Community enjoys Mule and Farm Day

Published 2:01 pm Monday, October 7, 2019

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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

Central Alabama Horse Club’s first Mule and Farm Day had something for everyone on Oct. 5.

“For our first one, I think it’s great,” Tina Thomas of the Central Alabama Horse Club said of the turnout.

Thomas enjoyed “seeing all the different horse disciplines and the people coming out with their horses and the mules … trick horses and the vaulters.”

The mule demonstrations showed “the diversity of what all they can do,” Thomas said.

Attendees gathered to watch arena performances or listen to the musical guests perform.

Susi Ellison of Clanton said she and her family enjoyed watching the shows and the opportunity to get information about getting her son John Ross started with riding horses.

John was excited to ride a pony at the event.

Evan Loftis said he was also looking forward to seeing the horses and performances. Evan became interested in horses because his grandmother had some.

On the music stage, Sounds of Faith and Chilton County Peach Pickers band were among the performers.

“I think it’s a good thing for the county,” Carl Headley with Sounds of Faith said. “There are a number of places that have these, and they are quite successful in other areas, so I hope it will be here as well.”

Headley and his wife have been singing as Sounds of Faith for about 14 years. The Chilton County Peach Pickers band formed about four months ago when pickers and gospel musicians from four churches came together to form a group.

“We were playing together at those churches and we are a spin-off of that,” Headley said.

Charity Abbott of Verbena said she was looking forward to “good wholesome family fun” at the event.

One demonstration she enjoyed was someone on horseback shooting at balloons.

“I’ve always been a horse lover,” Abbott said.

She also enjoyed the concession stand.

Sheena Barrett of Verbena said she enjoyed the horse riding and other performances in the arena and the hay ride. She was also glad to see her children enjoying the event.

Young Leah and Cole Miller of Montevallo enjoyed the activities for children.

Cole said the “bouncy house” was his favorite, while Leah enjoyed the pony ride.

McKenzie Miller of Montevallo said she was looking forward to seeing the horse-related activities.

Attendees also browsed the vendors, farm-related equipment displays and the classic cars on-site.

Howard Stamps of the Lay Lake area had brought his 1953 Lincoln for the classic car display.

“I like all the antique stuff and all the arts and crafts,” Howard Stamps said.

His brother Gerald Stamps had brought a display of old engines used to power farm machinery.

Gerald Stamps said her enjoyed collecting them because it was “something different,” and he enjoys being able to take something that is broken and make it work again.

The horse club plans to make the Mule and Farm Day an annual event.

The Central Alabama Horse Club is located at 1010 County Road 453 in Clanton.