More than 400 take up axe throwing at fair

    Kendall Teichmeier said he was told not to expect big numbers the first day in his visit to the Chase County Fair with his mobile axe throwing booth.
    That day was Wednesday, Aug. 10, and he had more than 60 take a throw, way more than he expected.
    In all four days, more than 400 people stepped to the line to try axe throwing.
    “There were tremendous crowds all four days. It was phenomenal,” he said.
    He was swamped on Wednesday, even though the color fair brochure listed the axe throwing only on Thursday through Saturday.
    “People told me they saw the story about it (including his Wednesday start) in the newspaper,” he said.
    Anyone 16 and older could throw between 12 and 15 feet from a target.
    Teichmeier would offer tips on throwing closer to the target, and provided a pair of closed toe shoes for those showing up in sandals. His insurance carrier requires the closed-toe shoes, he said.
    Teichmeier is fairly new to the axe throwing business, starting Axe Kickers in Broken Bow last November.
    He said he started the side business because he needed to earn more money. He also works at a seed processing facility in Broken Bow.
    Why axe throwing?
    “I knew it was big. It’s real popular on the east and west coasts. And I thought, why not mobile?” he said.
    “And I like to talk to people,” he added.
    He has friends who do “very well” with their mobile golf putting businesses that are booked at fairs and other events, so he gave it a try.
    He attended the fair board convention in January, and by the end of that month, had already booked 40 dates.
    The Chase County Fair was his third booking, he said.
    “It was way beyond what I expected” at the Chase County Fair, he said.
    Friday was his biggest day overall.
    “It wasn’t as hot Friday,” he said.
    Teichmeier hopes to be back for the 2023 fair, when there could be an axe throwing tournament if the fair board agrees, he said.
    He said several people he talked with last week would really like to see a tournament set up.
    In Broken Bow, he is in the process of putting up a building for Axe Kickers with four lanes for throwing. People will be able to rent lanes by the hour, he said.
    He plans to eventually add a Ninja star throwing lane, too.