West Union High School was the winner of this year’s Barnyard Olympics, held at the Adams County Fair on July 12. (Photo by Kiersten Rowe)

West Union High School was the winner of this year’s Barnyard Olympics, held at the Adams County Fair on July 12. (Photo by Kiersten Rowe)

<p>The team from Manchester High School competes in the “Watering The Animals” event at the Barnyard Olympics. (Photo by Mark Carpenter)</p>

The team from Manchester High School competes in the “Watering The Animals” event at the Barnyard Olympics. (Photo by Mark Carpenter)
<p>Team members from North Adams High School are ready to race in the “Needle In A Haystack” competition in the Barnyard Olympics. (Photo by Mark Carpenter)</p>

Team members from North Adams High School are ready to race in the “Needle In A Haystack” competition in the Barnyard Olympics. (Photo by Mark Carpenter)
<p>The “Cattle Herding” event began with teams shucking ears of corn, before tossing them into a bucket held by a teammate. (Photo by Mark Carpenter)</p>

The “Cattle Herding” event began with teams shucking ears of corn, before tossing them into a bucket held by a teammate. (Photo by Mark Carpenter)

By Mark Carpenter

People’s Defender

As it has been for the past few years, the Barnyard Olympics were one of the final events to wrap up the 2025 Adams County Fair. The “Olympics” are a series of competitions with farm-oriented themes, that match up 10 student-athletes from each of the county’s four high schools, with a grand prize of $1,000 for the winning school’s athletic program.

The start of the Olympics was delayed over an hour by inclement weather, but the clouds cleared and it was time to “go”, as the teams competed in four events- Watering the Animals, Dinnertime Dash, Needle in a Haystack and Cattle Herding. When the dust , and maybe a little mud had cleared, it was the West Union team taking away the first place prize of $1,00 with their total of 325 points. Second place and $750 went to Peebles with a total of 275 points, with North Adams totaling 225 points and garnering $300 for third place. With 150 points, Manchester finished fourth and took home $200.

The rosters for the schools in the Barnyard Olympics were:

West Union- Emmy Stapleton, Gavin Rowe, Jocelyn Hall, Tyren Pennington, Annabelle McIntosh, Violet Randolph, Harlee Hayslip, Tegan Knox, Shelbi Weakley, Madison White

Peebles- Madee Koenig, Ella Richards, Kiera Scott, Katie Myers, Chloe Myers, Calen Vogler, Wyatt Smart, Keegan Puckett, Cooper Meade, Colyn Sims

North Adams- Beau Hesler, Dalton Pence, Preston Call, Colin Tolle, Thaddeus Moore, Emmy Holt, Knesley Cornette, Hannah Hesler, Morgan Wheeler, Miley Hesler

Manchester- Parker Hayslip, Elijah Crabtree, Korey Gray, Mahayla Brown, Abby Lucas, Kaylan Bradford, Kaydence Newland, Kenidee Turner, Joel Blythe, Braylon Rickett