Print a copy of the 2025 rules

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Sign up online here. ... Or fill out paper form from website using the link at the bottom of the page.

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Sign up for a time-slot for the committee preview here.

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1.Age Division Requirements
(Classifications refers to both solo and group)
A. Junior Division: all contestants must be 9- 14 years old on the date of the local contest. They may be 15 years old when competing at the State Level the following January.
B. Senior Division: all contestants must be between the ages of 15-21 years of age on the date of the local contest. They may be 22 years old when competing at the State level the following January.
C. Mixed ages must compete in the division of the oldest member of the group.
D. Previous state level winners MAY compete again if all other qualifications are met.
E. Contestants must live in Illinois or students enrolled in an educational/recreational facility in Illinois are also permitted to compete.

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2. Talent Divisions
Junior Division – 14 years and under by July 15, 2025
Senior Division – 15 to 21 years as of July 15, 2025
Future Iroquois County Fair Stars – 8 years & under. (Not eligible for State Competition)

3. Contest Specific Rules

We now have an online form to sign up! Entries are due by May 1 st at 11:59pm anything received later will not be accepted. A paper copy will still be available on the Fair website, if mailed, completed entries need to be received in an envelope that is postmarked May 1, 2025, or sooner. Mail to the Iroquois County Fair Office - Box 301 - Crescent City, IL 60928. Entries may also be emailed with a
time stamp before 11:59 on May 1, 2025. No entries will be accepted in person. Group entries may be mailed together in one envelope or emailed at the same time. (All group forms must be received for the group to qualify).  Entries will be accepted in the order they are received.  

1. All Contestants may appear in multiple acts with a maximum of 2.
2. All Contestants must be of amateur status, those who have been paid performing in your area of talent are not eligible.
3. Accompaniment CDs are acceptable. No like talent is allowed. I.e., tap sound for tap dancers, background vocals for singers. Bands, musician must play your instrument live. No background music or recording is allowed. If you have any questions, please contact a committee member.
4. Any act that goes over four (4) minutes performance time will be disqualified.
5. There is a 3- minute setup time.
6. All acts must be memorized.
7. All contestants are responsible for making his or her own entry including their legal name. Alternates in group performances must also fill out a form. Correctly completed forms received by the deadline date. Groups may NOT include a name of a business, school, organization or other community service group.

9. 1st place winners from another fair talent show “this season” may only participate as an exhibition. Your signature on the bottom of the entry form is a contract stating that if you are the 1 st Place Winner at the Iroquois County Fair Talent Show you will only represent Iroquois County at the IAAF State Talent Show,
10. All contestants must be single and never married and a resident of Illinois or regularly enrolled in a school located in Illinois.
11. Contestants must supply their own equipment. Microphones, CD player, piano and plug ins for contestants’ instruments will be provided by the fair’s hired sound personnel.
12. Judging is based on one hundred (100) points. Costume-10, Audience appeal-10, Stage presence-30, Ability-50. Decisions of the judges will be final.
13. Participation ribbons will be awarded to all contestants. Trophies will be awarded to the top 3 place contestants in both competitive divisions along with prize money of $100, $50, $25. Trophies sponsored by Country Theatre Workshop, Cissna Park, Illinois. Stipends and entry fees donated by the Iroquois County Fair.
14. Future Iroquois County Fair Stars Division will each receive a ribbon and trophy only.
15. Entry Fee and a stipend of $100 will be provided for 1st place winners in the Junior & Senior Division for State Competition in January 2026. If the 1st place winner does not appear at the state contest, the 2nd place winner will be eligible.

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Extraneous Rules

1. All contestants will need to attend auditions on Saturday May 10, 2025, starting at Noon. Iroquois County Fair Talent Show Committee reserves the right to accept or refuse anyone. If applicable you will need to bring a CD or send mp3 music to Iroquoisfairsecretary@gmail.com prior to auditions. We are not set up to use music off your phone.
2. Talent may be designated as Dance, Vocal, Magic, Speech, Juggling, Comedy etc. Remember this is a County Fair Competition – any act that is considered inappropriate in music, lyric or dance will be disqualified.
3. Professional conduct is expected from each and every performer, participant, parent, and teacher. Misconduct may result in forfeiture of prizes.
4. Auditioners will be notified by mail or email if they will be included in the show. Contestants, after auditions will be sent a complimentary gate pass and an entrance ticket for infield access, (NO replacement passes will be issued.)
5. State level is described as the IAAF Talent Show in Springfield the following January.
6. To be able to represent Iroquois County at the IAAF Convention, contestants must meet the official rules of the IAAF talent show.
7. Rules of the above IAAF Talent Show State will be used as guidelines for our contest.