ALTENBURG – The East Perry Community Fair has had a mule jumping event since 1982, but the number of mules participating has been declining in recent years due to a decrease in people owning and jumping mules in the area.
Luke Ponder has taken over as superintendent for the competition and with the help of sponsors he secured, the prize money has been increased from $300 to $2,400.
There will be three classes of mules based on the height of the mule plus a fourth open class where the top jumpers from the other classes will participate.
In addition, there will be a $500 bounty for a mule that breaks the existing world or fair record jumping height.
Ponder has been in contact with jumpers from throughout Missouri and several top competitors plan to attend the event which takes place on Saturday, September 21 at 3 p.m.
The ”Best Little Fair in the Land” will open with a parade at 1:30 p.m. Friday, September 20 featuring several high school bands, floats and other entries followed by the opening ceremony.
The first musical group to take the stage will be Him & Her at 4 p.m. Friday followed by Still Standing at 7 p.m.
Saturday’s music will bring a wide variety of music to the stage beginning at noon with Landon Overbey, Carly Green, Deuce Denninger & Friends, the East End Blend, and Clint Statler each performing hour-long sets.
The Fault Line Band will wrap up the Saturday musical entertainment at 7 p.m. right after the traditional 6 p.m. awarding of attendance prizes.
The starting time of the 4X4 Truck Pull has been moved forward to 6 p.m. Friday’
Saturday at 6 p.m. Saturday the Hot Rod Tractor Pull which will again feature the Illinois Hot Farm Stock Pullers will take to the track.
The carnival rides this year will again be provided by Goldstar Amusements, which is a family owned and operated business with over six generations of history. They will be bringing around 10 rides to Altenburg, including some big rides, as they return to the south after spending the summer in Iowa, Minnesota, and the Dakotas.
As always, the fair will feature the judging of entries in home economics, photography, horticulture, field and forage, 4-H, and FFA departments.
Most of the livestock judging and shows will take place throughout the day on Saturday ending with the 4-H and FFA sale of all types of livestock and at 5 p.m.
This year there will be 20 food and soft drink stands; including some newer selections like freeze-dried candy, hot dogs, fried Oreos, and seasoned fries.
Traditional fair favorites like grilled cheese sandwiches, pork burgers, corn dogs, and funnel cakes will also be returning.
The “Best Little Fair in the Land” is pleased to be able to continue free parking, free admission, and free entertainment, but reminds everyone that having a large crowd in a small town requires patience in dealing with traffic and parking issues.
All fair parking except for livestock trucks and trailers and pulling trucks and tractors must enter the fairgrounds via Poplar Street.
Please follow the directions of the traffic staff and parking attendants who will only be on duty from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on both days.
Arrive early to take in as much of the fair as possible before enjoying your favorite entertainment or event.