CLARK
CO. MULE FESTIVAL DRAWS LARGE CROWD
The Clark Co. Mule Festival held September 18 - 20, 2009 drew a
large crowd to see the Mule Show, crafts, flea market, and the
Rodeo. It was held at the Clark Co. Fairgrounds in Kahoka, MO.
People from all over the United States came to see mules in a
variety of contests and races, see the area’s best hand-made
crafts, taste a variety of foods, and go on a trail ride. The
Rodeo on Saturday night was over flowing with people to watch the
events. Best of all was the chance to visit with friends and
relatives, old and new. The fairground was filled with about 371
campers who started arriving on the Sunday before the festival.
There were several wagon trains that came from places such as New
Sheridan, IA, Birmingham IA, and Shelbyville, MO. Over the weekend
there were 202 contestants and their mules participating in the
events to win hand-made trophies, ribbons, and a variety of many
fine prizes donated by area merchants who support the Mule
Festival. The craft barn was filled with may varied and beautiful
hand-made items. Among these were wood crafts, needle work, metal
cut outs, horse shoe art, flower arrangements, holiday crafts,
wildlife paintings, pen and pencil art, t-shirts and sweatshirts,
pet accessories, dolls and furniture, jewelry, rugs, and quilts.
Outside vendors provided items such as Watkins products, decal
stickers, belts and buckles, horse and mule tack, other leather
novelties, caricature artist, steel signs, flowers and pumpkins,
trailer and feed sales, all kinds of shirts, rodeo hats, and a
pony ride. Foods such as sandwiches, plate lunches, desserts,
honey and candy, funnel cakes, mini-donuts, ice cream, taco's,
apple butter, and kettle corn, were available on the grounds.
A fish fry was held on Friday night sponsored by the Fine
Arts Boosters. The Clark County FFA chapter helped with the
parking and shuttles. Buttons were sold by the Relay for Life
group and trash was picked up by the Clark Co. Middle School
Boosters. The Clark Co. Mule Festival committee wishes to thank
all volunteers who helped make this a great event. Area elementary
schools participated in a Mule Coloring contest which was
displayed in the Main Office. The Best of Show winner was Bethany
Lee Boyd of the Revere, MO C-3 school district. She is in the 7th
grade and in Mrs. McCreedy's class. The winner of the quilt was
Susan Duesterhaus of Quincy, IL. The winner of
the saddle was Dave Ferber of Wentzville MO.
The winner of the
saddle bags
was Molh Nolder of Carthage, IL, and the winner of the yearling
mule was
Jace Soper, son of Josh Soper of Kahoka, MO.
The
weekend had an excellent start with the vendor alley opening at
noon on Friday. The fish fry sponsored by the Fine Arts Boosters
was at 4:30. Mule Polo was held in front of the grandstand at
5:30, followed by team roping and penning at 7:00.
A
trail ride was held on Saturday morning and had 61 riders. The
mule show
on Saturday began with the Clark County Marching Band performing
at 10:00
a.m. The band played several songs and the National Anthem. The
grand entry
followed the band with the presentation of flags.
