Local talents win State Fair appearances

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. -- The Nebraska State Fair and Vision Productions, Inc. announce the winners of the 2014 Galaxy of Stars® Talent Search Video Mail-In Contest and winners of local Participating Partner Talent Searches who have qualified to advance to the Galaxy of Stars® Talent Search Semi-Finals at the Nebraska State Fair on Saturday, Aug. 30th from 1 -- 5 p.m.. Contestants compete live on the Bristol Windows Stage at Fonner Park in Grand Island in Three Age Divisions: Comets, Shooting Stars and Novas.

The Galaxy of Stars® Talent Search Finals & Awards Ceremony will be held on Sunday, Aug. 31st, from 1 -- 5 p.m.. Over $9,000.00, prizes, cash, trophies and recording sessions will be presented at the Awards Ceremony.

2014 GALAXY OF STARS® Talent Search Highest Scoring Video Contestants Advancing to the Nebraska State Fair Semi-Finals:

SHOOTING STARS (13 to 18): Shelby Stevens.

NOVAS (19 & Over): Halle Stephens, Vocal, Arapahoe; Riley & Taylor Rambali & Shelby Stevens, Group Vocal, McCook.

Winners from Participating Partner Talent Searches: 105.3 Coyote Country Music Showdown: Rachel Gordine, Shooting Star, Vocal, McCook; Taylor Dack, Shooting Star, Vocal, Paxton, Adam Wolford, Nova, Vocal/Guitar, McCook.

There is still an opportunity to qualify for the Galaxy of Stars® Talent Search Semi-Finals: Area talent can enter these upcoming Partner Talent Searches: The Eustis Fair & Corn Show Talent Search, Aug. 9, and the Columbus Days Talent Search, Aug. 16. Visit the Galaxy of Stars® website for details.

SONGWRITING CONTEST: Top Five Original Songs of the Galaxy of Stars® Songwriting Contest, in no ranking order: "Fighter" - Riley Rambali, McCook.

Songwriters of the Sixth to Fifteenth Highest Scoring Original Songs, in no ranking order: "You're His Beautiful" - Shelby Stevens, McCook; "Lost" - Riley Rambali, McCook; "Daddy You Were Right" - Shelby Stevens, McCook; "The Guy You Never Became" - Halle Stephens, Arapahoe.

Songwriters of the Top Five Highest Scoring Original Songs will have an opportunity to showcase their songs on Sunday, Aug. 31st at the Galaxy of Stars® Talent Search Finals on the Bristol Windows Stage from 1 - 5 p.m. at Fonner Park in Grand Island. Songwriters of the Top Three Original Songs will be presented with prizes, cash, trophies and recording sessions. Medals will be presented to all songwriters of the Top Fifteen Original Songs.

The 2014 Nebraska State Fair opens Aug. 22 and will run through Labor Day, Sept. 1. Visit www.statefair.org and www.galaxyofstarstalentsearch.com for more information.