Every year during the third full weekend of September, hundreds of contestants and their mules, along with various vendors, and a multitude of spectators gather at the Clark County Fairgrounds in Kahoka, Missouri. This year was no exception, as the 26th Annual Clark County Mule Festival drew large crowds September 16-18, 2011, including 227 contestants, over 300 campers, and near 5,000 people. People come from all over the United States to share their love for Missouri's state animal - the mule. The Clark County Mule Festival has a little something for everyone to enjoy; be it handmade crafts, an art show, a variety of foods, trail rides, a mule rodeo and events, or simply visiting with friends. While official activities don't begin until Friday, many people bring their campers in early to enjoy camping out several nights during the week leading up to the festival. There were also several wagon trains and riders who rolled in through the week.
The Commercial Building and Midway were filled with vendors who sold many crafts and handmade items, including jewelry, quilts, paintings, horseshoe art, and tack. Also on hand for purchase were clothing, trailers, and equine care items. Who could forget to mention the delicious foods with burgers, fried fish, funnel cakes, smoothies, tacos, honey, baked goods, and many other foods available, as well.
Friday night started off with 16 riders on four teams putting on a great show playing Mule Polo. The winning team was the "Polka Dot Hats." Team members were Colton Weldon - Ottumwa, IA; Cliff DeJong - Bussey, IA; John Maher - Mt Vernon, IA; and a mystery rider. On hand to congratulate the winners was 2011-12 MRCA Rodeo Queen, Josie Laughlin, from Vienna, MO. By popular demand, the cattle classes returned this year and followed immediately after Mule Polo.
Team Roping: 1st - Mike Wright, Basco, IL & KC Chockley, West Point, IA
Steer Doctoring: 1st - Mike Wright, Chelsea Wright, Basco, IL & Dewayne Cason, Drakesville, IA; 2nd - Mike Wright, Chelsea Wright, and KC Chockley; 3rd - Kevin Coltrain, Newtown, MO, Paul Estes, & Casey Allnut, Galt, MO
Team Sorting: No qualified sorts
Steer Dobbing: 1st - KC Chockley; 2nd Mike Wright; 3rd - Dewayne Cason
Saturday morning started with a trail ride leaving the grounds and heading south with approximately 41 riders and one wagon. The mule show started at 10 am with the Clark County R-1 Marching Band performing one of their marching songs. The Grand Entry followed with many mules, several teams, a presentation of flags and the National Anthem performed by the band.
Saturday Winners were:
Adult Bat & Barrel: 1st - Bill Lipper, Agency, IA; 2nd - Laura Carruthers, West Burlington, IA; 3rd - K.C. Chockley, West Point, IA
Youth Bat & Barrel: 1st - Anna Hartzler, Wayland, IA; 2nd Tyler Torman, Trivoli, IL; 3rd - Kendra Watkins, industry, IL
Adult Musical Carpet: 1st - Melissa Watkins, Industry, IL; 2nd - Randy Salisbury, Newton, IA; 3rd - Colton Weldon, Ottumwa, IA
Youth Musical Carpet: 1st - Kendra Watkins; 2nd - Penelope Cline, Memphis, MO; 3rd - Chris Coltrain, Newtown, MO
Musical Carpet 50 & Over: 1st - Sue White, Havelock, IA; 2nd - Jim Robertson, Wyaconda, MO; 3rd - Janet Strader, Marietta, IL
PantyHose Race: 1st - Dewayne Cason, Drakesville, IA & Charlie Haskins, Boone, IA; 2nd - Chelsea Wright & Mike Wright, Basco, IL; 3rd - John Reed, Albia, IA & Brianna Demoss, Lovilia, IA
Adult Keyhole : 1st - Dewayne Cason; 2nd - Mike Wright; 3rd - John Reed
Youth Keyhole: 1st - Cody Davis, Havelock, IA; 2nd - Anna Hartzler; 3rd - Ariel Rose, Keokuk, IA
Team Barrel Race: 1st - Phineas Eicher; 2nd - Jeff Wilson, Ottumwa, IA; 3rd - Casey Allnut, Galt, MO
Adult Dotty Pardon Race: 1st - Lana Peterson, Springfield, IL; 2nd - Lonnie Borton, Birmingham, IA; Jim Waterhaus, Keota, IA
Youth Dotty Pardon Race: 1st - Ariel Rose; 2nd - Anna Hartzler; 3rd - Aalyah Sytsma, Ottumwa, IA
Adult Hula Hoop: 1st - Cody Weaver, Birmingham, IA & Justin Mercer, Fairfield, IA; 2nd - Samantha Smith, Wapello, IA & Laura Carruthers ; 3rd - John Long, Ottumwa, IA & Tim Craber, Ottumwa, IA
Youth Hula Hoop: 1st - Cody Davis & Kailee Bix; 2nd - Zach Mallonee, Blakesburg, IA & Aalyah Sytmsa; 3rd - Ariel Rose & Angela Riddle, Keokuk, IA
