Friday, September 9, 2011

Mule Day on October 8, 2011




Children will enjoy traditional hands-on Southern activities at the upcoming Mule Day October 8. Children will enjoy traditional hands-on Southern activities at the upcoming Mule Day October 8.The list of kids’ activities for October’s Mule Day Southern Heritage Festival is filling up.
The 32nd annual festival on Saturday, October 8, will feature activities aimed at giving children a hands-on connection with Southern heritage with a variety of old-fashioned craft demonstrations, antique farm machinery and tractors, old cars and trucks. “We’ve got so much for kids to enjoy,” said Tourism Director Erin Pollock. “One of the antique trucks makes ice cream, and we’ve got lots of other things for them to do.”
Last year’s big hit for kids was the opportunity to harvest dried corn, shuck it, husk it, and grind it into cornmeal, all using antique equipment under the supervision of local experts.
New to the festival this year will be the participation of several Gospel choirs and authentic seven-note singing, she said. “We’ll also have the Dazzling Dolls twirling group and lots of other entertainment.”
Organizers are still looking for some arts and crafts vendors to sign up early for the event. Vendors can contact the Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce at 706-678- 2013 for more information.
As they have for the last two years, members of the Washington- Wilkes Historical Foundation will be coordinating many of Mule Day’s historical aspects including primitive crafters and costumed docents for the homes and outbuildings.

2010, Mule Day Southern Heritage Festival ready to return for 30th annual celebration Oct.


By KIP BURKE news editor
David Ayers of Hull, Georgia, took Grand Champion trophies with his mules Mae and Molly. David Ayers of Hull, Georgia, took Grand Champion trophies with his mules Mae and Molly.Wilkes County’s 30th annual Mule Day Southern Heritage Festival surpassed all recent observances, organizers say, with more mules, more vendors, and more hands-on fun for children than in years.
“I believe we had a record crowd,” said Tourism Director Ashley Barnett. “It was a gorgeous day and everybody had a great time. The Chamber of Commerce board members did an outstanding job in organizing the festival and making it happen. It was a smooth day, our plans worked out well, and we appreciate all the volunteers and sponsors who made it possible, and especially the support of local families who came out.”
A big hit this year were the handson activities for children, Barnett said. “Thanks to Ricky Callaway, the children got a real feel for working on the farm.”
Porter Barnett, who helped pick, shuck, tote, and hull a load of corn, watches the resulting corn meal pour from the grinder. Porter Barnett, who helped pick, shuck, tote, and hull a load of corn, watches the resulting corn meal pour from the grinder.“The kids have really had a good time picking corn in the field, then shucking it and running it through the hulling machine,” Callaway said. “Then we ground it up and they got to see where corn meal and cornbread and grits come from. They worked hard.”
There were more handcraft vendors and primitive demonstrators on hand than in previous years, she said. “We had 52 vendors, the most in years, and we really appreciate the primitive demonstrators who come out all day for free.”
It was an excellent day for mules, too. “We had a total of 21 mules show, more than we’ve had in the last 10 years,” said the festival’s mule honcho, James Callaway. “Everybody had a good time, and said they want to come back next year.”
Carter Wyatt gets a little help from his dad, Ashley, picking the dried corn at Saturday’s Mule Day. Carter Wyatt gets a little help from his dad, Ashley, picking the dried corn at Saturday’s Mule Day.This year, David Ayers of Hull, Georgia, took Grand Champion trophies with his mules Mae and Molly taking top honors in single mule and pair mules at halter.
In other classes, David Ayers took first in Class II, Single Mules at Halter, two and over with Mandi, while last year’s grand champion Smith Wilson took second with his mule, Kit. Ayers’s Mae and Molly took first in Class IV, while Smith Wilson took first in Class V, pair mules at halter, two and over. L&D Farms took second in Class V with Jack and Jill, while Reggie Hilliard took third with his mules, Pride and Joy.
In Cotton Mule halter Class II, Billy Copeland’s mule, Joyce, took first, while Willie Welborn’s Katie took second, Sam and Marie Levert’s Jessie and Ruby placed third and fourth.
Brandy Bashore took first in Cotton Mule Showmanship, with David Ayers placing second and third with Mae and Molly. Dr. Billy Copeland and his mule, Dot, took top honors for Under Saddle, with Marie Levert taking second on Jessie, and Jackie Copelan and Jim Bob in third.