Ashton Faith of Cole Camp won the Country Showdown talent contest at the Saline County Fair Wednesday, July 16. Faith qualifies to compete in the next stage of the contest Aug. 2 in Sedalia. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Faith performed the popular "Black Velvet," but what may have helped her clinch the win was her performance of an original song, "Born and Raised," which the audience asked for again when she did her encore performance.

"I've been working really, really hard on it," she said. "It's never been performed anywhere, so I hope you like it."

Faith has performed at the Saline County Country Showdown several times. Last year, she was the second runner-up. She qualifies to perform at the next stage of the competition Aug. 2 in Sedalia.

First runner-up Whitney Carpenter of Stet sings an original song during the 2008 Country Showdown at the Saline County Fair. Carpenter won the event in 2007. [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Laura Harvey of Marshall performs first in the 2008 Country Showdown at the Saline County Fair Wednesday, July 16. She sang "Stay" by Sugarland and "Fool Hearted Man" by Jo Dee Messina. [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

She said after the show that she's been singing most of her life.

She got her start as a performer when, as a child, she was at a Branson restaurant where she first sang in public.

"There was a man playing guitar with a tip jar and I went up to put some money in it," she said. "And I just started singing 'Frosty the Snowman.'"

Faith said she can't recall how many contests she's performed in, but she believes this is the first time she's had a chance to move up to a regional level in the Country Showdown program.

Last year's winner, Whitney Carpenter of Stet, took second place, and Shannon Gotmer of Marshall placed third.

Jessica Fleetwood of Slater performed "Red High Heels" and "How Do I Live" in the Country Showdown at the Saline County Fair Wednesday, July 16. [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Gary Wheeler of Marshall sings the first of two songs he performed at the 2008 Country Showdown, Toby Keith's "Should Have Been a Cowboy." He also sang a song he dedicated to his wife, Tracy Byrd's "The Keeper of the Stars." [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Although two of the top three performers were from outside the county, Saline County was well-represented in the show's lineup.

Three Marshall teens performed, including Laura Harvey, Brittney Allison and Taylor Witcher. Jeremy Fisher accompanied Allison on guitar for one of her two songs.

Gary Wheeler of Marshall, Jessica Fleetwood of Slater, Louise Knox of Nelson also performed.

Witcher dedicated her performance to her father, who died in March after a year-long battle with cancer. He was 45 years old. Announcers said Witcher urged men in the audience to see their doctors about cancer screening.

Taylor Witcher dedicated her performance at the 2008 Country Showdown to her father, who died in March of cancer. Witcher also dedicated a song, "Gunpowder and Lead," to Stephanie Rapp, a Marshall teen who died in a car crash July 3. Witcher also sang "I'll Stand By You." [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

She also dedicated her rendition of Miranda Lambert's "Gunpowder and Lead" to Stephanie Rapp "because I know she liked it."

Shannon Gotmer of Marshall was the second runner-up in the 2008 Country Showdown. [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Rapp was killed July 3 in a car crash in Marshall.

Jeremy Fisher accompanies Brittney Allison as she sings "Stay" at the 2008 Country Showdown. [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Brittney Allison sings "Stay" at the Country Showdown. She also sang "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend." [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Louise Knox of Nelson sings during the showdown, performing "I'll Stand By You" and "I Wonder." [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]