Social:Kool-Aid Man Challenge
Fence plowing, also known as fence popping, is an internet trend and viral prank whereby people, typically teenagers, will run full-speed into a wood or vinyl fence with the goal of busting through the slats.[1] It was later rebranded as the Kool-Aid Man Challenge following a resurgence on TikTok.
Background and original trend
 Fence Plowing (Original upload dated June 9, 2006) |
The internet trend first began in 2006 when Adam Schleichkorn posted a video to YouTube of his friend and his cousin running through intact wooden fence panels. Schleichkorn explained that the fence featured in the video was damaged after a hurricane, and was slated to be torn down anyway. He did not intend to endorse vandalism. Originally titled "Guy Runs Through a Fence", it was changed to simply "Fence Plowing".[2]
By January of 2007, people had begun copying the video, which eventually led to the arrest of five children in Deer Park, New York for vandalism.[2] Ten additional instances were investigated by Deer Park police around the same time,[3] and it became a growing concern for home-owners on Long Island.[4]
The video had garnered over 70,000 views by February, and Schleichkorn was invited to talk about the fad on Fox News and with Maury Povich.[5] The video sparked a larger conversation on teen debauchery, especially in the context of posting videos of otherwise extreme acts to gain popularity and attention.[6] Schleichkorn himself was a critic of the vandalism, and was outspoken on several more news outlets and talk shows. He later wrote about his experiences for a term paper in gradate school.[7]
Fence plowing continued in New City, New York as late as 2009.[8] The trend saw middling usage into the mid-2010s, as reported in areas such as Salt Lake City.[9]
Resurgence
Fence plowing was repopularized on TikTok in 2021, where it became known as the Kool-Aid Man Challenge.[10] It was so named after the modus operandi of the Kool-Aid Man, a mascot known for smashing through walls and fences to deliver beverages to children.[11]
The trend saw a resurgence nationwide in the United States, and cities such as Caldwell, Idaho and Omaha, Nebraska reported up to 15 instances each by November. Each case cost homeowners up to a couple thousand dollars in repairs.[10] In 2023, further damages and arrests were made in Long Island,[12] St. John, Indiana,[13] and Raynham, Massachusetts.[14]
In 2025, fences were damaged in Twin Falls, Idaho[9] and several more incidents were reported in Calera, Alabama[15] and New York City.[16]
References
- ↑ Kilgannon, Corey (3 February 2007). "Teenagers Run Straight Into Fences, and Trouble". New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/03/nyregion/03fence.html.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Fame Could Be a Few Clicks Away" (in en). ABC News. 1 March 2007. https://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=2916728&page=1.
- ↑ "5 New York Teens Arrested for Plowing Themselves Through Fences". Associated Press (Fox News). 2 February 2007. https://www.foxnews.com/story/5-new-york-teens-arrested-for-plowing-themselves-through-fences.
- ↑ "Teen Caught On Camera "Fence Plowing"". wfmynews2.com. 27 March 2007. https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/teen-caught-on-camera-fence-plowing/83-402956791.
- ↑ "Teens misbehaving, for all online to watch" (in en). CNET. https://www.cnet.com/culture/teens-misbehaving-for-all-online-to-watch/.
- ↑ Kilgannon, Corey (13 February 2007). "Teenagers Misbehaving, for All Online to Watch". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/13/nyregion/13video.html.
- ↑ Goodstein, Anastasia (8 March 2007). "'Fence Plowing': The Term Paper". Ypulse. http://ypulse.com/archives/2007/03/fence_plowing_t.php.
- ↑ Lieberman, Steve (21 February 2009). "'Fence plowing' comes at other's expense" (in en). The Journal News: p. 1. https://www.newspapers.com/image/166606026.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Goodell, Eric (10 January 2025). "'Kool-Aid Man Challenge' participants damage Magic Valley fences" (in en). The Times-News. https://magicvalley.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_a2757880-cfa1-11ef-a4f1-cba37c0a5746.html.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Mitchell, Alex (23 November 2021). "'Kool-Aid Man' TikTok stunt has bozos busting through fences". https://nypost.com/2021/11/23/kool-aid-man-tiktok-stunt-has-bozos-busting-through-fences/.
- ↑ Cristantiello, Ross (20 October 2023). "Watch your fences: 'Kool-Aid Man Challenge' hits Raynham". Boston.com. https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2023/10/20/watch-your-fences-kool-aid-man-challenge-hits-raynham/.
- ↑ Cheng, Pei-Sze; Millman, Jennifer (22 February 2023). "‘Kool-Aid Man' Challenge Hits Long Island Fences as Part of Supposed TikTok Trend". NBC New York. https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/long-island-news-6-arrested-in-tiktok-kool-aid-man-challenge-fence-smash/4117586/.
- ↑ "'Kool-Aid Man Challenge' leads to arrest of 4 juveniles in northwest Indiana". FOX 32 Chicago. 16 October 2023. https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/kool-aid-man-challenge-arrest-4-juveniles-northwest-indiana.
- ↑ Sullivan, Mike (20 October 2023). ""Kool-Aid Man Challenge": Video shows people running through backyard fence in Raynham - CBS Boston". www.cbsnews.com. https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/kool-aid-man-challenge-fence-video-raynham-tiktok/.
- ↑ Oselen, Bryce (9 July 2025). ""Somebody's going to get shot": Calera Police warns of new TikTok trend" (in en). WVTM. https://www.wvtm13.com/article/alabama-kool-aid-man-challenge-tiktok-police/65340492.
- ↑ Jose, Chris (16 April 2025). "‘Kool-Aid Man Challenge' hits NYC homes, leaving pricey repair bills". NBC New York. https://www.nbcnewyork.com/staten-island/kool-aid-man-challenge-hits-staten-island-homes-leaving-pricey-repair-bills/6228680/?partner=sailthru.
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