Left to right, 2018 Calvert Fair Idol second-runner-up Sam Fowler, first-runner-up Breai Mason, event sponsor Gil Clark and 2018 Calvert Fair Idol champion Travon Long.

Barstow, MD – The Ninth annual Calvert Fair Idol competition concluded Saturday evening, Sept. 29 wrapping up a busy day at the 2018 county fair. The six finalists drew cheers from friends, family and mostly from fair-goers anxious to see who would earn the cash prizes from contest sponsor G.H. Clark Contractors Inc.

Each of the finalists sang two songs. A three-judge panel filled out score sheets and fair attendees were encouraged to cast votes for their favorite performer. After a brief intermission, the winners were announced. The top winner and 2018 Calvert Fair Idol is Travon Long, 25 of St. Leonard, who is a student at University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). Long, who was competing in the Idol contest for the second time, sang the Kenny Roger’s classic “Lady” and John Legend’s “Glory.” He was awarded a check for $1,000.

Finishing second was Breai Mason, a Calvert County native who currently lives in Indian Head. Mason performed Daniel Caesar’s “Best Part” and Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You.” She was awarded a check for $500.

The third-place finisher was Sam Fowler of Huntingtown. The 17-year-old Huntingtown High School student performed Corinne Bailey Rae’s “Put Your Records On” and the widely covered devotional song “He Never Failed Me Yet.” Fowler was awarded a check for $300.

The three other finalists were Emily Moler, Audrey Whelan and Abby Gibbons. The finals were emceed by G.H. Clark Contractors’ project manager Frank Antonio, a former performer at Walt Disney World Resort.

Calvert County Fair Board member Dean Holland thanked Gil Clark of G.H. Clark Contractors for again sponsoring the event. “Without Gil, this never would have happened,” he said. Holland noted that the Idol contest has proven to be a better draw than the event organizers’ previous practice of booking bands.

Organizers of the contest have already begun recruiting contestants for the 2019 Calvert County Fair, offering event T-shirts prior to the finals to the first four people in the audience who would agree to audition for next year’s competition. Three people came forward and promised they would. Individuals who are amateur entertainers between the ages of 14 and 29, and reside in Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s Prince George’s or Anne Arundel counties are eligible to apply.

Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com