East Perry Community Fair and The Jumping Mules

The first time I was asked if I wanted to go watch the mule-jumping contest, I thought it was crazy.  Really to sit on hard bleachers with a kid (then only Lesse) that was only going to sit for about ten minutes, and watch mule jump over a pole…Yeah Okay.  I was drug out to East Perry Community Fair Grounds, I am sure I complained the entire way knowing me.  We arrived at the stands and I remember thinking this many people show up to watch mules jump…WOW.  It might have been about ten minutes into the contest and I soon realized I was DEAD WRONG…  Jumping Mules are cool.  

The goal of the great mule jump is to see whose mule can jump the highest without knocking over the bar.  Mules categorized by height and compete against mules of their same build, each mule has its chance to jump the bar until the bar becomes too high.  

Did you know raccoon hunters were the inventors of the great mule jump?  The riders would dismount climb the fence, place a blanket on the fence so the mules could see the fence, and then coax the mule to jump.  

The jumping mules at the East Perry Community Fair have drawn a crowd for years; in the past as many as 30,000 folks have made way to the East Perry Community Fair.  I can guarantee you will find the stands full the night of the Great Mule Jump.  You may find yourself enthralled in the excitement of watching the mules just barely miss the pole, or even better watch the “stubborn” ones refuse to jump.  I am always amazed to see the excitement on my little jumping mule fans’ faces as she picks their favorite mule and cheers the mule on right up to the end.  

East Perry Community Fair’s (Altenburg, MO) jumping mule contest is held at 5:30 pm on Saturday, September 22.  For updated list of event and breaking news from the, please visit East Perry Fair Events.

EAST PERRY COMMUNITY FAIR  IN ALTENBURG, MO  SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 2012

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
8:00 AM JUDGING OF POULTRY & SMALL ANIMALS
10:00 AM JUDGING OF HALL EXHIBITS
1:30 PM PARADE

2:30 PM OPENING CEREMONIES
3:00 PM PEDAL TRACTOR PULL
4:00 PM 4H & FFA BARROW WEIGH-IN
5:00 PM ANTIQUE TRACTOR PULL
5:00 PM 4H & FFA STEER WEIGH-IN
6:30 PM MUSIC BY PEARL RIVER BAND

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
8:00 AM 4-H & FFA STEER SHOW
8:30 AM JUDGING OF SHEEP & GOATS
9:00 AM RIVER HILLS RUN
9:30 AM 4-H HORSEMANSHIP SHOW
10:00 AM JUDGING OF BEEF CATTLE
10:30 AM DAIRY CATTLE SHOW
11:00 AM JUDGING OF DRAFT HORSES & MULES
11:00 AM SADDLE HORSE SHOW
11:00 AM JUDGING OF 4-H & FFA BARROWS
12:00 PM MUSIC BY WHITEWATER BLUEGRASS BAND
4:30 PM 4-H & FFA SALE
5:30 PM JUMPING MULES COMPETITION
6:00 PM MUSIC BY JACKSON MUNICIPAL BAND
8:00 PM 4X4 TRUCK PULL
8:30 PM ATTENDANCE PRIZES

“The Best Little Fair in the Land”