Like the Old Threshers Reunion in Mt. Pleasant, the Clark County Mule Festival turns the city of Kahoka, Missouri into one big garage sale. But Ginnie and I weren't there for garage “sailing.” We were there to see mules.
If you've never been to the Mule Festival in Kahoka, you owe it to yourself to see it at least once before you die. Put it on your bucket list. It's held every September. I guarantee you'll have one hee haw of a time.
For the festival, Ginnie and I wore our special-occasion “horse shirts” that I had gotten Ginnie a couple of years ago when I took her horseback riding on her birthday. Granted, horses aren't mules, but when you're out for a good time, small details don't matter. The horse shirts were a big hit at the Mule Festival, garnering many friendly comments. A lot of people thought they were mules on our shirts.
Of course, you know that a mule is begot by breeding a male donkey with a female (mare) horse. If you breed a male horse with a female donkey (called a “Jenny”), you get a “Hinny.” Hinnies are usually smaller than mules. Mules and Hinnies are sterile. They cannot reproduce. I thought it only apropos that I introduce Ginnie to a Hinnie, since their names are so similar, and Ginnie is from Missouri.
Note: Mules, although stubborn, are excellent work animals. Contrary to a horse, you cannot overwork a mule. They will simply quit. In the South, mules were quite popular for working tobacco fields, because a mule will not step on a tobacco plant.
The highlight of the Mule Festival is the mule games. There were so many mule-and-rider games that were hilarious to watch. The games started off with a barrel race, where wagons pulled by mules had to wind around a maze of barrels. Fastest time won. Then there was the musical carpet race, similar to musical chairs, only the contestants were riding mules. Then came the mule costume contest. Have you ever seen a mule decked out like a peacock? The Dolly Parton race (use your imagination) was a show stopper. The Precision Pull contest showed off the skill of the driver as well as the strength and response of the mule to the commands of the driver. The women's tag contest determined the Festival Queen, and the mens' Bat-in-a-Barrel, the King. Then there was the Three-Legged Sack Race, Pantyhose race, and the Team-With-an-Outrider, which required great skill and dexterity. The Back-to-Back was so much fun. It was for females—two on a mule. They had to ride their mule, back-to-back, and then switch sides, first with the mule standing and then with the mule walking. There was much braying and screeching by the mules. It sorta reminded me of my high school days when the FFA boys would play “donkey ball.”
But the Granddaddy of all the games, and what everyone in the crowd waited for, was the Mule Jumping Contest. Mules can jump remarkably high from a standing position, as is well-known by anyone who has ever attempted to fence in a mule. The Jumping Contest was a magnificent display of gorgeous, well-trained animals, and patient trainers. It got most people, Ginnie and I included, into wondering if we could own and train a mule. Ginnie said, “No, they train you.”
What's a Mule Festival without food? Ginnie and I stuffed ourselves on rib-eye and pork-chop sandwiches, cheese covered curly fires, homemade ice cream, kettle corn, soft drinks, and gourmet coffee—Kahoka Mocha. Will we go back next year? Yep, as long as Ginnie doesn't get stubborn and want to go to the Rutledge Flea Market instead.
Have a good story? Call or text Curt Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at 319-217-0526 or email him at curtswarm@yahoo.com. Curt is available for public speaking.
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