Fifteen-year-old Kassie Dotzler is the first-ever Koochiching County resident to win a purple ribbon at the Minnesota State Fair, talent division.
Dotzler won the honor with her rendition of Taylor Swift’s song entitled “Tim McGraw.”
Wearing a little black dress as depicted in the song, Dotzler said it is the type of number that can captivate an audience.
“I love the guitar part, and think the whole song is pretty,” she added.
Dotzler competed through her participation in the 4H program after winning the preliminary 4H contest at Backus Community Center in early July. This is her second time competing at the state fair.
A purple ribbon is higher than a blue ribbon, according to Dotzler, who competed in a group of 67 vocalists in her age group. A total of 20 purple ribbons were awarded in a series of contests, 15 of them in Dotzler’s division.
Dotzler said two judges determined the winners, and she added that she really valued the advice she received from them. Dotzler has been an actor and vocalist locally, most recently portraying “Cinderella” in a production at Backus. She sang in the International Falls Bass Championship contest as well as performed in the region.
Singing since she was little, Dotzler guesses that she got her talent from her dad’s side of the family because he, Chris Dotzler, and some of her uncles also sing.
She is the daughter of Shelly Ostlund of the Falls and has one sister, Jessie. Her grandparents and many other family members and friends attended the fair contest to cheer her on.
The alto singer said she tends to like songs for what they are, and doesn’t prefer a specific genre of music. She’ll be framing her purple ribbon, and she’ll be singing again next year at the fair. “It was just a lot of fun, and I learned a lot.”