Performers Continue to the Next Round of Bill Riley Talent Search

DES MOINES, IA (08/13/2023) (readMedia)-- Five talented Sprout division acts (ages 2-12) and five Senior division acts (ages 13-21) 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 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 20 at 1:30 p.m. 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 www.iowastatefair.org.