DES MOINES, IOWA (August 18, 2019) — Samuel Fine, 13, of Johnston, placed first in the senior division during the championship round of the 60th annual Bill Riley Talent Search Competition held Sunday, August 18, at the 2019 Iowa State Fair.
Fine walked away with an $10,000 prize for his contemporary dance solo performance.
Cali Wilson, 18, of Norwalk, was awarded second place and $5,000 for her lyrical dance solo.
Third place and $2,500 went to Megan Gilbreath, 18, of Johnston, with a vocal solo.
Acts competed statewide to qualify for competition in this year's Bill Riley Talent Search at the Iowa State Fair. The championship round took place on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage sponsored by Pepsi with media sponsor CW Iowa 23. Bill Riley, Jr. hosted the show.
More than $17,000 was awarded to the senior and sprout divisions combined. This year's contest was sponsored by Hy-Vee.
Sprout winners included:
Farrah Ganske, 13, West Des Moines, Lyrical Dance
Leah Feuerbach, 12, Durant, Dance: Tap Solo
Adora Spoor, 12, Cedar Rapids, Vocal
Savannah Song, 10, Windsor Heights, Violinist
Lily Schloss, 13, North Liberty, Vocalist
Lauren Herrig (12), Gracie Schillerberg (11), Emily Gehlsen (11), Addison Houston (11) and Lexie Wiese (11), Denison/Schleswig, Tap Quintet
Emery Hawkins, 11, Cincinnati, Ventriloquist
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.
