For the fourth consecutive year, the final night of the Adams County Fair was highlighted in the center ring by the Barnyard Olympics, a friendly and fun competition between the county high schools, with a $1,000 prize on the line. This year, just three county schools fielded teams and the fourth spot in the competition was filled by a team of 4-H alumni from the area.

Prompted by emcee Don Bowles from C-103 Radio and organized by the fair’s Darlene Anderson, the teams competed in six different events, a wheelbarrow/watermelon/tire relay race, the feed scoop toss, a toilet lid toss, the milk chug, the hay bale toss, and the final event, letters in the mud, where teams dug through a muddy pit to find the letters to spell out their school’s mascot.

Each event was worth a fixed number of points according to finish and in the end, it was the squad from North Adams taking the $1,000 first prize for the third time in four years. The North Adams team included Taylor Hesler, Caitlin Young, Lexie Bunn, Maddie Toole, Lee Hesler, Justin Knechtly, Ben Figgins, Cole Roades, Tray Brand, and Madee Shipley. North Adams was coached by Tony Williams.

Finishing in second place was the team from West Union High School, coached by Tess Holloway. The squad of Dragons consisted of J.J. Kramer, Kelsey Young, Alex Clark, Kristen Grooms, Jaycee Baldwin, Ethan Thompson, Mac Wilson, Eli Fuller, Jacob Miley, and Andrew Weeks.

Third place went to the Alumni team while last year’s champions, Manchester, coached by Shawn Palmer and Chris Young, slipped to a fourth place finish. The Greyhound team was made up of Summer Wilbur, Morgan Johnson, Darrington White, Katie Fetters, Kayla Wagoner, Rickey DeAtley, Chase Darnell, Nick Woolard, Jordan Freeman, and Jared Stricklett.

The team from North Adams High School took home first place in the Barnyard Olympics held on July 18 at the Adams County Fair.
https://www.peoplesdefender.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_NAHSfirst.jpgThe team from North Adams High School took home first place in the Barnyard Olympics held on July 18 at the Adams County Fair. Mark Carpenter | People’s Defender

West Union High School took home second place in the 2015 Barnyard Olympics.
https://www.peoplesdefender.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_WUHSsecond.jpgWest Union High School took home second place in the 2015 Barnyard Olympics. Mark Carpenter | People’s Defender

Defending champion Manchester High School dropped to fourth place in this year’s Barnyard Olympics.
https://www.peoplesdefender.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_MHSfourth.jpgDefending champion Manchester High School dropped to fourth place in this year’s Barnyard Olympics. Mark Carpenter | People’s Defender
Kids play in the mud, take home prizes

By Mark Carpenter

mcarpenter@civitasmedia.com

Reach Mark Carpenter at 937-544-2391 or on Twitter @adamscosports.