Young performers strut their stuff in Talent Contest

HARTINGTON – Elvis Presley was in the building July 19 during the Cedar County Fair Talent Contest – or at least a big fan of him was there.

Dressed for the occasion in an Elvis suit, Nicholas Morrow of Sioux Falls, S.D., confidently owned the stage as he performed a high-energy medley of Presley’s well-known rock ‘n’ roll music while doing many of his signature dance moves.

“I’ve been a big fan of Elvis for the last two years,” Nicholas said in a follow-up interview, noting that after he had watched a marathon of Presley’s movies, “I just fell in love with (his style).”

The 12-year-old’s favorite film starring Presley is “Viva Las Vegas” from 1964. He also enjoyed watching the 2022 movie “Elvis,” a biopic focused on Presley.

“The ‘Elvis’ movie fueled it and just made it grow even more,” Nicholas said of his fandom for his “favorite singer.”

He received his Elvis suit in December for a Christmas present.

“That’s when I started doing the medley and started practicing in my room,” Nicholas said.

When he first started practicing, he focused more on getting Presley’s dance moves down than singing.

“I wanted to practice my moves,” Nicholas said.

The fair’s Talent Contest this year marked his public debut as Presley, which came in front of a crowd that included several family members.

Nicholas’ parents, Thom and Leslie (Rupiper) Morrow, were in the audience for their son’s performance. Leslie is originally from the Fordyce area.

“He just really took a liking to Elvis,” Leslie said of Nicholas, noting his viewing of the recent “Elvis” biopic “kicked it up a notch. He’s got a lot of personality.”

Nicholas, who finished in fourth out of six in the Junior Division of the fair’s Talent Contest, has a goal of entering more talent shows in the future, as well as becoming a parttime Elvis impersonator someday.

He is scheduled to perform as Presley at a Sioux Falls Canaries baseball game sometime during the first part of August.

Nicholas noted he always appreciates the applause from the audience after he performs, “knowing that you put in all that work and then you get that standing (ovation) sometimes.”

The Open Class Building was “All Shook Up” after Nicholas’ performance and after a severe thunderstorm had swept through Hartington.

However, his performance as Presley was not the first high-energy one of the evening.

Castin Pinkelman of rural Hartington moved all over the stage as he sang “People Back Home,” a tune by country music duo Florida Georgia Line, made up of Brian Kelley of Florida and Tyler Hubbard of Georgia.

“I try to keep myself moving; I try to keep people in it,” Castin said. “If you just stand there and sing, sometimes people will just doze off, if they’re not into it.”

The 16-year-old, who will be a junior at Cedar Catholic High School in Hartington in 2023-24, noted he enjoys energetic songs.

“I’ve always been fun-loving,” Castin said. “I’m a single teenage boy right now. It’s either have fun or bust anymore.”

He explained why he chose to sing “People Back Home” for the fair’s Talent Contest.

“It’s special to me because – me having the hopes and dreams that I have – I want to be like Florida Georgia Line,” Castin said. “I want to be like them, recognizing their people back home.

“I want to make sure people know I’m talking about them for sure, like say out their names on stage,” he said. “My lifelong dream has been to get into country music and come back here and perform songs here at the Cedar County Fair.”

The son of Clint and Michelle Pinkelman noted he would like to travel to talent shows at other county fairs across Nebraska and other states to show off his singing skills and get his name out there.

“Country music, 100 percent,” Castin said of his favorite music genre. “I’ve been a country music fan all my life. It’s just almost a part of me anymore.”

For Castin, this year marked his third time performing during the fair’s Talent Contest and first time placing in the top four of the division he competed in – he finished in fourth out of seven in the Senior Division.

“I’m so happy to place,” Castin said. “It’s always been in my hopes to place here. The past two years, I didn’t do near as good as this year, I’m going to be 100 percent honest.”

He expressed his gratitude to the people in the audience – including his family members and friends – who came to cheer for him.

“I can’t thank people enough for supporting me the way they did – screaming my name, helping me out, people posting this on their Snapchat stories,” Castin said. “I’m getting so much support.”

The award winners for the fair’s Talent Contest this year are: - Adult Division: Rachel Droppers, singing and playing an original song, “Surrender All,” first; Elliott Dooley and Evan Payer, singing “Something in the Orange,” second.

- Senior Division: Meredith McGregor, singing and playing “North,” first; Abby Anderson, singing and playing “You Will Be Found,” second; Aaralynn Collier, singing “She Used to Be Mine,” third; Castin Pinkelman, singing “People Back Home,” fourth.

- Junior Division: Maleah Heimes, “Cheap Thrills” gymnastics routine, first; Lilah Droppers, dancing to “Devil Doesn’t Bargain,” second; Minden McGregor, singing “In the Stars,” third; Nicholas Morrow, performing an Elvis Presley medley, fourth.

- Tiny Tots Division: Ruth Heimes, “Lollipop” gymnastics routine, first.