Thirteen-year-old wins talent contest

Bushwhacker Colgate Country Showdown winner Ginelle Esry, 13-year-old daughter of Gary and Nancy Esry, El Dorado Springs, said she enjoyed singing in competitions and that winning was an added bonus. Esry will be in eighth grade this fall in the El Dorado Springs Middle School.

"I really like to sing," Esry said. "I like going to places to sing, winning makes it even better."

Esry beat out Schell City contestants the Coleman Boys, who won second place, and Deerfield competitor Maria Morris, who took third.

Esry has been singing half her life, she started seven years ago. She would like to sing professionally some day.

"When I was younger I wanted to sing because my cousin did," Esry said. "I was always listening to music and singing was something I really liked. One day I'd like to be able to sing professionally."

Esry will continue to the state competition this August in Sedalia where she will face some tough competition.

"I think there are eight other singers going to the state competition," Esry said. "It's going to be a lot harder there."

Traveling to sing won't be something new for Esry, she has competed in several towns around the area.

"I've sung in the Pittsburg Idol contest and the Fort Scott Idol, the Fort Scott Jubilee and the El Dorado Springs Talent Show," Esry said. "I took first place in my division in the talent show and the Fort Scott Idol and the Pittsburg Idol. I've sung at the Pittsburg Idol for a long time though."

Esry prefers singing Country music and the song she won the Showdown with was a Trisha Yearwood song "That's What I Like About You."

Music isn't the only thing Esry enjoys. She also likes to play basketball and is an active participant in 4H as well. "I like doing all kinds of things," Esry said. "Singing is something special, though."