Dancers, Singers Ruled the Roost at Louisiana Farm Bureau Talent Contest
By Chuck Cannon
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation
Aubree Guidry, left, and Ahna Jones, right, won the Junior Division of Louisiana Farm Bureau Talent Contest.
A pair of young Lafayette Parish dancers and a vocalist from Pointe Coupee Parish won the talent contest at the 103rd Annual Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation at the Marriott Hotel in New Orleans June 27.
The dynamic duo of Ahna Jones and Aubree Guidry, who are middle school students in Lafayette, captivated the packed Carondelet Ballroom with a high-energy jazz dance routine that had those in attendance smiling and clapping throughout the performance to win the Junior Talent Contest. The pair said they’ve been dancing together for a few years, but this was their first competition.
“We’re really surprised we won,” Jones said. “We never dreamed we’d win our first contest.”
Guidry said the duo had practiced almost daily for the past month in preparation for the event. She said winning has fueled their desire to continue as a team.
“We want to keep on dancing together forever,” Guidry said.
When the pair was asked what their dancing goals were, they responded, in unison, “We want to go on Broadway!”
Lillian Crane, a 19-year-old cosmetology student from Pointe Coupee Parish, claimed the Senior Talent Contest with a stirring rendition of Adele’s, “When We Were Young.”
Crane said she has been singing for as long as she could remember.
“I've competed in school contests, national and state, beta conventions, and other contests through the years. But this is the first time I’ve competed here.”
Crane said she hopes to one day pursue a music career.
“It's a little bit difficult to get yourself out there, so I'm hoping maybe one day I could just get myself out there and somebody will find me,” she said.
While she sang an Adele piece during the contest, Crane said she usually leans toward country music.
“But I really like all genres, pretty much anything,” she said. “But with (country music star) Lainey Wilson being from Louisiana, she’s someone I’d like to follow. But the main thing is I know I’ll sing forever, whether it’s just for me or as a career.”
A pair of young Lafayette Parish dancers and a vocalist from Pointe Coupee Parish won the talent contest at the 103rd Annual Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation at the Marriott Hotel in New Orleans June 27.
The dynamic duo of Ahna Jones and Aubree Guidry, who are middle school students in Lafayette, captivated the packed Carondelet Ballroom with a high-energy jazz dance routine that had those in attendance smiling and clapping throughout the performance to win the Junior Talent Contest. The pair said they’ve been dancing together for a few years, but this was their first competition.
“We’re really surprised we won,” Jones said. “We never dreamed we’d win our first contest.”
Lillian Crane of Pointe Coupee Parish sings “When We Were Young” at the Louisiana Farm Bureau Talent Contest.
Guidry said the duo had practiced almost daily for the past month in preparation for the event. She said winning has fueled their desire to continue as a team.
“We want to keep on dancing together forever,” Guidry said.
When the pair was asked what their dancing goals were, they responded, in unison, “We want to go on Broadway!”
Lillian Crane, a 19-year-old cosmetology student from Pointe Coupee Parish, claimed the Senior Talent Contest with a stirring rendition of Adele’s, “When We Were Young.”
Crane said she has been singing for as long as she could remember.
“I've competed in school contests, national and state, beta conventions, and other contests through the years. But this is the first time I’ve competed here.”
Crane said she hopes to one day pursue a music career.
“It's a little bit difficult to get yourself out there, so I'm hoping maybe one day I could just get myself out there and somebody will find me,” she said.
While she sang an Adele piece during the contest, Crane said she usually leans toward country music.
“But I really like all genres, pretty much anything,” she said. “But with (country music star) Lainey Wilson being from Louisiana, she’s someone I’d like to follow. But the main thing is I know I’ll sing forever, whether it’s just for me or as a career.”