Dennis Lawyer, along with
his camera, was capturing all the action. His photos can be seen
and purchased at www.cowboycalendar.com. Several radio stations
were present, featuring live reports from the festival. Saturday
show results are: Adult Musical tires: 1st - Sue White of Haveloch,
IA; 2nd - Tony Garrett of Floris, IA; and 3rd - Christy Zylstra of
Keosauqua, IA. Wagon Event: 1st - Tony Garrett; 2nd - Geoff Wilson
of Ottumwa, IA and 3rd - Robert James "Crazy Bob" of
Bouton, IA. Youth Musical Carpet Squares: 1st - Colton Weldon of
Ottumwa, IA; 2nd - Billy Hannant of Taylor, MO; and 3rd - Dylan
Waterman of LaGrange, MO. 3 - Legged Race: 1st - Melissa Watkins
of Industry, IL and K.C. Chockley of West Point, IA; 2nd - Christy
Zylstra and Rusty Blind of Stockport, IA; and 3rd - John and Katie
Maher of Cedar Rapids, IA. Youth Panty Hose Race: 1st - Billy
Hannant and Carly Simmons of Mendon, IL; 2nd - Zack Coin and Chris
Coltrain of Newtown, MO; and 3rd - Brandon Schlipman of Mendon,
IL, and Ashlyn May of Camp Point, IL. Adult Panty Hose Race: 1st -
John Maher and Mitch Spinner of Cedar Rapids, IA; 2nd - Kevin and
Clint Kaller of Ottumwa, IA; and 3rd - Mike and Chelsea Wright of
Basco, IL. Team Egg & Spoon: 1st - Geoff Wilson; 2nd - Robert
James; and 3rd - Bee Hamre of Bloomfield, IA. Ladies (50 yrs. and
up) Egg and Spoon: 1st - Janet Strader of Marietta, IL; 2nd -
Paula Marriman of Meredosia, IL; and 3rd - Deb Garman of Rosehill,
IA. Men (45 yrs. and up) Egg and Spoon: 1st - Jim Robertson of
Wyaconda, MO; 2nd - James Dainty of Havana, IL; and 3rd - Garry
Boots of Monticello, IA. Youth Bat & Barrel: 1st - Kelsey
Tomlin of Oskaloosa, IA; 2nd - Ariel Rose of Keokuk, IA; and 3rd -
Dylan Garrett of Floris, IA. Dotty Pardon Youth Race: 1st - Carly
Simmons; 2nd - Emily Lanphier of Bussey, IA; and 3rd - Dully Rose
of Keokuk, IA. Switch-Out Youth Pick-up Race: 1st - Chris Coltrain
and Colton Weldon; 2nd - Ashlyn May and Brandon Schlipman; 3rd -
Randy Riddle Jr. of Taylor, MO and Angela Riddle of Hamilton, IL.
Adult Bat-n-Barrel: 1st - Ashton Krueger of Kahoka, MO; 2nd - KC
Chockley; and 3rd - Bill Lipper of Agency, IA. Adult Dotty Parton:
1st - Duane Cason of Drakesville, IA; 2nd - Ashton Krueger; and
3rd - Troy DeJong of Bussey, IA. Adult Pick-up Race: 1st - Ashley
Lile of Chillicothe, MO and Dalton Howell; 2nd - Kevin and Clint
Kaller; and 3rd - Duane Cason and Dave Roberts of Ottumwa, IA. In
Line Wagon Barrel Race: 1st - Bee Hamre; 2nd - Geoff Wilson; and
3rd - Robert James.
Back to Back: 1st - Melissa and Kendra Watkins; 2nd – Scott
Fedler and Ashlee Wilson; and 3rd - Erika Torman and Greg Johnson
of Trivoli, IL. Small Mule Jump (54" and under) 1st - Chris
Coltrain; 2nd - James Jordan of Carthage, IL; and 3rd - Craig
Church of Revere, MO. Tall Mule Jump ( 55" and up) 1st - Bill
Weaver of Birmingham, IA (jumping 54"); 2nd - Kevin Coltrain
of Newtown, MO; and 3rd - Cody Weaver of Birmingham, IA.
The Saturday night Rodeo began with the presentation of flags and
Carrie Fedderson of Wayland, IA singing the National Anthem.
VFW Post 4342 Ladies Auxiliary of Kahoka, MO held a
commemorative balloon release for the MIA's, POW's and active
personnel serving in the armed services. The Missouri Long Riders
sponsored a Nickel in the Haystack for the children in the
audience. It was a record setting crowd. Rodeo results are as
follows: Bulls: 1st - Ray Eash of Tracy, IA; 2nd - Cody Hartley of
Downing, MO; and 3rd - Chris Denly of Farmington, IA. Chute
Dogging: 1st - Troy DeJong of Bussey, IA; 2nd - Tod DeJong of
Tracy, IA; and 3rd - Kenny Vander Linden of Knoxville, IA.
