Host Guide

Before guests arrive

Prepare the Hootenanny

1. 1

   Connect the crowd’s screen

   Connect the Mac to a television, projector, or second display using HDMI, AirPlay, or your venue’s normal display system. Set macOS to extend the desktop rather than mirror it.

2. 2

   Open the question library

   Choose the folder containing your .hoot topic files. Legacy .ffcategory files remain supported during conversion.

3. 3

   Activate tonight’s animal teams

   Use the Animal Team Roster to add or remove up to 10 teams and set the winning-score target. A newly activated team starts at 0.

Keep private things private

Open the Player Display

Click Player Display or Open HDMI Player Display, move that window to the crowd’s screen, and place it in full screen. Before the game starts, guests see the farm welcome screen while you work privately.

Choose categories and start tonight

Open Categories and choose exactly six playable topics. Preview question availability before confirming. The welcome screen stays visible to the room while you make your selections.

When everyone is seated, click Start Tonight. This begins a clean game session and clears questions used during testing. Team names and current scores stay unchanged unless you start a New Game.

Repeat for each tile

Run a standard clue

1. 1

   Let the chooser select

   Click the chosen tile. Read the question clearly from the console or let the room read it on the Player Display.

2. 2

   Call the first raised hand

   In Spotter’s Call, nominate the team you recognize first. The selected team is visibly marked on your console.

3. 3

   Reveal and score

   Reveal the answer, then choose Correct or Incorrect. The game adds or subtracts the exact tile value and updates the chooser automatically.

One of each per game

Run the special events

Every game schedules exactly one Barnyard Hoot & Howl and exactly one Barnyard Boondoggle at randomized points after the board is more than halfway complete. At least four ordinary clues separate the two interruptions, giving players time to settle in and keeping the events from bunching together.

Barnyard Hoot & Howl — exactly once

When the scheduled Hoot & Howl tile is selected, the crowd initially sees only the event screen. Privately review the random team and challenge. Use Skip & Preview Another as often as needed, Present This Challenge when satisfied, or Return Tile to Board.

After the challenge, the host makes the decision—there is no audience vote. Choose Genuine Try — Award Points when the team makes an honest attempt, even if it is imperfect. Choose Refused / No Attempt — No Points only when the team declines or does not try. Used challenges do not repeat until a game reset.

Barnyard Boondoggle — exactly once

The Boondoggle begins automatically when its scheduled point is reached and at least two active teams are playing. Preview the leading team, recipient, and proposed transfer privately. Show the choice only when ready. If the leader selects Golden Horseshoe, record Hay Bale 1, 2, or 3, then reveal the result on your cue.

Finish with a flourish

Host the Final Challenge

1. 1

   Start Final Challenge

   Choose the final category. The audience first sees current totals while you prepare.

2. 2

   Collect private decisions

   For each participating team, enter its bid or mark it Freeze. Keep answers and bids away from the Player Display.

3. 3

   Reveal and score one team at a time

   Show the final clue when the room is ready. As cards arrive, select a team, enter its bid, mark the answer, and let the screen reveal the updated total.

4. 4

   Show the winner

   When all teams are scored, reveal the winner board and give the room time to celebrate.

Quick help

If something changes mid-game

Need personal help? Email MediaPro Productions.