In June my daughter wanted to audition for the Coco-Cola Talent Cassic.
The Coco-Cola Talent Classic is a talent competition. Anyone ages 13-21 can compete in the preliminaries which are held in various locations throughout the state. You can basically get on stage and do anything that requires talent: sing, dance, play an instrument, do magic, act, etc.
The top 3 contestants in each preliminary go on to compete at the Kentucky State Fair.
My daughter wanted to try out and didn’t want to do it alone, so she invited her best friends to come too.
She asked her BFF to accompany her with his Cajon (a Cajon is a drum box thingie). She asked our next-door neighbor to try out. AND she asked her big brother if he would come audition. Apparently, there is something reassuring when there are other people backstage (that you love) about to perform right alongside you.
Everyone said yes.
A week before the audition, my son was getting cold feet. He had originally planned to do magic. Then he decided he may do comedy instead. Then he thought he might do magic and work some comedy in.
On his application, I wrote, “variety act possibly containing comedy or magic.”
I figured that would cover it.
The day of the big event my son was still writing jokes and contemplating backing out.
I encouraged him to go on with the show… And have fun.
Well, that night was exciting. I was extraordinarily proud of them both. My daughter gave the performance of her life. My son’s jokes were so smart and funny. It was one of those “proud mama” experiences that make you swoon inside. It didn’t matter if either of them won – they had already succeeded as far as I was concerned.
I couldn’t wait to hear the judges results.
We were all shocked when the top contestants were announced. My daughter didn’t place, but my son (the comedian) came in 5th place.
HE BEAT HER.
Just for a minute can we all laugh at the fact that he didn’t even WANT to do this, to begin with?
5th place doesn’t mean you made it to the fair. The top 3 would be competing at the fair, 4th and 5th place were simply “alternates.”
Everyone had a big laugh and spent the next 4 weeks enjoying the fact that there was a comedian in the family. What the heck?
At 8:30 am two days before opening day at the State Fair, my son got a call from the Coordinator for the Coco Cola Talent Classic. She told him that some of the contestants who had placed ahead of him had competed last year at the State Fair. They wanted “new talent” and asked if he’d like to compete in the Semi-Finals.
He said, “Sure.”
So, my big boy loaded himself up and went out on stage at the State Fair to make a few people laugh (hopefully).
He was the last to compete in his group and was up against vocalists in gowns, heels, and sequins. There were dancers, ballerinas and even a tapdancing dude in a tophat.
And he was the only comedian.
I can’t even imagine how you judge between ballerinas, tap dancers, opera singers, and a comedian. But, no one asked me.
Everyone performed their hearts out and the judges excused themselves to deliberate.
All the contestants were assembled back on stage to receive their “participants awards” and the top 3 performers were given ribbons and cash prizes.
My guy didn’t care. He was in it for the fun. He had a great time performing & making a few folks laugh. And although I think he was ready to go get a funnel cake, just like everyone else in the semi-finals, he waited for the judges to make their verdict.
He stuck around and fulfilled the requirement to march (back) up on stage with the other contestants and watch everyone else received their awards. Boy was he surprised when he was the first name they announced.
My boy got 3rd place. Which was so funny and awesome.
You got to love it when the kid dressed like everyone else at the fair gets on a stage, gives a performance and walks away with a trophy.
Go figure.
Other notable things about the fair
We volunteered with the Kentucky Sheep and Goat producers again this year. We cooked (and served) at the commodities breakfast. The commodities breakfast is the key event that launches the Kentucky State Fair on Opening day. All the meat, veggies, fruit and grains served are produced in the Bluegrass State. The Governor, Miss Kentucky and many other significant Kentuckians are in attendance.
We woke at 3:15 am. We left our home at 4:00. We arrived in the commercial kitchen at 5 am. We cooked goat bacon, lamb sausage and served it up like a boss.
I had the unfortunate placement between Miss Kentucky and my 17-year-old daughter in the food line. Ugh. Talk about feeling like the ugly duckling.
Would you like to know what it is like to be Miss Kentucky? Well, I have never been a beauty queen – but I got to live alongside one for 3 hours during the commodities breakfast and it is quite the event.
Because I was geographically stationed 1 foot away from Miss Kentucky, I had my picture taken 500 times in 2 hours. I made it onto every local news channel. AND I got to experience how incredibly smart people are.
Let me paint this picture. Miss Kentucky is next to me. In a blue dress. Wearing a CROWN. Two pounds of makeup. AND a bright white sash that says, “MISS KENTUCKY.”
Brilliant dude walks up to her, reaches out to shake her hand and says…..
and I quote…
“Are you Miss Kentucky?”
BA HA HA HA HA HA!
I told Alex (my new friend, Miss Kentucky) that was the funniest thing I’d heard all week.
I told her she should have said no.
“I just like to wear this crown and a sash that says “MISS KENTUCKY” for fun.”
What the heck?
I love people!
So, Alex (Miss Kentucky) is great. I served goat bacon and she served watermelon until our hands were cramping.
Yes, your hands will begin to cramp after using tongs for over an hour.
We complained and bonded and slapped Kentucky grown food onto hundreds of plates.
Good times.
Just in case you have never attended a State Fair or maybe you’d like to know what it’s like to go fairing with me – here’s a glimpse of my trip(s) to the fair this year-
