So what’s your talent?One of the big hits of last year’s Rock County Fair was the Amateur Talent Contest.With that success behind it, the Rock County Fair Board is planning for the second annual event.This year the contest will take place on Friday, August 1. The talent will be divided into three categories:_ Open division, any age_ Teen division, ages 13-18_ Pre-teen, ages 12 and underEach division will pay $100 for first place winner, $75 for second place and $50 for third.The show will take place at 7 p.m. in the fairgrounds grandstand.A stage, sound system, piano and lighting system are provided by the fair board. Each act is responsible to provide a $10 registration fee which is required at the time of registration.A practice time will be arranged the afternoon of the event should entrants desire it.The event is expected to last approximately two hours and each act will be limited to no longer than four minutes.Because of the two hour time limit, acts will be accepted on a first come basis.Twenty five people signed up for last year’s event, with ten in the pre-teen division, nine in the teen division and six in the open class.According to event organizer, Jane Wildung, the grandstand attendance was 600 to 700 people for the evening.All three of the division winners, according to Wildung, went on to participate at the State Fair level.If you are interested in showing off your talent or you know someone you would like to talk into performing, you can pick up registration forms at the Luverne Chamber of Commerce office.If you would like to receive one by mail, contact Jane Wildung at 283-4691.Would you like to design the new quarter?Now it’s Minnesota’s turn. You have probably seen the newly designed quarters, minted to honor various states of our nation.The time has come for Minnesota to get its quarter.Gov. Pawlenty is putting together a commission to help choose the design for the new Minnesota coin.The commission will recommend five designs to him, bearing a theme to be issued in 2005.Pawlenty also wants to include schools in the process of submitting and recommending designs.The commission will have 15 members, and three seats will be open to the public.The governor will also appoint one student, one elementary teacher and one high school teacher.The Minnesota legislature will also get to appoint four of their own.Other commission members will include the Minnesota Historical Society director, the State Arts Board director, the Secretary of State and the Education Commissioner or their designees.If you think you would like to try for one of the open spots, you can call the Secretary of State’s office at 657-296-2803.Are goat races back in Jasper?The Jasper Goat Races, last held in 1978, may be making a return visit to Jasper’s streets.A group of Jasper citizens got together April 20 to discuss what it would take to plan and organize the event.Some members of the original Jasper Goat Club were on hand to discuss their experiences and offer some support for the idea.August 14, 2004 has been set as the target date for the first "new" goat race.Promotional activities and fundraisers are planned for this summer.A street dance and hamburger feed are among the likely fundraisers the group is considering.The next meeting will be held at the StoneWall Pub on Thursday, May 22 at 7 p.m.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com
