YOUTH ACTIVITIES

Ag OLYMPICS and MINI-RODEO TEAM COMPETITION

Sunday, February 19th, 2012
Registration required by Friday, February 10, 2012
Teams Check-in: 1:00 p.m.; Events begin - 2:00 p.m.

To help our young people enjoy and appreciate all things agricultural, including fun and games, the Agriculture and Food Fair Board of Directors will host the Ag Olympics and Mini-Rodeo. This event will be contested by teams representing our many different schools, youth groups and educational programs. Individuals attending the fair may participate on a 'pick up' basis.

Ag Olympic teams will be comprised of three (3) youth, one (1) adult advisor, and one 'pick up' team member from the audience. All youth competitors must be between the ages of 5-14 years old and must have an Activity Waiver Form signed by their parent/guardian on hand in order to participate. The adult coach - a teacher, parent or volunteer - must be on hand to present the required waiver forms, and to assist in getting their team organized and ready to compete, but will be required to take part in at least one event. There will be both individual events that will contribute to team rankings and team relay events. Ribbons and goodie bags will be distributed, but the real award is taking home the bragging rights!!! Teams must register by Friday, February 10, 2012; adult coaches and teams must check-in at the pre-registration tent at 1:00 p.m. prior to the event.

Although uniforms are not required, we are encouraging teams to wear t-shirts that identify them. Some of the games are a bit messy and can be rough and tumble. To insure the safety of all participants, they will be required to wear jeans, a wholesome t-shirt, and sneakers or leather shoes that lace up.

Some of the activities to be contested include, but are not limited to those listed below. Specific games will be announced immediately prior to the event start.

• AGILITY COURSE – Just like the best herding dogs, participants will be required to demonstrate their AGility as they navigate the slalom course, scamper up and over the teeter board, and scurry through the tunnel toward the finish line.
• GOAT SCRAMBLE – Weaned goat kids are let loose in the arena; each contestant is given a collar and lead. On the signal, contestants must scramble to catch a kid, collar it and lead it over the finish line.
• GREASED WATERMELON – Participants will be required to pick up a greased watermelon from a pool of water and carry the melon to a designated point without dropping it.
• PIGEON PEA SHUCKING - Participants will be required to shuck as many pigeon pea pods as possible in a limited amount of time. The biggest pod pile wins.
• SUGAR CANE PEELING - Participants will be required to peel as many short sections of cane using only their teeth and hands in a specified amount of time.
• I MILKED THE GOAT - Participants will be required to successfully milk a goat. If no goat is available, there will be a substitute option. The contestant with the most milk in their bucket at the buzzer will be named the winner.
• COW CHIP TOSS - Participants will be required to toss dried cow patties to see who can come closest to the target and who can throw the farthest. Contestants can anticipate getting a little dirty.
• SACK RACE – Always a favorite, participants will be required to hop between starting and finishing point with their feet and legs inside a grain sack.
• PENNIES IN A STRAW PILE – At the whistle, participants will be expected to dig into a pile of straw filled with loose coins. There is a big prize buried there. The person collecting the most coins wins and who knows what else they may find.
• STRAW BALE PYRAMID RACE - At the whistle, participants will pick up one straw bale and race to the opposite side of the arena. They will be expected to repeat this process until they have carried all the bales and rebuilt the pyramid on the other side.
• FARMER'S CLOTHES RACE - At the whistle, participants will be expected to dig into a basket full of farmer's clothing. They must put on all articles of clothing in the appropriate fashion, grab a farm implement, race back to the finish line and strike a pose.

Other events may include: Egg in the Spoon Relay; Wheel Barrow Race; Potato/Apple Peeling Race; Bean Count; and the Water Carrying Race.