TOP MULE KICKS OFF FAIR HORSE SHOW

His name is Just Plain Fred. And with rider Martha Ann Huck, the mule won top honors in the Great Celebration Mule and Donkey Show in Shelbyville, Tenn.

Just Plain Fred and Huck will open the 10th annual SEMO District Fair's Horse Show Sept. 13. The show begins with a pet parade at 1 p.m. The horse show starts at 1:30 p.m.

Huck, 16, will carry the flag on Just Plain Fred at the opening of the horse show.

In a competition similar to the fair's horse show, Huck showed her mule and won World Champion Tennessee Walking Horse Mule with youth rider.

"All the best gather from all over the United States, and we have the world championship," said Becky Huck, Martha Ann's mother.

At the competition, mules compete in a variety of classes including driving mules, jumping mules, western pleasure mules and Walking Horse mules.

Just Plain Fred belongs to Huck and her dad, Dr. Linus Huck, a veterinarian.

"We bought this mule as a baby," Becky Huck explained. "My daughter has trained it and won."

The Hucks are familiar faces at the SEMO District Fair Horse Show. Linus Huck is the ringmaster.

Last year's fair horse show brought 358 entrants and lasted all afternoon and into the evening. A similar turnout is expected this year.

The pet parade is open to children 12 and under or seniors 60 and over.

In addition, a stick-horse class for children 8 and under will be held. The entry fee is $1. Stick horses will be for sale at a cost of $3. Children may bring their own stick horses.

The horse show is the first big event of the district fair, which officially kicks off Sept. 14.

Sunday events also include a family price special for carnival rides.

At 2 p.m., a free gospel sing will be held. At 3 p.m. the SEMO Fair Pageant will be held.

There is no admission charge on Sunday. A $2 parking charge begins at 11 a.m.

The fair runs through Sept. 19 at Cape Girardeau's Arena Park.