Celebration Mule and Donkey Show 2011

July 12, 2011

Mary Reeves

Mules and donkeys descended on Shelbyville for the 20th great Celebration Mule and Donkey Show l July 7-9, 2011. Some, like the mules trained at Clearview Farms, are local stock and others came from as far as Oklahoma and Texas.

Ronnie Campbell and Agatha pause on a hilltop before finishing the obstacle course at Clearview Farm. (Mary Reeves)
[Order this photo]
Before the mule show, Tyler Hearndon got Hawkeye ready by training on the obstacle course at Clearview Ranch. (Mary Reeves)
[Order this photo]
Clearview Ranch had several mules primed and ready to go to the Celebration Mule and Donkey Show. (Mary Reeves)
[Order this photo]
Don Holland of Oklahoma gives his 2-year-old mule Preacher a chance to stretch his legs before the competition starts at the Celebration's Mule and Donkey show. (Mary Reeves)
[Order this photo]
Rheaetta Wilson and Ardis Rittenberry of the Celebration staff serve burgers and chicken to the mule and donkey exhibitors on the Wednesday before the Great Celebration Mule and Donkey Show. (Mary Reeves)
[Order this photo]
Don King, a vendor out of Cullman,Ala., was at the Celebration to sell his leather goods, from harness to chaps. (Mary Reeves)
[Order this photo]
Harrison Iager, left, of Maryland and Tanner McCuiston of Kentucky, both 9, enjoy their burgers before getting ready tp show their mules. (Mary Reeves)
[Order this photo]
Katrina Fleener reassures Moony, her young miniature donkey jennet, as she gets used to the sights, sounds and smells at the Celebration's Mule and Donkey Show. The show continues through Saturday. (Mary Reeves)
[Order this photo]
Tennessee State Senator Jim Tracy (R) pets Moony(D), a miniature donkey from Murfreesboro. (Mary Reeves)
[Order this photo]
Celebration CEO Doyle Meadows, left, greets Mule and Donkey Show exhibitors Neal and Mary Grace Smith. (Mary Reeves)
[Order this photo]
Terry Kirkland of West Virginia takes his mules for a joy ride the day after coming in second in his driving class at the Great Celebration Mule and Donkey Show last week. Flipper and Dixie and nearly perfectly matched a hard feat to accomplish with spotted mules. Kirkland has been coming to the mule show for 9 years and is already looking forward to coming back next year. (Mary Reeves)
[Order this photo]
The Great Celebration Mule and Donkey Show wasn't just about classes and competition -- it was also about wheeling and dealing. Clay Wilson of Sparta took advantage of the show to let everyone know his mule Daisy was on the market. (Mary Reeves)
[Order this photo]