Beautiful weather brings crowds to two festivals as Mule Days, Rayle Ramble fill fine fall weekend
First and second place winners in the Mule Day pie eating contest were Ryan Thomas (left), of Washington, and Katie Pilgrim, of Auburn, Georgia. In all, about 20 entrants consumed pies of various flavors in a matter of minutes to the delight of onlookers and many a sweet tooth. Blake Wilkey (not pictured) of Lexington took third place.
More than 4,000 folks from near and far flocked to two Wilkes County celebrations this weekend, enjoying that old state-fair feeling in perfect October weather.
And a few dozen lucky kids got a surprise airplane ride.
Mule Days at Callaway Plantation, the twenty-sixth annual celebration of times gone by, started Friday afternoon, with all the traditional mule events on Saturday.
Also on Saturday, just a few miles up Highway 78, the Rayle Ramble brought fun, food, and music for family, friends, and visitors from all over.
Headlining at Friday evening's concert and Saturday's Ramble, county and gospel singer Terri Gibbs, along with her husband, David Daughtry, and local music musicians Bill and Chancey Maxwell, and Kevin Armour entertained with help from Heartfelt Productions.
Hundreds of local folks came out to Callaway Friday evening to see the hand-crafted items for sale, and many stayed with lawn chairs and blankets, sitting on the lawn and listening to great local music in the chilly night air.
On Saturday, Mule Day events got underway by 9 a.m. with mule events and competitions under the direction of Dan Corbett and Ed Pope III. Mules from all over the region competed at halter (single and pairs) and hitch classes for teams of four and six mules to the wagon.
John Mobley of Union Point was the mule judge. Grand Champions chosen Saturday included David Ayers' mule Jane in Single Mule at Halter, and Ayers' Mag and Jane in Pair Mules at Halter.
In Cotton Mules, Fesque, owned by Reggie Hilliard of Dearing, took Grand Champion in Single Mule at Halter; and James Callaway of Washington took Grand Champion in Pair Mules at Halter with Blackie and Blue.
Joe Milligan of Monroe, Ga. took first place in both Hitch Events with his mules Kate and Pat.
Curtis Allison of North Carolina provided mule plowing lessons and David Ayers of Homer, Ga. offered wagon rides, Pope said. "They were great!"2006
Other Mule Day attractions included primitive crafters and demonstrations, antique machinery, arts and crafts vendors, food, games and races, a "Guess the Mule's Weight" contest, and more.
As a surprise extra bonus, some 50 kids got to take a short flight from Washington-Wilkes Airport, said Chris Hughes, the airport's FBO. As part of the Experimental Aircraft Association's Young Eagle program, pilot Keith Donker from Evans gave free rides to over 50 kids in his Cessna 182 aircraft, with Washington Kiwanians providing logistic support.
"In case you missed your free flight, the same event will be scheduled for next year's Mule Day," Hughes said.
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