# Why did the scarecrow win an award?

Source: https://silverapuzzles.com/riddles/why-did-the-scarecrow-win-an-award

A classic joke riddle. The answer is a compliment that means two things at once, one of them very literal for a scarecrow.

**Answer:** He was outstanding in his field.

Scarecrows literally stand out in fields.

Hint: A farm pun.

## How to think about it

1. Awards go to people who are outstanding, so expect the word “outstanding” somewhere in the answer.
2. Now think about where a scarecrow spends its life: standing out in a field.
3. Put the two ideas together into one phrase.
4. He was outstanding in his field.

## Why “he was outstanding in his field” is the answer

“Outstanding in his field” is a common phrase for someone who excels at their profession, and a scarecrow is literally out standing in a field all day. The pun lands because both readings are completely true of a scarecrow. Farm puns like this one are a staple of dad jokes.

## Common wrong answers

- **He scared the most crows.** A sensible reason, but it is not a pun, and the riddle is a joke.
- **He had a brain.** A reference to The Wizard of Oz, but it does not explain the award.