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VIDEO: Shelley Robbins wins 2016 Putnam County Star
Several hundred spectators got to see a storybook ending to the 2016 Putnam County Star competition on Wednesday at the Putnam County Fairgrounds.
Not only was Shelley Robbins one of just two contestants to make the finals in each of the four years of the competition at the Putnam County Fair, she is also in the fifth month of pregnancy.
So it was that after four nights of competition, the woman who almost didn't even compete in 2016 was named the Putnam County Star from a field of 12 finalists.
"I can definitely say I was surprised and shocked," Robbins said. "The talent this year was the best I've seen in four years."
Robbins separated herself from the tight field with a pair of strong final night performances, starting with an interpretation of Kanye West's "Heartless."
"I'm not going to rap," Robbins said, before imbuing the normally electronic, Autotuned song with her own soulful, Midwestern vocals and acoustic accompaniment from 2015 winner Tony Patrick.
She followed this up with a rendition of the Grace Potter and the Nocturnals single "Stars."
In a field half full of teenagers, the experience of the 27-year-old paid off. Only she and Taylor Strong have appeared all four years.
"I know the voting this year was really close because they were just that talented and so young," Robbins said. "If I had half the talent that some of these 14-year-olds did when I was 14, I don't know what I'd do with myself."
It was a bittersweet night for the veterans of the competition, as founder and director Rick Johnston has announced that he'll be stepping aside after four years of the competition.
"I've been truly blessed to be the director of this contest," Johnston told the crowd.
Johnston said he was proud of what the program has accomplished. It started out not only as something to draw more people to the fair but as a way to support 4-H programs. It has done so by raising money to buy scramble animals for kids who can't afford to buy their own livestock.
"Over four years we've raised more than $10,000," Johnston proudly announced. "I want to thank each and every one of you for making this happen, for making this possible."
Johnston will be succeeded by Melissa Warner, who won the inaugural contest in 2013.
Robbins is excited to be going out with Johnston.
"I've been in it for four years and Rick has really been a big part of my husband's and my life," Robbins said. "I'm just really happy that I get to end it with him. It's pretty amazing."
In fact, it was at Johnston's urging that Robbins even entered this year.
"It's not been an easy pregnancy so I actually was almost not going to do it this year but Rick convinced me that I needed to do it one more time," Robbins said. "Thankfully my husband was here helping and keeping an eye on me."
Before announcing the other prize of the night, mental attitude, Johnston teased Robbins a bit that she would not repeat as the mental attitude honoree.
He then announced Ashley Moeller as the 2016 winner. The prize seems fitting for Moeller, the Spanish teacher at North Putnam High School.
Prior to the competition, Moeller listed the opportunity to mentor younger people as one of the perks of possibly being Putnam County Star.
"I really like that former winners return and give knowledge to current competitors and I would love to come back and mentor future Putnam County Stars," Moeller wrote in her contestant biography.
For now, that opportunity belongs to Robbins, who is already making herself an ambassador for the competition.
"It's been really crazy but it's just a wonderful opportunity," Robbins said. "If anyone has the chance to try out for this, definitely do it. Even if it's just to meet local musicians because the talent around here is crazy."