Perfect fall weather brings big local Mule Day turnout
Six-year-old Brook Aiken of Winterville shows no fear as she climbs the rock wall at Saturday's Mule Day Southern Heritage Festival. Beautiful weather brought out large crowds for the annual event.
Perfect October weather and a low admission fee brought some 4,000 mule fans to the 27th annual Mule Day Southern Heritage Festival all day Saturday.
"We had had a great turnout - lots more local families this year," said Chamber of Commerce President Blake Thompson. "People said they appreciated the lower price, and we finally had good weather."
Thompson said he appreciated the participation of Chamber of Commerce board members, local volunteers, and local businesses to make the annual event a success. "It takes a lot of volunteer effort to make this happen, and we appreciate everybody's help."
By actual count of armbands passed out at the entrance, he said, almost 4,000 paying customers attended from Wilkes County and from all over. From early Saturday, crowds enjoyed the day of mule events, old-fashioned skills, food, games, and music at Callaway Plantation.
Miss Wilkes County Gracen Ware performed her officialduties at Mule Day, handing out the Grand Champion trophy to Ronnie Wiley showing Kate and Pat for owner Joe Milligan.
More than 60 young people took part in the Young Eagle flights across the road at Washington-Wilkes County Airport throughout the day. "We had a great turnout," said Washington-Wilkes airport operator Chris Hughes. "We had so many kids want a ride we had to stop the line at 3 p.m., and we flewtil after 5."
For the main event, Ed Pope III said, some 21 mules and their proud owners came out to show their animals under the leadership of Ellen Day with John Mobley of Union Point returning to judge.
In the Draft Mule category, perennial favorite David Ayers of Homer, Ga. took Grand Champion in Single Mule at Halter showing Kate.
In Pair Mules at Halter, Joe Milligan of Monroe took Grand Champion with Ronnie Wiley showing Kate and Pat.
In Cotton Mules, in Single Mule at Halter, young Benjamin Scoggins of Madison took Grand Champion with his mule James Dumas. Wilkes County mule owner James Callaway took first place in Single Cotton Mule at Halter over 2 years with Blackie.
Joe Milligan won both hitch events driving Kate and Pat, and Benjamin Scoggins took first in the saddle event with his mule Julie.
In the under-15 Showmanship Class, Benjamin Scoggins, 13, of Madison took first place showing his mule James Dumas, and Mikala Pearson, 11, and Gerad Pearson, 8, of Royston, took second and third.
The crowds also enjoyed the First Annual Callaway Cup team horseshoe tournament led by Chamber Board member Casey Jackson. In the afternoon competition, the team of David Roberts and Bill Moseley took the Callaway Cup, with the team of Casey Jackson and William Johnson taking second. Jim Baston and Greg Clay took third.
The Mule Day crowds enjoyed some 41 craft and gift vendors and 16 food vendors, and the vendors were very happy with the crowds, Thompson said.
The Chamber board is already meeting to try to improve for next year. "I've seen more Wilkes County folks here this year than in years," Thompson said. "That's a good sign, and we're going to try to see if we can't improve local participation by making admission free next year, if the board agrees."
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