Iron skillets were greased, mules were shod, and fiddles were tuned for the sixth annual American Mule & Bluegrass Festival, which kicked off Thursday, Sept. 24. Fourth graders explored pioneer skills such as blacksmithing, cast-iron cooking, beekeeping, animal husbandry, and the history of mules. Students also learned about the origins of bluegrass music and enjoyed ice cream churned by a mule. Steve Hall and Friends performed later that evening, and Billy Beech and Friends hosted a fish fry.
On Friday, everyone wore pink to honor Dolly Parton. The craft show began at 10 a.m., along with the American Mule and Music Association Gaited Mule Show. Meanwhile, the city of Shelbyville hosted the Jr. Mule Skinner Education Program in the Champions Arena for hundreds of homeschoolers. The aroma of brisket, beans, cornbread, and spicy apple cobbler wafted through the arena as Jeremy Jones demonstrated old-fashioned chuckwagon recipes. The North American Saddle Mule and Donkey Show followed at 4 p.m., and Stillhouse Reelers performed at 6 p.m.
Saturday brought a similar schedule, including the North American Saddle Mule and Donkey Show, cast-iron cook-offs for adults and juniors, mule-packing demonstrations, the Big Burro Shootout, the Mule and Horse Draft Pull and the Fastest Mule Race. Entertainment included the JamesvStembridge Family Band, The GrassKickers, the Stones River Bluegrass Band and The Borrowed Mules.
A heartfelt memorial tribute was held at 2 p.m. for Marine veteran Aaron Hudson, who died in April 2026. Hudson was a staff member of the American Mule and Music Association. His sons, Mason and Rocker, honored their father while Donavan Chapman sang “Put Me on a Horse Man.”
The American Mule & Bluegrass Festival established a scholarship in Hudson’s honor at First Community Bank. The scholarship will be awarded to a high school senior in April 2027.
Over the past six years, the American Mule & Bluegrass Festival has donated six mules, raising nearly $50,000 for charities. This year, organizers auctioned off Moses, raising $10,000 for Mission Mules Disaster Relief.
On Sunday, pancakes were served before Marty Ray Gordon, founder of the American Mule & Bluegrass Festival, led “Cowboy Church.” Jessica Horton provided music for the service.
Gordon said, “Our youth success is increased when wisdom is passed down to them!” GN
