition, presented by German American Bank, is set for Friday, June 5, at the 675-seat Jasper Arts Center.

WBDC has chosen the Dubois County 4-H Council as its featured nonprofit partner for 2026, and the council says the money will help fund youth development, leadership and educational programming throughout Dubois County. The show has long been one of southern Indiana’s most recognizable country music competitions, and this year’s structure keeps the fundraising tied closely to the entertainment. WJTS reported that $2 from every advance ticket sold will go to the council, giving the night a direct local payoff before the first singer steps on stage.

Competitors will be chasing more than bragging rights. WBDC says the winner will take home more than $1,000 in cash and prizes, earn a chance to perform at the Indiana State Fair in August and claim the title of Best Country Act In 101 Country. The 2026 lineup includes Austin Beliles of Mooresville, Borrowed Time of Bristow, Conor Hart of Birdseye, Darion Oakman of Odon, Dawn Keller of Bloomfield, Gayle Parks and Dean Smith of Huntingburg, Justin Hayse of Jasper, Logan McKeighen of Orleans, Michael Bowman of Dale, Noah McWilliams of Huntingburg and Rex Anderson of Jasper.

Jenna Rose and The Ramblers will serve as the house band, backing up contestants throughout the evening. That setup has become part of the Showdown’s appeal, pairing local and regional performers with a full stage production inside a venue that Jasper Arts says seats 675 people and Visit Dubois County says has hosted national, regional and international acts for more than 45 years.

The event returns after last year’s 43rd annual Showdown ended with Last Minute of Yorktown winning before a sold-out crowd at the Jasper Arts Center. For Dubois County, the draw is bigger than a concert ticket. The Showdown funnels money to 4-H, puts hometown names like Justin Hayse and Rex Anderson on a marquee stage and keeps one of the region’s best-known community traditions tied to local youth programming.