This year the Clark County Fairgrounds were filled with 189 Campers. On Friday afternoon, a camper drawing was held and the winner was Brenda Steele of Wyaconda, Mo.
The area elementary schools also participated in a mule coloring page contest again this year, which were put on display for the weekend.
On Wednesday six wagon teams traveled to the Clark County Nursing Home to parade by the residents for them to see. Wagon teams also visited students at the Indian Pride Learning Center.
New this year at the Mule Festival was an outdoor movie played in front of the grandstands. The special feature was “Two Mules for Sister Sara”. A big thank you to Adam Newell with Paul Insurance who set up the screen and equipment for the movie to be viewed.
On Thursday a Mule Show warmup started at 4 pm in front of the grandstand for everyone to enjoy playing and watching a variety of games.
The annual camper cookoff was held at 6 pm on Thursday evening. The winner of the chili was Steve Howell of Wayland, Ia; and the winner of the stew category was Rob Hopp of Kahoka, Mo. Both winners won a free camping pass to next year's Mule Festival.
On Friday, mule games started in front of the grandstand at 11 am and everyone had a great time watching and playing the games. The St. Francisville Masonic Lodge hosted a fish fry on Friday and Saturday night for everyone to enjoy.
Before the start of the cattle classes members of the local Boy Scout Troops were on hand to present the flags while the National Anthem was played.
Everyone in attendance was then able to enjoy watching mule and cattle classes such as break away roping, steer daubing, steer doctoring, goat tying, team sorting, and roping.
Saturday morning the mule show started at 10:00 a.m. with the Clark County Marching Band performing, as well as playing the National Anthem. The Grand Entry followed the band with a presentation of flags, mules, and wagons.
On Saturday night, the VFW Post 4342 Ladies Auxiliary, of Kahoka, MO, held a commemorative balloon release for the MIA’s, POW’s and active people serving in the armed services, right before the rodeo began.
The grandstands and bleachers were standing room only for the rodeo and following the rodeo everyone enjoyed live entertainment to close out the evening.
On Sunday morning church services were held in the grandstands provided by the Fellowship of Christian Cowboys.
The big winners of the weekend were Vicki Shaffer who won the queen size quilt and the winner of the $500.00 drawing was Jed Soper of Alexandria, MO.
This year's Mule Festival Royalty included Queen- Angela Riddle and King- Phineas Eicher.
Throughout the week festival goers also enjoyed trying to find the golden horseshoe, winners received a variety of prizes. This year’s winners were Kymirah Mann, Sherri Metlzer, Candis Howell, Tasha Johnson and Dan Edmonston.
2023 Clark County Mule Festival Event Results
Thursday, September 14, 2023 Mule Show Warm Up results:
Pole Bending: 1st Place Bella Wright 31.38, 2nd Place Chelsea Stice 33.13, Christy Blind 33.16
Teams Pole Bending: 1st Place Mike Wright 13.43, 2nd Place Jim Bash 14.72, 3rd Place Nick Wierather 16.91
Coon Hunter’s Race: 1st Place Christy Blind 39.37, 2nd Place Chelsea Stice 39.44, 3rd Place Chelsea Stice.
Keyhole Race: 1st Place Christy Blind 12.84, 2nd Place Dewayne Cason 13.16, 3rd Place Bella Wright 13.50.
Wagon Team Pylon Alley: 1st Place Jim Bash 15.90, 2nd Place Mike Wright 16.04, 3rd Place Chad Brotherton, 18.15.
Flag Race: 1st Place Chelsea Stice 14.38, Christy Blind 15.50, Rusty Blind 20.10
Wagon Team Flag Race: 1st Place Josh Gosnell 18.29, 2nd Place Nick Wierather 22.45, 3rd Place Craig Church 23.06
Wagon Team Pantyhose Race: 1st Jim Bash and Christy Blind 13.97, 2nd Josh Gosnell and Phineas Eicher 15.54, 3rd Place Chad Brotherton and Jana Kirchner.
Barrel Race: 1st Chelsea Stice 18.00, 2nd Bella Wright 20.78, 3rd Christy Blind 20.84
Wagon Team Barrel Race: 1st Jim Bash 32.22, 2nd Josh Gosnell 39.66, 3rd Carley Church 47.38.
