Thirteen acts crossed the stage at the White County Fair for the talent contest Monday night. Toby Brown hosted as emcee and entertainment featured a mix of vocals, comedy, and instrumental prowess. Two of the winners, the junior and senior division top scorers will also have the opportunity to move on and compete in the Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs State Competition in January.
Winning the Junior Division was Cole Youngblood with his vocal for “Don’t Stop Believin’”; second went to The Amazing Hadley and Psychic Holly, a comedy skit featuring 12-year-olds Holly Hays, Mati Orr, and Hadley Williams.
The Senior Division winner was The Lot featuring 21-year-old Abby Zirkelbach, and 19-year-olds Landon Mitchell and Zech Underwood. The trio sang “We’ll Go from There” from the musical Anastasia. 17-year-old Emma Legg took runner up with her rendition of “Goodness of God”.
Though they won’t move on to another level of competition, four acts entertained in the adult division as well with Ryan Bartley and Owen Campbell winning via their take on “Feed Me!” from Little Shop of Horrors. Ryan and Candi Stocke took second for their effort on “Barton Hallow” by the Civil Wars.
The state competition will be held on Monday, January 17th in Springfield, Illinois. That’s also when Lily Melsheimer will be in the capital competing for State County Fair Queen.
Full list of performers (courtesy of Toby Brown)
Adult Division
Ryan Bartley and Owen Campbell
Feed Me! from “Little Shop of Horrors” – Vocal
Brianna Churchwell
I Saw the Light – Vocal
Mike Erwin
Saturday Morning Songbook – Comedy
Ryan & Candi Stocke
Barton Hallow – Vocal
Junior Division
Alice Koester, age – 10 (KESS-tuhr)
Alice will be playing her mountain dulcimer.
Olive Mullis, age – 14
I’m Just a Girl – Vocal
Nahla Stocke, age – 12 (NAW-luh)
Teenage Dirtbag – Vocal
Holly Hays, age – 12,
Mati Orr, age – 12,
Hadley Williams, 12,
The Amazing Hadley and Psychic Holly – Comedy
Cole Youngblood, age – 10
Don’t Stop Believin’ – Vocal
Senior Division
Emma Legg, age – 17
Goodness of God – Vocal
The Lot
Abby Zirkelbach, 21
Landon Mitchell, 19
Zech Underwood, 19
We’ll Go From There from “Anastasia” – Vocal
El Orr, age – 15
Landslide – Vocal
Lyla Wolff, 15
Bohemian Rhapsody on the piano