Wendy Werner
CherryRoad Media
The horse arena on the Otoe County Fairgrounds was the setting for Farmer Olympics on Aug. 2, 2025, a challenge course featuring “farm obstacles”. Three divisions provided opportunities for young to young at heart to participate. This is the third year hosted by the Syracuse FFA Boosters and Alumni. Since the second year, the group has been able to do the event free of charge and as a service to the Otoe County Community. Organizers credit the generosity of businesses and individuals who financially support the event with over 30 supporters helping sponsor the event.
Michelle Donovan, Lori Kirchhoff, Laural Kreifels and Jodee Paulsen are on the Planning Committee for the event. Paulsen credits the help of many, “We had tons of help from our family members. The day of the event we had tons more help from other members of the FFA Booster and Alumni Association. With Darren Donovan as our event host and Chris Paulsen providing the music, it all came together.”
Teams competed for the fastest time and also for best costume. First place teams in each category received $50 while the 2nd place team received $25. Costume contest winners got a goodie bag.
“We try really hard to make each year a unique experience and keep the stations a closely guarded secret for as long as we possibly can while also keeping them in the theme of real-life farm obstacles,” Paulsen explained. She continued, “We began this year with having our contestants find a matching pair of work gloves, then rolling a barrel to the next station. The second station asked them to catch a greased pig, which was really a water balloon with a pig’s face that had been coated in vegetable oil. They then went to a wheelbarrow filled with cement blocks and had to push it through the dirt to the next station where they had to check eggs to see which were fresh and which were boiled. The final obstacle was a favorite from last year so we brought it back, but the hobby horse race had a few new turns.”
The winners in Division 1 (ages 12 and under) were Team Rodeo: Baker Seelhoff, Jacob McWilliams, Boone Neels, Hutch Neels, Mallory Hansen and Lily Dickhute. Second place went to the Golden Goats: Walker Janssen, Colton Ostrander, William Laud, Tyson Weibush, and Isiah Zost. The best costume award went to the Red, White and Blue Dudes made up of Landry Kraus, Grayson Kraus, Cael Crook, Grady Weibusch and Paxton Rudolph.
In Division 2 (13-18 year olds), the winning team was the Party Poopers: Drew Paulsen, Kathleen Donovan, Bridget Donovan, Kaita Kreifels, and Ryan Kirchhoff. Second Place went to the Blue Bandits: Margaret Donovan, Aubree Tuxhorn, Teagan Starzec, Sloan Vollertsen and Mayson Sprague. The best dressed went to the Party Poopers.
The winners in the adult division was a team made up of Barry Janssen, Will Janssen, Jake Janssen, Darin Beach and Ryan Beach. The second place team was made of Nicole Mowry, Steph Holka Meyer, David Kraus, Jenny Janssen and Hailey Kirchhoff.
Chuck-a-Duck was new at this year’s event. Participants purchased a rubber duck and “chucked” them at a bucket. The duck landing in or closest to the bucket won $50. Winners of the Chuck-a-Duck contest were Amanda Fass, Wade Paulsen, Mason Wellsandt and Hayden Wellensiek.
“This event takes a lot of work and time to put together, but seeing so many kids and adults come together for some messy fun and enjoying the experience makes it all worthwhile. I also think it has been a great addition to the fair and I hope it continues to be a part of the fair schedule,” Paulsen concluded.
Organizers say all proceeds, including the funds raised from purchase of 169 ducks, all go back to FFA. In the past year, the FFA Booster and Alumni group has been able to fund two scholarships for graduating seniors, meals at state and national conventions, monetary awards for recipients of State and American degrees and FFA jackets for five new members.
