Washington County Fair hosts Festival of Talents

The Washington County Fair held a Festival of Talents last week, qualifying two individuals for the state fair talent competition in August.

County show coordinator Nancy Trier said Washington had an impressive track record at the state championship.

“In (my) 20 years of coordinating the talent show, Washington has had three State Fair champions,” she said in a statement. “This is quite an honor considering all the acts competing at the state level.”

Trier said the show could only select one senior and one sprout champion to send to the state competition, but the state organization encouraged performers to try their performance in multiple qualifying shows.

A news release from this year’s show said Washington County’s 2021 senior and sprout state fair competitors would be Avery Slaubaugh and Leo White, respectively.

This year’s show had a special guest: State Talent Show host Bill Riley Jr., who has emceed the state competition for 25 years. Riley told the crowd Washington County was “one of the top shows” of the roughly 100 he attends across the state.

Trier said she had the venue to thank for the county competition’s impressive lineup.

“The Community Center is a very professional atmosphere,” she said. “Programs are handed out so the show order can be followed and a professional sound system is a huge plus. Once they perform here, they generally like to come back.”