RULES
1. All entries must be approved by their local County Farm Bureau and will be verified by the state office during the selection process.
2. Applications must be submitted by Tuesday, July 15, 2025 and include a recording of the proposed performances. Entrees will be prejudged and only ten (10) acts will be selected to compete and will consist of five soloists and five variety acts performing gospel music.
3. Gospel variety acts can be ensembles, bands, duets, quartets, and others which would not fall into the category of a soloist.
4. Acts will be notified of their selection by Friday, August 1, 2025.
5. Any act whose member(s) earn more than half of their income from singing or are full-time performers or have signed with a national recording label will be considered professionals and not eligible to participate in the showcase.
6. Contestants do not have to be a Farm Bureau member unless it is required by the sponsoring county. All acts must reside in the state of Kentucky.
7. Acts can use musical instruments, sing acapella, utilize a CD, or track with pre-recorded music. For the efficiency of the program, some instruments may be backlined.
8. Acts may introduce the title of their two selections with no other introductions or conversation.
9. If utilizing tracks, selections must be received by Kentucky Farm Bureau by Friday, August 8, 2025. Send CDs or digital files to Matthew Ingram at Kentucky Farm Bureau, 9201 Bunsen Parkway, Louisville, KY 40220, or Matthew.Ingram@kyfb.com.
10. Acts will be judged on five categories with 20% maximum given to each: (1) choice and expression of song, (2) rhythm, tempo, and dynamics, (3) quality of voice(s), (4) pitch and projection and (5) stage presence and general effect.
11. At the conclusion of the showcase on Thursday, August 21, 2025, the Best of Show, Best Soloist and runner-up, and Best Gospel Variety act and runner-up will be announced.
PRIZES
Best of Show: Complimentary promotional space in Kentucky Farm Bureau News, valued at $1,000, our official publication with one of the largest print circulations in the state; an additional $300 and a trophy from Kentucky Farm Bureau, plus $150 and a ribbon from the State Fair.
Best Soloist: $300 and a trophy from Kentucky Farm Bureau, plus $100 and a ribbon from the Kentucky State Fair. Runner-up: $150 from Kentucky Farm Bureau, plus a ribbon from the Kentucky State Fair.
Best Gospel Variety: $300 and a trophy from Kentucky Farm Bureau, plus $100 and a ribbon from the Kentucky State Fair. Runner-up: $150 from Kentucky Farm Bureau, plus a ribbon from the Kentucky State Fair.
County Sponsor: A trophy from Kentucky Farm Bureau, plus a ribbon from the Kentucky State Fair.