>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

ATHLETIC AS A MULE: Jumping is among the events that will be featured at Hells Canyon Mule Days. The popular event runs Friday through Sunday at the Wallowa County Fairgrounds. - File photo

The first Hells Canyon Mule Days was held in 1981. It was organized from a meeting of local ranchers, packers and guides, the Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Forest Service.

The purpose of the meeting was to explore the idea of putting together a new event for the county. Twenty-seven years later it is still going strong.

Organizers say it is the fastest growing mule show in the Northwest.

Sondra Lozier of Enterprise has been Mule Days president since 2003. Lozier said that Mule Days continues to expand in the number of both participants and spectators each year.

She gives credit to the late Max Walker and others who worked so hard on it for years.

She credits its longevity to the community coming together to provide support for the celebration. In turn, she said, the community benefits.

The exposure that comes through the marketing benefits the entire county, Lozier said. All the motels rooms are full that weekend. Some people even fly in for the mule and horse sale, and some people linger in the county longer than just the weekend, she said.

Hells Canyon Mule Days has been selected for the third consecutive year by American Cowboy Magazine as one of the “101 Great Western Events.’’

During the 1981 meeting it was noted that Wallowa County was rich in the history of the inhospitable and steep terrain of Hells Canyon.

The early settlement and development of the Hells Canyon area was accomplished in great part with the mule.

The mule predominantly served as a major means of transportation during those early times.

It was also noted that the mule was tough, intelligent, sure-footed and often misunderstood.

As a result of the meeting, the mule, a mainstay of many Wallowa County packers, was elevated to center stage for the first Hells Canyon Mule Days celebration Sept. 19-20, 1981.

Annual mule show events include classes for every age group and skill level.

The gates open at 9 a.m. Friday with a lineup of driving classes including singles and teams.

The new Dick Walker harnessing demonstration will be held just before noon in the main arena.

Friday night will conclude with the 6:30 p.m. Max Walker Memorial Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

Berry and Amy Krohn’s new mule clinic will be at 9 a.m. Saturday. It will provide tips on training mules.

This year’s program is expanded to include a Dutch oven cook-off scheduled on Sunday. The North Central Idaho Cookin’ Irons Club from Kooskia is overseeing the event.

Other action events include youth classes.

The events include Classic Jump Off Challenge, Pole Bending, Barrel Racing, Boot Scramble, Cowhide Race, Barnyard Jumping and the Fast Ass Express.

Other crowd-pleasing events include Packer Scramble, Wild Cow Milking, Flapjack Race and Mule Races.

At 12:12 p.m., before the grand entry Saturday, the spectator kids can get into the action. For spectator children only, ages 5 to 9, are the Stick Mule and Boot Scramble races.

Everyone wins a blue ribbon, and a special award goes to the winner of each of the two events.

During the Saturday afternoon show there will be a contest for the oldest spectator and the spectator who has traveled the most miles to attend the show.

In addition to the mule show, visitors can enjoy strolling The Green and visiting with vendors, exhibitors and western artists.

This year’s featured exhibitor is Tennessee Mule Artist Bonnie Shields from Sandpoint, Idaho.

Shields is well known for her drawing, painting and sculpture.

Shields is a longstanding member of the Cowboy Cartoonist Association.

In 2005 Shields designed the HCMD official logo, bronze high point awards and show belt buckles.

Shields’ “mule art” can be seen at the show as well as on her website at www.bonnieshields.com.

Other exhibitors include displays of western tack and saddle, antique and collectibles, metal art and even produce.

Also expected there are silversmiths, Indian jewelry, leather goods and spinning.

At the HCMD booth, people can purchase T-shirts, caps, buckles, spurs and chances to win on the mule chip lottery.

The food court will have an array of delicious items.

The Hurricane Creek Grange menu will include breakfast and lunch plus great homemade pies.

This year’s Hells Canyon Days Quilt Show will be held in Cloverleaf Hall.

There will be more than 100 quilts on display for the three-day event.

Ten vendors will represent quilt shops throughout the region and will be selling quilting-related items.

Tickets for this year’s raffle quilt may be purchased for $1 each or six for $5. Tickets are on sale at the Country Quilter, 218 W. Main St. in Enterprise, or at the show.

Also at Mule Days, the Old World Living history will set up camp. There a rare 1800s bullwhacker pulls the past into your presence with gentle oxen that stand 6 feet tall.

There is also an old freighter wagon and other artifacts.

Bullwhacking Kass — a.k.a. Sheryl Curtis — sets up a camp that takes visitors 150 years back in time. Hands-on experiences are lifted from the pages of an 1853 journal. Bullwhacking Kass is sponsored by the Wallowa County Soroptimist Club.

Saturday events include a parade down Main Street. grand marshals Juana Malaxia and Maria Onaindia will be leading the procession of riders, teams, packstrings and past grand marshals (riding in Julie Kooch’s wagon pulled by draft horses).

During the Jim Probert pit barbecue there will be western music performed by No Boundaries.

The mule and horse show will be Saturday. It will be managed by Intermountain Livestock Inc. of La Grande.

An HCMD belt buckle will be awarded for the horse sold for the highest price and for the highest sold mule consigned to the sale.

For sale information call 963-2158 or 800-824-5298.

Daily show admission is $10 for adults and $9 for seniors (60 and older). Children age12 and younger are admitted free when accompanied by an adult.

With admission comes an HCMD Souvenir Admission Button. The button will provide admission for each day. So, if the button is purchased Friday, the Saturday and Sunday shows will be free.

Hells Canyon Mule Days is always the weekend after Labor Day.

For information call Lozier at  426-3271, cell 263-0104, or 888-323-3271. The website is www.hells canyonmuledays.com .