Benton resident Brandtlee Brown took home first-place honors at the Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs Talent Show competition after his flawless dance performance Jan. 21 at the Crowne Plaze Hotel in Springfield.
Last May, Brown was the first prize winner of both the HerrinFesta Italiana Talent Show and the Williamson County Fair Junior Division contest. His winning performance at the Williamson County Fair contest qualified him to compete for the State Fair Junior Division title in Springfield.
Thirty-nine counties sent participants to compete for the junior division state title.
Brown's dance routine was a combination of dance moves to a medley of songs from swing music to MC Hammer to Michael Jackson. The 13-year-old, who is an eighth-grader at Benton Middle School, amazed the judges with his dance moves. Brown was invited to perform Sunday night at the Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs Queen's Pageant, where he received a standing ovation from a crowd of over 1,200.
Brown has won several talent show competitions and has danced at the Benton Invitational Tournament and several local fund raisers. His natural, self-taught talent is a crowd pleaser. As winner of the state fair competition, Brown will perform at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield this August.
Brown is the son of Jeff and Lisa Brown, grandson of Kirby and Carmen Browning, and Ron and Jo Ann Joiner all of Benton.
