I’ve never wanted to be Simon Cowell.
Yet, on Saturday, I found myself in a chair at a judges table, doing my best to channel his biggest talent to judge the 10 acts set to perform in the inaugural Ozarks Got Talent show.
Hosted by Zone 4 Mini Golf and More, the event was one of many already completed and more on the way this summer. About 125 people packed the amphitheater and surrounding hill for an hour of entertainment of all types, and from nearly all local residents.
The show kicked off with The Dynamic Duo, Russ and Diskey the Wonder Dog. It’s clear this duo had been performing together for a long time, and watching the 9-year-old pup chase discs and do tricks will bring a smile to anyone.
Yet, the talent was so strong The Dynamic Duo was outside of the top three.
Following acts included a comedian, a Rubik’s cube solver, a ukulele player and vocalist, two musical duos, a vocalists, a singer-songwriter, a jazz quartet and a fire performance.
For a first-time event, Zone 4 should be proud of the turnout on the stage and off it. Between acts, I thought I would attempt a head count. After counting about 60 just in the log bench seating, I turned behind me to count who was left.
I would have been looking the wrong way for too long to get it perfect.
The excellent turnout was a credit to the excellent talent. The comedian ran short of material, possibly due to content and the crowd gathered, but he was natural on the stage and delivered well on the jokes he told.
The Rubik’s cube solver tossed three cubes into the crowd for mixing, then solved all three within about four minutes, telling a few cheesy pickup lines during the process and picking up some laughs.
The ukulele player and vocalist as the first musical number, and she killed it. It as a beautiful song and powerful stage presence, good enough to earn her third place.
The musical duos were Southwest students, mostly graduates, who played guitar and sang, performing beautifully. I especially enjoyed the rendition of “Wagon Wheel,” one of my favorite songs and my wife’s ringtone.
The vocalist in between the pair of duos probably had the best stage presence, and her performance included a prop.
The singer-songwriter gave a two-for-one show, covering Jimmy Buffett and Creedence Clearwater Revival. It was the only musical act that got the crowd clapping, and ultimately, only a couple points behind the ukulele player for third.
The jazz quartet was a group of Southwest kids who put on an entertaining, upbeat and solo-filled performance. Southwest Band Director Glenda Dalton should be proud of her pupils, as they delivered a runner-up quality five minutes of music.
Finally, the show ended with a flare. Frederick “Fahrenheit” Tackett, who some may remember seeing at area Christmas parades in December with his fire rope dart, turned up the heat — literally.
Tackett began with his rope dart skills, which have been on display plenty before. This show, however, was a broader representation of his abilities. Midway through the act, Tackett lit a punk, took a mouthful of liquid from a plastic bottle and gave his best dragon impression. He followed the fire-breathing with a rope dart shooting fireworks, which in the actual dark of night would be an even more striking visual.
All the judges agreed, it takes a heck of a lot of talent to perform such an act. For his efforts — and incredible confidence and skill — Fahrenheit finished first.
The talent show from start to finish was a night to remember, and I’m excited for next year to be even bigger. Zone 4 has put copious effort into events at its facility this summer. Still remaining are a hypnotist performance on Aug. 12 and a magician on Aug. 19, ages 10-and-older recommended at both shows.
While there are admission prices for those, the Ozarks Got Talent show was free, and the top three earned cash prizes paid by Zone 4.
I want to thank Shannon and James Beemer for inviting me to judge, and thank them for creating an event that brought so many of us together for an enjoyable event so close to home.
We have another opportunity to come together this Saturday, and with good cause. At 6 p.m. at the American Legion Grounds, a benefit truck and tractor pull will be held for Bryson Wilderbuer, an Eagle Rock man seriously injured in a crash on Highway 37 in December 2022.
Whether through talent or philanthropy, the Cassville area community takes its opportunities to come together and support one another.
That pillar of Barry County is one of its strongest.
Kyle Troutman has served as the editor of the Cassville Democrat since 2014 and became Publisher in 2023. He was named William E. James/Missouri Outstanding Young Journalist for daily newspapers in 2017, and he won a Golden Dozen Award from ISWINE in 2022. He may be reached at 417-847-2610 or ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com.
