8.14.25 Bill Riley Talent Search Semi-Finals

Day One of Bill Riley Semi-Finals 2025

Three talented Senior division acts (ages 13-21) have advanced to the Championship round in Bill Riley's 65th annual Iowa State Fair Talent Search. Each act will perform again on Sunday, August 17. Three Sprout acts were crowned champions.

Seniors

The names, ages, hometowns and routines are:

Aleesha Smith, 17, Waterloo, Vocal Solo

Hayden Miller, 17, Manilla, Acro/Jazz Dance Solo

Moriah Denhart, 18, West Des Moines, Musical Theatre Dance Solo

Sprout Champions

Kinsley Schooley, 12, Chariton; Paisley Wickett, 10, Chariton; Paislee McFall, 12, Chariton; Eleanor Brown, 12, Allerton; Jazz Dance Quartet

Harlow Schultz, 13, Polk City, Lyrical Dance Solo

Maddi Hodge, 10, Sioux City, Vocal Solo

The Bill Riley Talent Search has put Iowa's young talent on stages across the state each summer since 1960. Nearly 100 local qualifying competitions are held across the state and winners advance to the State Fair competition, where there are seven days of preliminary competition for Sprouts (ages 2-12) and Seniors (ages 13-21), followed by the semi-finals and, ultimately, the selection of one Senior Champion. The Sprouts do not compete beyond the semi-finals, but perform in the Championship Show as Sprout Champions set for Sunday, August 17 at 1:30 p.m. on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage sponsored by Pepsi and media sponsor iHeart Radio.

More than $22,000 will be awarded to the Senior and Sprout divisions combined.