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.“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.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.
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