Back to Back: 1st - Melissa & Kendra Watkins, Industry, IL; 2nd - Glenna Schantz, Luray, MO & Shaina Dochterman, Kirksville, MO; 3rd - Cole Basham, Belle, MO & Brianna Demoss
Adult Egg & Spoon: 1st - John Long; 2nd - Sarah Holmes, Havana, IL; 3rd - James Dainty, Havana, IL
Youth Egg & Spoon: 1st - Erica Torman, Trivoli, IL; 2nd - Ryan Coltrain, Newtown, MO; 3rd - Kailee Bix
Team Egg & Spoon: 1st - Kevin Coltrain; 2nd - Chad Brotherton; 3rd - Ed Wintermeyer, Mt Pleasant, IA
Mule Jump (55" & Under): 1st - Chris Coltrain; 2nd - Richard Long; 3rd - Kailee Bix
Mule Jump (56" & Over): 1st - Kevin Coltrain; 2nd - Bill Weaver; 3rd - Charlie Hoskins
Saturday night's rodeo brought in a very large crowd, as usual. The night began with the presentation of flags by Becki Krueger, Kahoka, MO, carrying the American flag; Bethany Davis, Kahoka, MO, the Missouri flag; Christy Hoksbergen, Bussey, IA, the Mule Festival flag; Janet Strader, Good Hope, IL, the Illinois flag; and Pat Coulter, Argyle, IA, the Iowa flag. Carrie Fedderson, Wayland, IA, sang the National Anthem. The VFW Post 4342 Ladies Auxiliary of Kahoka did a commemorative balloon release for the MIA's, POW's, and active persons serving our nation. Announcing the action this year was RW Smith from Adel, IA, with clown Seth Rice from Fort Scott, KS keeping the crowd entertained, as well.
Mule Festival Rodeo winners were:
Bull Riding: 1st - Nick Buford, Donnellson, IA; 2nd - Kyle Redinger, Fairfield, IA
Steer Riding: 1st - Clayton Radcliff, Galt, MO; 2nd - Alex Webb, Humphreys, MO; 3rd - Dakota Peterson, New Boston, MO
Chute Dogging: 1st - Alex Shaw, Kahoka, MO; 2nd - Troy DeJong, Bussey, IA; 3rd - Dayton Archer, Ottumwa, IA
Bareback Mule: 1st - Freeman Schwartz, Macon, MO
Ladies Barrels: 1st - Ashlee Wilson, Ottumwa, IA; 2nd - Chelsea Wright, Basco, IL; 3rd - Sue White, Havelock, IA
Girls Barrels: 1st - Kailee Bix, Ottumwa, IA; 2nd - Anna Hartzler, Wayland, IA; 3rd - Kendra Watkins, Industry, IL
Wild Cow Catch - Cody Weaver, Birmingham, IA & Justin Mercer, Fairfield, IA
Sunday morning started out with a little rain, however, that didn't keep the trail ride from heading south from the grounds with 11 riders. Church services were held in the grandstands led by Tom Rowland from Unionville, MO with the Fellowship of Christian Cowboys. Due to more rain in the forecast, the Grand Entry was not held and events began immediately.
Sunday winners were:
Costume Class: 1st - Erika & Tyler Torman with a Hawaiian Hula theme; 2nd - Lane Anderson & Christy & Sage Hoksbergen, Bussey, IA as the butterfly catcher; 3rd (tie) - Michael Henderson, West Point, IA as Babe and the Blue Ox and Liberty Henderson, West Point, IA as Little Bo Peep and her sheep
Yearling Halter Class: 1st - Cody Davis; 2nd - Rusty Blind, Birmingham, IA
Aged Halter Class: 1st - Deb Garman, Rosehill, IA; 2nd - Nova Cline; 3rd - Aalyah Sytsma
Musical Carpet: 1st - Erika Torman; 2nd - Kalissa Watkins, Industry, IL; 3rd - Christy Hoksbergen
Egg & Spoon: 1st - Melissa Watkins; 2nd - Colton Weldon; 3rd - Cody Weaver
Mud Surfing Participants: KC Chockley, Colton Weldon, Cody Davis, and Cody Weaver
2011 Clark County Mule Festival Royalty
King: Cody Weaver, Birmingham, IA
Queen: Sue White, Havelock, IA
Local elementary school students were encouraged to participate in the festivities by entering a mule coloring contest. The artwork was displayed in the Main Office during the show. Best of Show went to Amber Jenkins, a 4th grader at Revere C-3 in Revere, MO. The winner of the quilt raffle was Sue Evans of Nichols, IA and the winner of the quilt rack raffle was Shelley Flack of Belle Plaine, IA. Chuck Reedy of Arbela, MO won the raffle mule and Andy Coffman of Galt, MO won the saddle.
It takes many volunteers and the help of other organizations to help the Clark County Mule Festival run smoothly every year. The Clark County R-1 FFA helped with parking and shuttles, while buttons were sold by a Relay for Life group and the Clark County Middle School Boosters provided the trash pickup. A big thank you from the Clark County Mule Festival Committee goes out to all the volunteers and help who make this a great annual event, as well as the many contestants, spectators, and vendors who turn out to participate. We hope to see you next year at the 27th Annual Clark County Mule Festival on September 14-16, 2012!
