An “Upper Current River celebration” will take place Saturday, May 11, at Big Rock Candy Mountain in Jadwin.
Hosted by the Ozark Riverways Foundation, the “Rendevous on the Ridge” will feature numerous activities beginning at about 9 a.m., including workshops dealing with basket weaving, spoon carving and dulcimer, as well as crafts, demonstrations, community information and old-time stories, and a children’s story hour and craft time from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
An Old Time River Camp will be set up, and some “old river guides” will be on hand to tell stories and share some history about area rivers.
From 3 to 4 p.m., a discussion on “how to talk Ozark in seven simple steps” will be delivered by Brooks Blevins, a renowned Ozarks author and professor of Ozarks Studies at Missouri State University in Springfield.
One of the highlights of the event will be a mule jumping demonstration and competition from 1 to 3 p.m.
The day will conclude with a “National Park Radio Concert” from 6 to 8 p.m. (tickets are $20 apiece).
MULE JUMPING
Mule jumping began long ago when raccoon hunters taught their mules to jump fences during hunts. The riders would dismount and climb over the fence, place a blanket on the fence so the mule could see it, and urge the mule to jump over.
Over the years, mule jumping (also called “coon jumping”) became a popular attraction at county fairs and other gatherings, and several annual events still take place in communities around the Ozarks, including West Plains.
The upcoming competition at Jadwin will feature $2,100 in prize money, split between a novice class and pro class, with United Country Realty as the lead sponsor.
Heading up the competition will be Centerville resident Richie Dement, who has been involved in mule jumping for about 25 years. Dement began with a mule named Clyde, and has competed for the last eight years with a small mule named Pedro, who’s only about 48 inches tall.
Despite his diminutive stature, the 14-year-old Pedro has won numerous competitions, including three at the Missouri State Fair, five at the Ozark Empire Fair in Springfield, two at Pea Ridge, Ark., several at West Plains and a big one in January of this year at the annual Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.
Pedro’s highest recorded jump is an astonishing 61 1/2 inches.
“He’s just a little mule,” Dement said, “but don’t let that fool you. He’s very athletic; he reaches up, and the way he pulls up his back legs to make it over is amazing.”
Dement has competed at the West Plains event for 15 years and was featured in an article in the Wall Street Journal in 2011. He said close to 15 mule jumping teams are expected in Jadwin, with a novice division, split into 52-inch and under and 52-inch and over size categories, and a pro division with no size categories. Prize money on the line will include a $300 purse for the novices and $1,800 for the pros ($1,000 for first place, $500 for second and $300 for third).
“We hope that will draw some good mules,” Dement said. “But it will be a good show for sure.”
Dement said he once saw a famous 16-hand mule named Radar jump 74 inches. The record at the West Plains event is a whopping 67 inches.
Like human athletes, jumping mules all have their own styles. But they have to abide by some rules, including stopping short of the rail before leaping.
“Some of them sway back and forth or twist their ears before they jump,” Dement said, “and some even turn sideways in the air. I have to hold Pedro back, because he’s rather just run and jump.”
Dement (who is also a pastor) frequently does mule jumping demonstrations at church events and other gatherings for a minimal fee. To arrange for a demo, call him at 573-648-2524 or email him at mulejumppreacher@aol.com.
Admission to Rendevous on the Ridge is free, but some of the workshops require a fee.
In conjunction with the event, a Mother’s Day service will be held at the nearby Mount Zion Church at 10 a.m. Sunday, May 12, preceded by coffee and donuts at 9 a.m. and followed by a bring-your-own food river picnic and social hour.
Detailed information about Big Rock Candy Mountain and the Ozark Riverways Foundation can be found online and on Facebook.
