DES MOINES, IOWA (August 9, 2019) — Five talented Sprout division acts (ages 2-12) and Senior division acts (ages 13-21) have advanced to the semi-final round in Bill Riley's 59th annual Iowa State Fair Talent Search. Each act will perform again on Thursday, August 15, Friday, August 16, or Saturday, August 17.
The names, ages, hometowns and routines of the sprouts acts are:
Brigid Bonner, 11, Denison, Tap Dance Solo
Heston McIlrath, 12, Story City, Vocal w/ Ukulele
Aleesha Smith (11) and Michael Smith (8), Waterloo, Vocal Duet
Hannah Brandhorst, 10, Bedford, Ventriloquist
Tony Song II, 12, Windsor Heights, Piano Solo
The names, ages, hometowns and routines of the senior acts are:
Ingrid Streitz, 18, Iowa city, Vocal/Ukulele Solo
Emma Carlson (15), Lauren Crawford (15) and Jennah Myer (15), Belmond, Clog Trio
Carter Guse, 14, Cedar Falls, Vocal/Guitar Solo
Grace Kiple, 18, Sergeant Bluff, Vocal/Guitar Solo
Bailey Miller, 18, Gowrie, Lyrical 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 2-12) and Seniors (ages 13-21), 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 18 at 1:30 p.m. on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage sponsored by Pepsi and media sponsor CW Iowa 23.
More than $17,000 will be awarded to the Senior and Sprout divisions combined. The Bill Riley Talent Search is presented by Hy-Vee.
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. Nothing Compares to State Fair Favorites: August 8-18, 2019. For more information, visit www.iowastatefair.org.