The Marion County Fair Talent Show provided entertainment before the grandstand at the fair Sunday night.
14-year-old Ella Draege who is the reigning State Champion in the Junior Division was the winner of the Senior Division and will return to the state competition to try and become a double winner. She sang a Garth Brooks song later covered by Adele entitle “To Make You Feel My Love” because it made her mother cry.
“It felt like just a normal thing since I have sung so much. I sing the National Anthem every once in awhile, like last night. And I sang last year at the talent show and this year at State, so it was kind of more of a passionate kind of experience.”
Draege says she has been singing since the age of three in a family where everyone sings. She is the daughter of Elisabeth and Adam Barlock of Salem and David and Mary Draege of Carlyle. Other contestants were 18-year-old Crystal Jackson of Salem, 15-year-old Zella Trinkle of Iuka, and 15-year-old Luke Hahs of Kell.
The junior winner was 11-year-old Briar Tate of Kell who amazed the crowd with the playing of drums to the Ozzie Osborn song “Crazy Train”. He began playing the drums a couple of years ago.
“Something to do and keep me going when I was bored. And I saw drummers online and they are so cool. Skillet is my favorite band, they are awesome. They inspired me because I thought the drums were so cool so I started playing.”
Tate also plays at his church, Pleasant Grove Missionary Church. He feels it will be fun competing at state. Other Junior Division competitors were 13-year-old Claire Hahs of Kell, 6-year-old Wilson Waggoner, and 4-year-old Wally Waggoner.
Briar Tate playing the drums took first place in the Junior Talent Show.
Ella Draege wins the Senior Talent Competition after winning the statewide competition last year in the Junior Division.
