FEATURE STORY
Hells Canyon Mule Days
Annual Long Ears Celebration is Fun for Everyone
Article Courtesy of Hells Canyon Mule Days PHOTOS: NWHS
H
ells Canyon Mule Days will be celebrating mules and mule- skinners on the weekend after Labor Day, September 7th, 8th, & 9th. From its humble beginnings in 1981, it has progressed
steadily and is the fastest growing mule show in the Northwest. This annual event draws mule owners and spectators intrigued by this long-eared equine from all over the West and Canada. In 2010, Hells Canyon Mule Days was selected, for the fi fth consecutive year, by American Cowboy Magazine as one of the 101 Great Western Events. Also, in part because of this event, First Lady Laura Bush awarded the city of Enter- prise, OR a Preserve American Community Award in 2008. This year’s mule show will be three full days of events and include classes for every age group and skill level. It is a fun family weekend and young- sters enjoy competing and showing their mulemanship abilities as much as the older, well-honed contestants.
The
gates open at 8:30 am on Friday with a line-up of driving classes
including singles and teams. The afternoon events include the trail class from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm in the warm-up arena and team roping. Highlights of the weekend include the Western Mule Maga- zine Classic Jump Off Challenge and fast action events such as pole bending, barrel racing, mule races, and the Fast Ass Express. Don’t miss Bill Holmes free mule clinic at 9:00 am Saturday and 10:00 am on Sunday for special tips on training your mule. Before the grand entry on Saturday, the popular kids stick mule and boot scramble races are scheduled. These two events are for kids (ages 4-9 years) who are spectators and everyone wins a blue ribbon with special awards to the winner of each heat. During the Saturday afternoon show there will also be a contest for the oldest spectator and the one who has traveled the most miles to attend the show.
32 July 2012 The Northwest Horse Source
www.nwhorsesource.com The weekend is packed full of mule-related happenings; there is
always something to see and do for the whole family. Visitors can enjoy strolling The Green and visiting with vendors, exhibitors and western artists. Tennessee Mule Artist Bonnie Shields is the featured artist at this year’s show. Shields is well known and her talents include drawing, painting, and sculpture. She is a longstanding member of the Cowboy Cartoonists Association. Her mule art can be viewed at the show, as well as on her website at www.
bonnieshields.com. “Video Mike” from Napa Valley, California, will also be part of this year’s show. Visit his booth next to Bonnie Shields in the Exhibitors Barn and order your DVD of this year’s Mule Days and other mule, donkey & horse-related DVD titles. Old World Oxen Living History Company will set up camp. A rare, 1800’s female bullwhacker “Pulls the past into your presence” with gentle 6' oxen, freighter’s wagon and artifacts. Bullwhackin Kass (AKA Sheryl Curtis), sets a camp that takes school kids 150 years back in time and hands-on experiences are lifted off the pages of an 1853 Journal. In the Cloverleaf Hall you will fi nd the Hells Canyon Mule Days Quilt Show. Over one hundred quilts are on display during the event. The Merchants Mall will represent quilt shops with all those “must have/can’t resist” items. The Max Walker Memorial Cowboy Poetry Gathering will start at 6:00 pm Friday evening in the indoor arena. Come enjoy cowboy
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