NATHAN AARON ORR took top honors and is our winner in the 2007 KFAV Colgate Country Showdown!!  His originallity is what put him over the top, performing two outstanding songs he wrote.  His stage presence and guitar playing only added to the punch.  Judges were very impressed with all the talent represented in the finals.  A major thanks goes out to our celebrity judges, some who came all the way from Nashville, Tn.  KFAV's Ginger Foster did a "Wonder Woman" job organizing the entire 4 month event with 4 separate preliminary competitions and the finale at the St. Charles County Fair on July 28th.  Each of the 8 finalists were outstanding, and the judging was extremely tough with very few points separating the top three. 

Nathan Orr will go to the Missouri State finals in Clinton, Mo. in September.  That winner will compete in a regional competition, and the winner emerging from there will be at the Nationals on LIVE TV this fall to win $100,000. and a chance to land a recording contract in Nashville.   
 

1st Preliminary night winners, Jason Martin and Nathan Orr

  UPDATED JULY 23rd, 2007.  Our first preliminary competition in the "26^th Annual Colgate Country Showdown" was at Crossroads County Nightclub Thursday evening, May 24th.   Nathan Orr and Jason Martin were judged the best two of the night.  We thank Sable for judging and then performing for the crowd.    KFAV 99.9 FM Today’s Hot Country is hosted America’s largest country music talent search and radio promotion. Approximately $200,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded nationwide including the Grand Prize of $100,000 cash to the National Winner, presented at the televised special.

Laura McKinney and Bunkhouse band performs

  Our second preliminary was held on Thursday evening, June 21st at Crossroads County Nightclub in Wentzville where two more acts advance to the finals.  They are Laura McKinney and the Bunkhouse Band, and The Kenny Sutter Band.  Thanks to our celebrity judges, Todd Ponder, band director at the Warren County Schools, DC of Steve & DC Radio Show, and country music legend Nick Nixon.  Thanks to all our judges in all shows!

Our third preliminary was held at the Warren County Fair on July 7th and our winners were Rickie Lee Tanner and Powder Keg, along with artist Russ Anderson.  

Our fourth preliminary was held at the Lincoln County Fair on Saturday, July 14th, one week later, and our final slate was set with the addition of Julia Owens and Tina McRey.

Sponsor Gerry Roberts from Standard Drugs, KFAV's Ginger Foster, and finalists Jason Martin and Nathan Orr

  Designed to find the most promising country music talent in the United States for the past twenty-six years, the Colgate Country Showdown gives aspiring artists a chance to launch their professional careers. Thousands of performers compete annually for the Country Showdown title.

2nd Preliminary Winners..Kenny Sutter and Laura McKinney

  Each spring hometown talent contests sponsored by over five hundred local radio stations across the country pave the road to stardom. Local winners advance to over forty state contests where the prizes include $1,000 in cash and the opportunity to compete at one of the five regional contests in the fall. The five regional winners receive an expense-paid trip to the National Final to compete for $100,000 and the coveted National Title.

   "We consider the Colgate Country Showdown one of the most anticipated events in country music each year," said Mike Thomas, KFAV Program Director. "It is an exciting community event that provides aspiring artists in our area an opportunity for state, regional, and national exposure while promoting a greater appreciation of country music. We are pleased and proud to join Standard Drugs-Wentzville, Remax Integrity Group - O’Fallon, Zeiser Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep-Warrenton and Zeiser Ford-Warrenton, Carpet Creations- O’Fallon, Valvoline Express Care-Troy, Wentzville and opening April 2^nd in Warrenton, Farm Bureau Insurance Services-Moscow Mills, Troy, Warrenton, Wentzville, Crossroads County Nightclub - Wentzville, The Bank Of Old Monroe--Old Monroe, Moscow Mills, O'Fallon, and Wentzville. Also supported by Tom Lime, Realtor with Prudential Alliance Realtors-Wentzville, and Midnight Auto Supply in St. Peters, as local sponsors and supporters in the 26^th Annual Colgate Country Showdown."

Celebrity judges from left, Todd Ponder, Nick Nixon, and DC Chymes

  Open to vocal and/or instrumental performers, the Colgate Country Showdown welcomes individual acts or groups with up to seven members to compete. Acts also must not have performed on a record charted in the top 100 country format of Billboard, Radio and Records, or the Gavin Report within eighteen months preceding local competition. A $10.00 entry fee is required of all contestants entering the Colgate County Showdown. No judges from the preliminaries are allowed to judge in the finals.  KFAV thanks our celebrity judges from Nashville for our finals. To ensure fairness, a uniform judging system is used on all levels of competition. 

Kenny Sutter Band on stage

   We'd like thank Larry Wiater for assisting KFAV in our first Showdown.  Larry has had extensive experience with the Showdown organization.  KFAV's Ginger Foster organized the Showdown, receiving help from Steve Kaspar, Mike Thomas, and Ryan Kaspar. 

Colgate Country Showdown, KFAV Radio, P.O. Box 220, St. Peters, Mo.  63376