3-Man Barrel Race: 1st Bella Wright, Chelsea Stice, Christy Blind 21.22, 2nd Cody Blind, Rusty Blind, Christy Blind 23.75, 3rd Chelsea Stice, Christy Blind, Rusty Blind 24.87
Hurdles: 1st Chelsea Stice 14.63, 2nd Christy Blind 15.93, 3rd Cody Blind 21.75
Friday, September 15, 2023 Mule Show Class results:
Musical Carpet 15 & Under: 1st Mabel Ward (age 3), 2nd Caleb Blattler, 3rd Cody Blind.
Musical Carpet 16 7 Over: 1st Christy Blind, 2nd Candace Yoder, 3rd Mindy Ward
Musical Carpet Wagons: 1st Lonnie Schoeneman, 2nd Jim Bash, 3rd Rusty Blind
Pantyhose Open Race: 1st Bella Wright & Cody Blind 12.11, 2nd Mike Wright & Chelsea Stice 13.03, 3rd Mick Lunt & Dewayne Cason 13.75.
Monkey In A Tree: 1st Phineas Eicher & Jonny Petershein 38.71, 2nd Nick, Carmen, & Macie Wierather 41.62, 3rd Rudy Eicher & Phineas Eicher 48.03.
Team Pantyhose: 1st Mike Wright & Chelsea Stice 15.00, 2nd Jim Bash & Bella Wright 15.65, 3rd Larissa Schoeneman & Caleb Blattler 19.22.
Pick-up Race: 1st Phineas Eicher & Johnny Petershein 21.53. 2nd Larissa Schoeneman & Caleb Blattler 21.83. 3rd Ronnie Melton & Kinsley Melton 22.50.
Team Pick-up: 1st Mike Wright & Chelsea Stice 16.92, 2nd Jim Bash & Bella Wright 17.49, 3rd Rusty Blind & Cody Blind 21.91.
Obstacle Race: 1st Levi Rockhold 26.53, 2nd Larissa Schoeneman 34.51, 3rd Ronnie Melton 36.00.
Team Obstacle Race: 1st Jim Bash 22.13, 2nd Rusty Blind 41.66, 3rd Carley Church 52.38
Bat ‘n’ Barrel: 1st Katie Kruse 1.06.59, 2nd Lydia Eicher 1.11.37, 3rd Carmyn Blattler 1.17.01
Sack Race: 1st Justin Hull & Levi Rockhold 43.28, 2nd Lydia Eicher & Kelsey Miller, 3rd Rudy Eicher and Acacia Nelson.
Friday Jump: 1st Lydia Eicher, 2nd Rusty Blind, 3rd Carmen Wierather
FRIDAY Night Cattle Class RESULTS
Steer Daubing: 1st place - Rusty Blind - .82; 2nd place - Johnny Petersheim - 1.88; 3rd place Cody Blind - 3.69
Break Away Roping: 1st place - Rusty Blind - 51.78;
Goat Sticker Dash: 1st place - Bentlee Bohnenkamp - 6.17; 2nd place Pyper McGee - 6.63; 3rd Vivian Mann - 7.75
Womens Goat Tying 16 & Under - None
Womens Goat Tying 16 & Over - 1st place - Chelsea Stice, 18.59; 2nd place Christy Blind - 20.31
Steer Doctoring - 1st place - David Wenke, Josh Wenke, Bubba Mathes - 16.59; 2nd place - Jennifer Weiss, Kelsey Miller, Carmen Wrirather - 30.72
Team Sorting - 1st place Ray Orwig, Chelsea Stice, Mike Wright - 21.72; 2nd place Justin Mercer, Rusty Blind, Dewayne Cason - 22.12; 3rd place Mike wright, Bella Wright, Chelsea Stice - 22.60
3 Head Donkey Sort n Pen - 1st place Jim Bash, Jamie Yates, Candace Yoder - 30.56; 2nd place Rusty Blind, Cody Blind, Christy Blind - 30.81; 3rd place Jim Bash, Christy Blind, Rusty Blind - 30.84
Saturday, September 16, 2023 Mule Show Class results:
Costume Class-Tie: Mackenzie Yoder (Bride & Groom), Lyla, Lena, & Lyzac Teeter (Ballerinas/Dancers), Pyper Megee (Mermaid).