Bareback Mule: 1st - Ty Thornton of Cambria, WI; 2nd - (tie)
Damian Getchell of Sperry, IA; and 2nd - (tie) Nick Mehaffy of
Danville, IA. Steers: 1st - Zach Coin of Newtown, MO. Ladies
Barrels: 1st - Sue White of Havelock, IA; 2nd - Chelsea Wright of
Basco, IL; and 3rd - Elizabeth DeJong of Tracy, IA. Girls Barrels:
1st - Burgundy Shaw of Revere, MO; 2nd - Emily Lanphier of Bussey,
IA; and 3rd - Kendra Watkins of Good Hope, IL. Wild Cow Catch: 1st
- Zack Hicks of Livonia, MO and Ed Berry of Glenwood, MO. Also
during the Rodeo the crowd voted on the nominations for the first
ever Clark County Mule Festival King and Queen. The winners were:
King - Jim Robertson of Wyaconda, MO and Queen - Janet Strader of
Marietta, IL.
Sunday morning started with an early morning trail ride of 21
riders. Church services were held in the grandstand. The mule show
started at 10:30 a.m. with the Grand Entry. Becki Krueger
presented 'A Tribute to a Mule' and officially retired her mule,
Rosie. Sunday show results are: Costume contest: 1st - Coulter
mule with Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf; 2nd -
Church mule as Winnie the Pooh; other costumes included the Humal
mule with a Renaissance girl; the Schlipman mule as a Piñata; and
the Torman mule as a Genie in a Bottle. Halter class 55" and
under: 1st - Zack Cline; 2nd - Glenna Schantz of Luray, MO; and 3rd
- Craig Church. Halter Class 56" and up: 1st - Charles
Hoskins of Chariton, IA; 2nd - Chelsea Wright; 3rd - Lynn Harter
of Ottumwa, IA; 4th - Mike Wright; 5th - Chris Coltrain; and 6th -
Janet Strader. Team Inline Barrel Race: 1st - Ed Wintermeyer of
Mt. Pleasant, IA, and 2nd - Geoff Wilson. Back to Back Race: 1st -
KC Chockley and Tyler Torman of Trivoli, IL; 2nd - Brandon
Schlipman and Ashlyn May; and 3rd - Ashley Wilson and Kelsey
Tomlin. Panty Hose Race: 1st - Kevin and Clint Kaller; 2nd -
Ashley Wilson and Sue White; and 3rd - Emma Taft of Oskaloosa, IA,
and Deb Garman. Team Mule Pull: 1st - Bill Orton pulling 4500 lb.
a distance of 8 feet; 2nd - Geoff Wilson pulling 4500 lb. a
distance of 20.5 inches; and 3rd - Josh Gosnell. Egg and Spoon
Youth: 1st - Carly Simmons; 2nd - Chris Coltrain; and 3rd - Kelsey
Tomlin. Egg and Spoon Adult: 1st - Christy Zylstra and 2nd -
Brandon Schlipman. Monkey in a Tree: 1st - Christy Zylstra and
Clint Kaller; 2nd - Ryan Van Genderen and Tanner Coin, both of
Harris, MO; and 3rd - Michelle and Greg Johnson of Trivoli, IL.
Wheel Barrow Race: 1st - Clint and Kevin Kaller and Tyler Simpson
of Revere, MO; 2nd - Richard Strader and Greg and Michelle
Johnson; and 3rd - Ashley Wilson team. Mule Jump (55" and
under): 1st - Chris Coltrain; 2nd - Toby Burr/ Rob Nelson; and 3rd
- Kevin Coltrain. Mule Jump (56" and over): 1st - (tie) Ed
Wintermeyer and Mike Wright; and 3rd - Doug Hyatt. Arena Race (17
and over): 1st - Clint Kaller; 2nd - Sue White; 3rd - Ashley Lile;
and 4th - KC Chockley.
This was a very successful year and the Mule Festival Committee
wishes to thank all the many contestants and volunteers for their
participation in the 2009 Clark Co. Mule Festival. We hope to see
you next year at the 25th event on September 17-19, 2010. Happy
Trails!
