Talent Show Auditions 2026

Tuesday, July 14, 2026 - 5pm
TALENT COMMITTEE
iroquoiscountyfairtalent@gmail.com
Chairman - Jordyn Clark– 815-383-1271, Hannah Fink – 815-931-4076
Members - Gary Cahoe - 815-471-4870, Pat Ward - 815-383-1269, Rachael Dexter 815.325.2735
The performance will be at the grandstands.

1. Age Division Requirements
(Classifications refer to both solo and group)
A. Junior Division: All contestants must be 9- 14 years old on the date of the local contest. They may be 15 years old when competing at the State Level the following January.
B. Senior Division: All contestants must be between the ages of 15 and 21 on the date of the local contest. They may be 22 years old when competing at the State level the following January.
C. Mixed ages must compete in the division of the group's oldest member.
D. Previous state level winners MAY compete again if all other qualifications are met.
E. Contestants must live in Illinois or be a student enrolled in an educational/recreational facility in Illinois.
2. Talent Divisions
Junior Division – 14 years and under by July 14, 2026
Senior Division – 15 to 21 years as of July 14, 2026
Future Iroquois County Fair Stars – 8 years & under. (Not eligible for State Competition)
Exhibition all ages (Not eligible for competition at county or state level)
3. Contest Specific Rules
We now have an online form to sign up! Entries are due by May 20th at 11:59 pm. Anything received later will not be accepted. A paper copy will still be available on the Fair website. If mailed, completed entries need to be received in an envelope that is postmarked May 20th, 2025, or sooner. Mail to the Iroquois County Fair Office - Box 301 - Crescent City, IL 60928. Entries may also be emailed with a time stamp before 11:59 on May 20th, 2025. No entries will be accepted in person. Group entries may be mailed together in one envelope or emailed at the same time. (All group forms must be received for the group to qualify.) Entries will be accepted in the order they are received.
1. All Contestants may appear in multiple acts with a maximum of 2.
2. All Contestants must be of amateur status, those who have been paid performing in your area of talent are not eligible.
3. Accompaniment is acceptable. Please bring a USB or send a link to the music to iroquoiscountyfairtalent@gmail.com . No like talent is allowed. I.e., tap sound for tap dancers, background vocals for singers. Bands, musician must play your instrument live. No background music or recording is allowed. If you have any questions, please contact a committee member at iroquoiscountyfairtalent@gmail.com.
4. Any act that goes over four (4) minutes of performance time will be disqualified.
5. There is a 3-minute setup time.
6. All acts must be memorized.
7. All contestants are responsible for making his or her own entry, including their legal name. Alternates in group performances must also fill out a form. Correctly completed forms received by the deadline date. Groups may NOT include a name of a business, school, organization, or other community service group.
9. 1st place winners from another fair talent show “this season” may only participate as an exhibition. Your signature on the bottom of the entry form is a contract stating that if you are the 1st Place Winner at the Iroquois County Fair Talent Show, you will only represent Iroquois County at the IAAF State Talent Show.
10. All contestants must be single and never married and a resident of Illinois or regularly enrolled in a school located in Illinois.
11. Contestants must supply their equipment. Microphones, CD player, piano and plug ins for contestants’ instruments will be provided by the fair’s hired sound personnel.
12. Judging is based on one hundred (100) points. Costume-10, Audience appeal-10, Stage presence-30, Ability-50. The decisions of the judges will be final.
13. Participation ribbons will be awarded to all contestants. Trophies will be awarded to the top 3 place contestants in both competitive divisions along with prize money of $100, $50, $25. Trophies sponsored by Country Theatre Workshop, Cissna Park, Illinois. Stipends and entry fees donated by the Iroquois County Fair.
14. Future Iroquois County Fair Stars Division will each receive a ribbon and trophy only.
15. Entry Fee and a stipend of $100 will be provided for 1st place winners in the Junior & Senior Division for State Competition in January 2026. If the 1st place winner does not appear at the state contest, the 2nd place winner will be eligible.

Extraneous Rules
1. All contestants MUST attend the committee preview on Saturday, May 30th, 2026, in the costume that will be used for your performance. Iroquois County Fair Talent Show Committee reserves the right to accept or refuse anyone. If applicable, you will need to bring a USB to the preview, or you can send mp3 music or a YouTube link to iroquoiscountyfairtalent@gmail.com before the preview day. We are not set up to use music off your phone. If you have other commitments on the 10th, please email iroquoiscountyfairtalent@gmail.com to make other arrangements.
2. Talent may be designated as Dance, Vocal, Magic, Speech, Juggling, Comedy, etc. Remember, this is a County Fair Competition – any act that is considered inappropriate in music, lyric, or dance will be disqualified.
3. Professional conduct is expected from every performer, participant, parent, and teacher. Misconduct may result in forfeiture of prizes.
4. Contestants will be notified by mail or email if they will be included in the show. Contestants, after the preview will be sent a complimentary gate pass and an entrance ticket for infield access, (NO replacement passes will be issued.)
5. State level is described as the IAAF Talent Show in Springfield the following January.
6. To be able to represent Iroquois County at the IAAF Convention, contestants must meet the official rules of the IAAF talent show.
7. Rules of the above IAAF Talent Show State will be used as guidelines for our contest.

Signups
Google Doc sign-up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfZk0bg0y62y0u00usmHh7dc57VyJwwmvYP7zMmGrdljDDgNg/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=115115087765564033776
Wejoinin sign up for committee preview: https://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/cjdrk

TALENT COMMITTEE
iroquoiscountyfairtalent@gmail.com
Chairman - Jordyn Clark– 815-383-1271, Hannah Fink – 815-931-4076
Members - Gary Cahoe - 815-471-4870, Pat Ward - 815-383-1269, Rachael Dexter 815.325.2735