Team Barrels: 1st Jim Bash 30.25, 2nd Josh Gosnell 34.62, 3rd Nick Wierather 35.00
Youth Barrels (15 & under): 1st Bella Wright 21.53, 2nd Cody Blind 22.69, 3rd Carmyn Blattler 22.72
16 & Over Barrels: 1st Chelsea Stice 19.88, 2nd Christy Blind 20.22, 3rd Anna Hartsler 22.87
Team Pole Bending: 1st Nick Wierather 15.53, 2nd Mike Wright 15.91, 3rd Jim Bash 16.00
Youth Pole Bending (15 & under): 1st Cody Blind 25.10, 2nd Bella Wright 25.56, 3rd Carmyn Blattler 26.22
Precision Pull Results: 1st Josh Gosnell with 365 points, 2nd Nick Wierather 300 points, 3rd Tie Between Justin Mercer & Rusty Blind with 300 points each.
Dottie Parton 16 & Over: 1st Christy Blind 46.12, 2nd Katie Kruse 47.85, 3rd Dana Schoeneman 1.20.36
Youth Dottie Parton 15 & Under: 1st Pyper Megee 1.31.47, 2nd Lyzac Teeter 1.33.63, 3rd Arorah Bazine 1.36.47.
Tag to Determine King and Queen-
King placings: 1st Phineas Eicher, 2nd Levi Rockhold, 3rd Ronnie Melton.—KING Phineas Eicher
Queen placings: 1st Angela Riddle, 2nd Katie Kruse, 3rd Dana Schoeneman—QUEEN Angela Riddle
Pantyhose Race: 1st Mick Lunt & Dewayne Cason 12.01, 2nd Larissa Schoeneman & Levi Rockhold 12.44, 3rd Christy Blind & Candace Yoder 13.11.
Jump- Won by Lydia Eicher and her Mule Spirit with a 40 inch jump. Mule went on to jump 50 inches for the finale. 2nd and 3rd Place went to Rusty Blind.
Saturday Night Rodeo Results
Bulls - No winner
Team Barrels: 1st place - Jim Bash- Kahoka, Mo - 31.75; 2nd Place - Mike Wright - Bosco, IL - 39.94; 3rd place - Justin Mercer- Birmingham, IA - 40.75
Team Poles: 1st place - Jim Bash- Kahoka, Mo - 19.29; 2nd place - Josh Gosnell - Montrose, IA - 19.35; 3rd place - Mike Wright- Bosco, IL - 20.45
Steers - No winners
PeeWee Barrels - 1st place - Makenzee Yoder-Brookfield,Mo - 27.32; 2nd place - Lydia Eicher-Montrose, IA - 32.12; 3rd place - Mabel Ward-Maqvon, IL - 38.6
Girls -15 & Under - 1st place - Larissa Schoenmann-Dysart,IA - 21.25; 2nd place - Carmyn Battler-Shellsburg, IA - 21.47; 3rd place - Bella Wright-Carthage, IL - 22.38
Womens Barrels - 1st place - Chelsea Stice-Bosco, IL - 18.91; 2nd place - Erin Bash-Kahoka, Mo - 20; 3rd place - Chrisy Blind-Birmingham, IA - 20.38
Chute Doggin: 1st place - Joe Kruse-Parnell, IA -3.88; 2nd place - Cole Birky-Wyaconda, Mo - 4.88; 3rd place - Dylan Schantz-Kahoka, Mo - 1.02.50
Wild Cow Catch - Cody Wenke & Rudy Eicher
It takes many volunteers and the help of other organizations to keep the Clark County Mule Festival running smoothly every year. The local Boy Scouts helped sell buttons & armbands at the front gate this year; Clark County FFA helped park cars, drive courtesy carts and pick up trash; Clark County Football players helped pick up trash. 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 would also like to thank our community for supporting our endeavors through the years. Remember, you can keep up-to-date with us throughout the year and see pictures from past years by following us on Facebook (Clark County Mule Festival) or visiting our website (www.clarkcountymulefestival.com). We hope to see you next year at the 38th Annual Clark County Mule Festival on September 19, 20 & 21, 2024!