Cow Chip Throwing Contest Hits New Heights at the Fair
Cow Chip Throwing Contest at the Iowa State Fair – A Flying Tradition!
It’s a classic Iowa State Fair event with a whole lot of aim and just a little bit of stink. Contestants step up, grab a dried cow chip, and hurl it as far as they can in this one-of-a-kind competition that’s part sport, part spectacle, and all fun.
Whether you're in it for the laughs or the long throws, this down-to-earth tradition draws big crowds and bigger personalities.
Transcript
[Emcee] Heads up. There we go. Thank you, Riley.
[Blair Ryan] We're here at Pioneer Hall for a fair favorite, the Cow Chip Throwing Contest. And yes, it's exactly what it sounds like. These contestants are going to fling dried cow manure chips as far as they can.
(Music)
What's the trick? How do you win?
[Julia Wearmouth, Woodward] Well, if I say that, then they'll beat me next year. So you just gotta find a chip that could really cut the wind and feels good in the hand. Right.
(Music)
[Blair] Okay. We just wrapped up your first cow chip throwing experience. You came all the way from Germany. What inspired you to do this competition?
[Annika Bauer, Germany] Well, I've seen it on YouTube and on state fair TV, so I thought, I really I gotta do this, too. It's very Iowan.
(Music)
[Carey Lynam, Creston] You can't win if you don't try. It's my first time in a long time, so I guess I did… This is my second time ever. My friend was trying to tell me how to pick a cow chip. You know, obviously I didn't throw it right. Didn't pick it right.
(Laughter)
[Blair] Give us a tip. Give us a trick to getting it as far as you can.
[Tonie Curran Jr., Lake City] I would say the trick would be it's actually doing, like, a baseball. Or, like, for me, like baseball. Like, for the gals, like softball. But, like, if you're on the outfield, kind of back up and then chuck it.
[Emcee] Heather Hayter and Julie Thielen. There's Patti Dyer. Watch out! 34 for Ms. Pearson. Sophie Davis. She's gonna land her feet in sandals.
[Blair] I'm here with one special dude and very brave contestant, my stepson, Leo. Leo, why are you entering the cow chip competition today?
[Leo Ryan, Des Moines] I think I can throw a baseball pretty good. So why can't I throw a cow chip pretty good?
[Blair] Haylie, first of all, happy birthday. How old are you today?
[Haylie] 12.
[Blair] And was it your birthday dream to throw dried cow manure on your 12th birthday?
[Haylie] Yeah, kind of. I've been wanting to compete in this for a while.
[Emcee] That's a great throw, Buxton. Nice job. Go ahead.
There we go. Heads up.
[Blair] What did you think?
[Luke Hummel, Palmyra, Missouri] It was very fun.
[Quinn Hummel, Palmyra, Missouri] It was fun.
[Blair] Was it harder than you thought it would be?
[Luke] No, it was easier. Easier?
[Quinn] I don't know.
[Blair] Would they do cow chip tossing in Germany?
[Annika] No, I don't think so.
[Blair] Does it gross you out?
[Tonie] No. At least it's not. At least it's not a wet one, so they're all dry.
[Emcee] There you go, Thatcher.
[Julia] Just come and make the chips fly, you know, have fun. That's what the state fair is all about.
[Emcee] Nice. There you go.