Jumping mules star at East Perry Fair

ALTENBURG, Mo. -- Just as most rodeo events had a practical origin, the East Perry Community Fair's jumping mules competition began in a logical way.

"It started from night-hunting of raccoons so the hunters, riding mules, could jump fences," explained fair publicity chairman Fred Eggers, who said about 30 mules will compete at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the fairgrounds arena in Altenburg.

"Sometimes it looks like the mule isn't going to jump at all, and then he goes over it easily," Eggers said. "It's effortless for them because they have been well-trained. There are three classes, based on size."

With its slogan, "The best little fair in the land," the fair on Friday and Saturday is expected to draw as many as 30,000 people to Altenburg, the population of which is about 350. There is no admission fee, and parking is free.

In addition to the mule-jump, the fair will feature the 4X4 truck pull with two dozen trucks doing about 45 pulls, or "hooks," starting at 7 p.m. Saturday. Throughout the fair, children can enjoy traditional carnival rides.

"It's a traditional country fair with livestock, canning, an antique tractor pull, free entertainment and the charity River Hills Run -- mostly uphill -- 4.3 miles from Wittenberg by the Mississippi River into the fairgrounds," said Eggers. "The runners can just show up at the fairgrounds at 8:30 a.m. Saturday and get rides to the start."

He said the jumping mules and truck pull each may draw more than 2,000 spectators. The fairground is in the 200 block of Church Street in northeast Altenburg, which is on Route A in East Perry County, about 28 miles north of Cape Girardeau via Interstate 55, U.S. Highway 61 and Route C.

After poultry and small animals are judged at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Friday, the 1:30 p.m. fair parade will run through downtown for the opening ceremony at 2:30 p.m. on the fairgrounds stage, where the country-rock band Common Thread of Frohna and Jackson will perform at 6:30 p.m.

Other Friday events will be the 3 p.m. pedal-tractor pull, 4 p.m. weigh-in of 4-H Club and FFA barrows, or swine, and the 5 p.m. antique-tractor pull and steer weigh-ins.

Judging of steers, sheep and goats will be at 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Saturday in the show arena and a nearby barn, the River Hills Run will begin at 9 a.m. and the judging of draft horses, mules and beef cattle at 10 a.m.

The dairy cattle show will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, barrows judging at 11 a.m. and 1950s and 1960s rock'n'roll by The Backstreet Cruisers of St. Louis at 1 p.m.

Eggers said there'll be a big crowd for the draft horse and mule obstacle course at 3 p.m. Saturday, when the animals and their trainers will pull, back and turn a wagon through the maze.

FFA- and 4-H Club-grown livestock will be sold at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the Peoples Bank Beef Show Arena, and the Jackson Municipal Band will play at 6 p.m. The last event will be the presentation of attendance prizes at 8:30 p.m.

Eggers said fans of the jumping mules should note the contest will start an hour earlier this year.

"The change will allow the 4X4 truck pull to begin at 7 p.m. with hopes to conclude by 11 p.m.," he said.

The tractor and truck events again will feature X-Factor pulling sleds from Bungart Motorsports.