The Mower County Fair Talent Show is coming up fast.

Contestants should start fine tuning their presentations for the Saturday, Aug. 11 event, which begins at 1 p.m. on Godfather’s Fair Square Stage.

Judges for this year’s competition will be retired teachers Coni Nelson of Austin Public Schools and Jerry Girton of Riverland Community College. Both are well known in Mower County and have worked in the music and entertainment fields all their lives.

Nelson taught music at Ellis and Southgate until retirement. She still directs several choirs and is an accomplished soloist and voice teacher. Girton joined Riverland in 1989 as director of theater.

Ages 12 and younger will enter in the pre-teen division, ages 13-19 will enter the teen division and all others will enter the open division. There is an entry fee of $10 per act, and they must be a resident of Mower County.

Prizes are awarded to the top three winners in each division: $40 for first, $30 for second and $20 for third. First place winners go on to perform at the Minnesota State Fair.

Entry forms are available online at www.mowercountyfair.com or from Vandy Newman at 507-437-4437 or 438-2237. Entries are due by Aug. 9. Talent show rules, listed on the entry form, match the Minnesota State Fair Contest.