DES MOINES, IOWA (August 14, 2023) — Five talented Sprout division acts (ages two to twelve) and five Senior division acts (ages thirteen to 21) have advanced to the semi-final round in Bill Riley's 63rd annual Iowa State Fair Talent Search. Each act will perform again on Thursday, August 17; Friday, August 18; or Saturday, August 19.
The names, ages, hometowns and routines of the sprouts acts are:
Abbie Atkinson, 12, Bloomfield, Contemporary Dance Solo
Jillian Sparks, 12, and Hattie Christensen, 12, Iowa Falls, Lyrical Duet
Graysan Hurley, 9, Altoona, Jazz Dance Solo
Peyton Yocom, 9, Muscatine, Jazz Dance Solo
Abby Lorch, 9, North Liberty, Violin Solo
The names, ages, hometowns and routines of the senior acts are:
Mary Clare Matthews, 18, Ashlyn Herrig, 18, and Jordyn Linn, 17, Denison, and Elli Heiden, 17, Schleswig, Acro Dance Quartet
Megan Wheelock, 19, Waterloo, Vocal Solo
Catie Christenson, 13, Urbandale, Pointe Solo
Farrah Ganskey, 17, West Des Moines, Lyrical/Contemporary Dance Solo
Jack McInnis, 20, Le Mars, Musical Theater Vocal Solo
The Bill Riley Talent Search has put Iowa's young talent on stages across the state each summer since 1960. Nearly 100 local qualifying competitions are held across the state and winners advance to the State Fair competition, where there are seven days of preliminary competition for Sprouts (ages two to twelve) and Seniors (ages thirteen to 21), followed by the semi-finals and, ultimately, the selection of one Senior Champion. The Sprouts do not compete beyond the semi-finals, but perform in the Championship Show as Sprout Champions set for Sunday, August 20, 1:30PM, on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage sponsored by Pepsi and media sponsor iHeart Radio.
More than $20,000 will be awarded to the Senior and Sprout divisions combined.
The Iowa State Fair is one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country and the single-largest event in the state. The Fair began over 160 years ago and is now considered one of the best events in the nation, attracting more than one million Fairgoers every year from all over the world. The Fairgrounds are located at East 30th and East University, just off the interstate and minutes from Downtown Des Moines. Best Days Ever at the Iowa State Fair, August 10-20, 2023. For more information, visit iowastatefair.org.
