Ypulse.com - 'Fence Plowing' Is The New Cow Tipping

(from ypulse.com)
I grew up in the South, but I'll admit, I've never tipped a cow. Talked about it, laughed about it, heard stories of kids who tried to do it (and mostly failed), but never did it. Still, it was one of those things - scary, crazy and seemingly funny to do as a teen or college student (I love animals, please don't be mad PETA). If you were going to tip a cow, it's not something you would attempt alone. Not because cows are huge and could potentially wake up and maybe chase you or just moo really loudly. It's because you wanted your friends there to do it with you and so you and your friends could then have a great story to tell all the kids who weren't there. You see where I'm going...

Now that teens can post video online, they can record crazy stunts for posterity. Part of the reason Jackass is so popular with teen boys is because it taps right into their impulsiveness, love of gross out humor and daredevil nature and desire to impress their friends. The rise of online video has empowered teens boys to create their own stunts and record them (see Dare Junkies). And just as there have always been Jack Ass copycats (some who met very bad fates), if some teens do something other teens think is h-i-l-a-r-i-o-u-s, it will be copied.

Such is the case with "fence plowing." According to a local ABC affiliate site:


One of the most recent rise-to-fame stories is that of Adam Schleichkorn, self-proclaimed inventor of the sport of "fence plowing."

Schleichkorn was visiting family in Florida, happened to see a fence in the post-hurricane aftermath, and thought, "We could run right through it." And run right through it they did.

The "first guy runs through -- just barrels through," he said. "The second guy, my cousin John, gave up halfway, got stuck midway through. I think that was another twist to the comedic aspect."

Their horseplay on Schleichkorn's family's property was initially meant to be seen by a list of maybe 30 friends, but those 30 friends sent it to their friends, and so on. At one point, he retitled his video from "Guy Runs Through a Fence" to "Fence Plowing," garnering thousands more hits on YouTube.com.

It wasn't long before Schleichkorn and his cronies were being mimicked by other boys who saw their video. The difference is, those boys crossed the line between horseplay and public vandalism, resulting in their arrest.

"It really took off around the end of January, when the five kids in Deer Park [N.Y.] got arrested," Schleichkorn said. "They were basically copying my video. & They were doing it to public property, to property not owned by them. I was doing it on my cousin's property and of course & I really have to put it out there: I really don't promote vandalism at all."


Just in case you were wondering, Schleichkorn is now starting his own record label.

You can watch the 20/20 report on "fence plowing" here