Mules on parade

Annual celebration in Ralston is a hit a year after the event was largely canceled due to COVID-19

Posted 6/22/21

The parking lot was jam-packed at Jake Clark’s rodeo grounds in Ralston and mule fans filled the grandstands and took up prime positions on a hill overlooking the facility Saturday. Everyone …

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Mules on parade

Annual celebration in Ralston is a hit a year after the event was largely canceled due to COVID-19

Sidney Wells of Payette, Idaho, works the rope to get her mule moving in the open barrel racing competition during the Mule Days rodeo, shortly after participating in the wild cow riding event. Linda Bailey won the barrel racing.

Tribune photo by Mark Davis

Mikey Laurrence tries to rope a calf during the team ribbon roping competition, so his two team members can race on foot to the calf to grab the ribbon off its tail. His mule, Molly, sold at Sunday’s auction for $40,000.

Tribune photo by Mark Davis

Colby Bennett falls from his mount in the wild cow riding event at Saturday’s Mule Days rodeo. The event is one of the fan favorites.

Tribune photo by Mark Davis

Ethan Mills, a 3-year-old from Thermopolis, gets a mule’s eye view of the mule race during the rodeo.

Tribune photo by Mark Davis

Star Whitt, of Big Timber, Montana, prepares to carry the Wyoming state flag into the arena during the opening ceremonies of the Mule Days rodeo Saturday.

Tribune photo by Mark Davis

Bradley DeFrance competes in the mounted shooting race finals Saturday. The riders must navigate the course, shooting balloons as they go.

Tribune photo by Mark Davis

Posted Tuesday, June 22, 2021 10:25 am

By Mark Davis

The parking lot was jam-packed at Jake Clark’s rodeo grounds in Ralston and mule fans filled the grandstands and took up prime positions on a hill overlooking the facility Saturday. Everyone was excited, especially Clark.

With his bushy, white moustache, Clark worked the gates during the rodeo and readied steers with a big smile on his face.

“This is awesome. All these people are the best in the world. They come in here and it’s like a big family,” he said during a break in the mounted shooting competition.

The annual Mule Days celebration was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Only the auction continued last year, but online. The change didn’t matter; folks still supported the sale, Clark said. “It was our best sale ever.”

Last year was a tough year for Clark; not only were in-person Mule Days festivities canceled, he also had a serious fall from a mule that sent him to the hospital.

Clark said it was nothing, irritated to be asked. He refused to even admit the events of last year even got him down.

“I was disappointed, but I don’t get down. Ain’t no big deal, we just had to come back,” Clark said, removing his black, wide-brimmed hat to wipe the sweat from his brow.

It was definitely a great comeback year. Zenna, a mule offered for sale by Bryan Mahoney, was the highest price paid at the Sunday sale at $46,000. Molly, a mule offered by Alena Schafer, sold for $40,000. There were 75 mules consigned for Sunday’s sale, which ended the week-long celebration.

(Editor's note: The caption on the main photograph has been modified to correct the identity of the rider.)