Junior Division:

1st place:  Jordyn Ward

2nd place:  Jenise Galloway

3rd place:  Kassidy Berry

Senior Division:

1st place:  Kole Bossong

2nd place:  Alyssa and Jarrid Norden

3rd place:  Rachael Yergler

The first place winners in both divisions will advance to the Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs State Talent Contest on January 19, 2008, at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield. The cool temperatures made for a comfortable 4-H Centerover 600 people were in attendance!  Bleachers and folding chairs were full, and several people were standing against the walls and outside the overhead doors.

The Junior Division included ten acts.  Participants in the Junior Division are 14 years old or younger on the day of the local contest.  This year’s Junior Division included:

1. Center Stage Dancers…………………………………………………… “Do It Again”
   Tap Dance
   Casey Bronson, Sammy Bronson, Abby Fischer, Brittany Fischer, Katie McTaggart,
   Heather Orland, Porsha Patrick, Samantha Snyder
2. Brittany Taylor………………………………...……………… “A Moment Like This”
   Vocal Solo
3. Kassidy Berry……………………………………………………….. “I Love A Piano”
   Vocal Solo
4. Courtney Turner …………………… “What Kind of Music Does A Rainbow Make?”
   Vocal Solo
5. Groovin’ Gals…………………………………………… “Shake Your Groove Thing”
   Jazz Dance
   Bailee Arseneau, Kara Crabtree, Kenzie Crabtree, Jordan Edwards, Abby Greene,
   Hannah Fink, Tiffany Hasbargen, Amanda Lowe, Madison Patch,
   Mackenzie Patch, Amber Raines, Jenna Ripley
6. Christa Aaron…………………………………..… “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”
   Vocal Solo
7. Taylor Buswell and Jalaine Conner………….… “My Best Friend’s Wedding Medley”
   Vocal Duet
8. Jordyn Ward……………………………………….. “Everything’s Coming Up Roses”
   Vocal Solo
9. Jenise Galloway……………………………………………………..…… “Only Hope”
   Vocal Solo
10. Swinging Sisters………………………………………………...… “Rock This Town”
    Tap Dance
    Alison Hall, Kaity Johnson, Allison Kaper, Laci Kissack, Lindsey Lambert,
    Kate Mueller, Jessica Stone, Stephanie Waters
11. Special Guest—Sarah Aaron
    2006 Iroquois County Fair Junior Division Winner
    Vocal Solo………………………………………...…………………… “When You Look At Me”

The Senior Division included twelve acts.  Contestants in the Senior Division are 15 years to 21 years of age on the day of the local contest.  The Senior Division contestants included:

1. Austin Schumacher…………………………………………………. “Linus and Lucy”
   Piano Solo
2. Amanda Oliver………………………………………………………..… “Being Alive”
   Vocal Solo
3. Emily Bowers……………………………………………..……………………. “Hurt”
   Vocal Solo
4. Kris Witasik……………………………………………………………… “Streetbeats”
   Tap Dance
5. Kole Bossong…………………………………………………….…………. “Santa Fe”
   Vocal Solo
6. Rachael Yergler………………………………………………….. “The Wizard and I”
   Vocal Solo
7. Alyssa Norden and Jarrid Norden……. “What I’ve Been Looking For/Bop to the Top”
   Vocal Duet
8. Christina Jensen……………………………………………...… “Since I Fell For You”
   Vocal Solo
9. Britney Peterson………………………………………………..…… “Because of You”
   Vocal Solo
10. Andrew Basham…………………………………………………………. “The Dance”
    Vocal Solo
11. Rachael Rinehart…………………………………..……… “House of the Rising Sun”
    Vocal/Guitar
12. Stephanie Elliott………………………………………… “We Must Be Loving Right”
    Vocal Solo
13. Special Guests—Black, White, and Red All Over (formerly The Tappin’ Texans Dance Team) Megan Blair, Ciara Hamende, K’Lee McGary, Hannah Zeller
    2006 Iroquois County Fair Senior Division Winners
    Tap Dance……………………………………………………..…… “Michael Jackson Medley”

Announcement of Winners………………………………………………………Jayne Henrichs

The judging team for the evening were all be quite familiar with the Iroquois County Fair as they all were members of 4-H and exhibited at the local fair for several years!  This year’s judges included Angela Corum from Bement, Laurie Peterson from Manteno, and Lisa Kolavennu from Chicago.  Mrs. Kolavennu was the 1994 Iroquois County Fair Queen. 

Judging of each performance was based on a total of one hundred (100) points: Costume, 10; Audience Appeal, 10; Stage Presence, 30; Ability, 50.  Participation ribbons were awarded to all contestants.  Trophies, sponsored by Meier Brothers Tire Service of Ashkum, were awarded to first, second, and third place winners in each division.  Prize money for first, second, and third place winners in each division was $100, $50, and $25.  In addition, a $75 stipend will be issued upon completion of the state contest by the Iroquois County Fair Board to the Junior and Senior Division first place winners.  This stipend is intended to help defray expenses incurred during the state contest. 

The first place winners of the Junior and Senior Divisions will appear in Springfield on January 19, 2008, at the Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs Convention State Talent Contest. 

Special Guest performances were performed by last year’s first place winners. Sarah Aaron of Watseka, age 15, returned as last year’s Junior Division winner to sing a vocal selection, “When You Look At Me.” Black, White, and Red All Over, formerly known as The Tappin’ Texans Dance Team consisting of Megan Blair, Ciara Hamende, K’Lee McGary, and Hannah Zeller returned to the stage as last year’s Senior Division winning act. They performed a tap dance set to a “Michael Jackson Medley.”

Jayne Henrichs of Cissna Park, a perennial favorite in productions at the Country Theater, served as the Mistress of Ceremonies for the evening.  Jayne also sings with the Natural High and is quite active in church activities at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at Woodworth.

This year’s Iroquois County Talent Show committee was comprised of Jody Munsterman, director; Janice Anderson, Pam Hibbert, and Jake Salm.

Acknowledgements

 Jayne Henrichs—Mistress of Ceremonies

Jody Munsterman—Talent Show Director

Talent Show Committee:
Janice Anderson
Pamela Hibbert
Jake Salm

Meier Brothers Tire Service of Ashkum
Dennis and Darwin Meier—Trophies

Iroquois County Fair Association
Participation Ribbons
Prize Money
Entry Fees and Expense Money to State Competition

Judges:

Angela Corum—Bement
Lisa Kolavennu—Chicago
Laurie Peterson—Manteno

The first place winners in both divisions will advance to the Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs State Talent Contest on January 19, 2008, at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield.