Turns out all Caleb Meiners needed was another chance.
After a crushing finish in the 2024 Bill Riley Talent Search finals, where he did not place in the top five, Meiners took home the trophy and $10,000 grand prize for the 2026 talent search at the Iowa State Fair.
The 20-year-old from Ottumwa performed an impassioned contemporary dance solo to “This Bitter Earth” by Dinah Washington. At the end of his performance at the talent showcase on Sunday, Aug. 23, Meiners became emotional as he made his exit from the Anne and Bill Riley Stage.
Meiners said he almost didn’t perform to Washington’s song for the talent search but decided at the last minute to follow his gut and dance to the music that spoke to him.
“I wanted to go out here doing what I know I do best and doing what I know makes me feel good, and hopefully someone out here can feel what I’m showing on stage,” he said.
He has been dancing for eight years after spending his younger years tumbling, a skill that was on display in his talent show performance as he nimbly flipped his body to the music. At first he didn’t enjoy dancing, he said, but he stuck with it and he’s grown to love it so much that he now coaches dance.
Supporting the 10 talent show finalists were hundreds of fairgoers, friends and family. Among them was Southern Iowa Fair talent show coordinator Karen Adams. She proclaimed herself Meiners’ biggest fan, having watched him advance from the fair in Mahaska County to the talent aearch finals in both 2024 and 2026.
“He’s excellent in his craft,” Adams said, choking up. “It’s just so cool now to see someone go from the county show to this.”
As for what’s next, Meiners said he plans to save his cash prize — after treating himself a bit, of course — and put it toward honing his craft.
Seniors Bill Riley Talent Search results
The remaining winners, awarded $500 each, were:
Sprouts finalists
Finalists in the Sprouts competition for ages 2-12 were:
Isabelle Foland is a communities reporter for the Register. Reach her at ifoland@registermedia.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Ottumwa dancer has comeback win at 2026 Iowa State Fair talent search
Reporting by Isabelle Foland, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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By Isabelle Foland, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
