BY ADAM HOLT | August 6, 2025

On the evening of Aug. 2, the 2025 Linn County Fair and Rodeo kicked off with the annual demolition derby.

Grandstand Attractions once again put on the derby with five different classes this year. There were two newer classes this year that had not been seen at the derby in the rookie class which featured drivers aged 14-17 and the limited weld class. The other three classes were the bone stock, compact, and hobo/semi stock.

Payouts for all the classes except rookie were $1,500 for first place, $500 for second, $300 for third, and $200 for fourth, the hobo class only went to three places due to number of participants. The rookie class had three payments for the top three places, $800, $500, and $100.

Before the derby started the Linn County Fair and Rodeo crowned their annual Fair and Rodeo Queen. This year there were three candidates who did a total of $31,391 in ticket sales. Kylie Freeman of Blue Mound placed third with $3,440 in total sales while Rebecca Miller placed second with $13,917 in total sales. First place and this year’s Linn County Fair and Rodeo Queen is Maddisyn Ernest of La Cygne who sold a total of $13,934 in ticket sales.

After the coronation the derby started with the bone stock heat. First place went to Les Sime of Ottawa while second place was Wade Gleue of LeRoy. Logan Reed of Parker was third place and Bart Ayers of Fort Scott placed fourth. Eric Freeman of Mound City won the Mad Dog award.

Next was the rookie class and Gauge Cowan of Mound City placed first while Ethan Burk of Mound City placed second. Heidi Freeman of Mound City placed third.

In the compact class it was all Burks. Preston Burk of Mound City placed first while Colt Burk of Blue Mound placed second. Daylonn Burk of Mound City placed third while Jeff Burk of Mound City was fourth. Daylonn Burk also won the Mad Dog award.

In the limited weld class Wyatt Oberly of Appleton City placed first while Mike Oberly of Appleton City was second. Josh Blackmon of Parker was third while Cody Oberly of Appleton City was fourth. Christopher Bownes of Blue Mound won the Mad Dog award.

The final heat in the hobo/semi stock class saw Justin Mahoney of Parker place first. Dallas Higginbothan of Garnett placed second while Tyler Shafer of Blue Mound placed third. Shafer also won the Mad Dog award for this class.