2019: 930 Miles in a Covered Wagon BY YOLONDA STROUP

Tennessee

Special Olympics, Missouri

2019: 930 Miles in a Covered Wagon by Yolonda Stroup, Lowndes, Mo.

Mules and More Magazine In retrospect, 2019 was a fast moving year: travelling 930 miles in a wagon on 19 trips in 87 days. We drove in eight states (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming) with five mules (Dixie, Jake, Janet, Judy, and Roxie).

Have you ever wondered about what you will do tomorrow? We have decided to live each day to the fullest. We are going to travel while we are physically able with the Lord’s blessings. We have a lot of friends who are no longer with us. We used to break and train, put in long days, and now we drive a wagon because of my knee surgery. He gave us friends, fellowship, and travel to serve Him. The word says if you put the Lord first, He will give you the desires of your heart. He has certainly been good to us.

Our journey began on March 7, 2019, when we left our home in Missouri and hauled 525 miles in 10-1/2 hours to Centre, Ala. It was 19 degrees when we started, so we couldn’t fill our water tanks in our horse trailer for fear of water freezing. But Alabama was beautiful, and we travelled 170 miles through the Talladega Mountain Range, which covers close to 392,000 acres of the Appalachian Mountains. We had to work a four-up mule team for eight days using the pulley system heading to Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery, Ala. We were hosted by the Forney Trail-Blazers. Out of the 13 wagons, three finished: two from Missouri (ours, along with Terry and Janet White), and a third wagon from Alabama, the lead wagon pulled by 18-hand Belgian mules and driven by John and Dennis Coley.

We had some trouble with our new truck’s rear end, however, we made it fine. We shared many hours in the wagon: coffee, snacks, meals, extra parts, coolers, covers, heaters, feed, water, hay, and buckets.

On a mountain-top in Delta, Ala., we had a hot dog feast with all the trimmings. We drove several 24-1/2 mile days. The weather was very versatile (cold and coveralls, sunshine and light jackets) and we had some beautiful days. Jerry said, “I didn’t know there were mountains in Alabama.”

Our next journey began near Jackson, Tenn. We travelled 140 miles in beautiful weather. We were greeted by Brian and Codi Austin on a beautiful, sunny day. We set up camp and enjoyed a potluck meal while meeting the other riders. When the ride began the next morning, a young man was bucked off his horse three times before we got started. One day our mule Dixie was resting and got her bridle hung Jerry and Yolonda Stroup

33 • April 2020 up and almost causing a bad wreck headed downhill. Two guys jumped out and helped us. Wow! We had lots of fun. We rested on Sunday and had church. Steve Tinkersley (Cowboys for Christ minister) brought the message and Jerry also shared some words. In the afternoon, we had a fantastic potluck, resting and visiting. We worked into Columbia, Tenn., for Mule Days which has been held since the 1840s.

Next we headed to Butler, Okla., for the 41st Land Rush Ride where we participated in a nine-day Cloverleaf Ride. Our wonderful hosts Lisa Wright and Lincoln Franklin greeted us on the Ralph Teeter Ranch in Butler. We drove out a different direction daily. The rides were one mile sections (15-20 miles a day) on flat ground and red clay. We had a wonderful Easter service with lots of good food and fellowship. We met Tim and Debbie Layfield who had a wagon with a patio porch, smoker, bathroom, and all the “amenities.” I loved their wagon. We travelled 100 miles on this ride.

When we returned home, we got ready to do Stoddard County Cowboy Church Revival and rode through Mingo Wildlife Refuge at Puxico, Mo., which was three days of driving and night services for about 50 miles. We were blessed to have Dr. Dave Harvey, President of Cowboys for Christ from Texas, to speak at the revival.

Our next outing was to the Special Olympics Ride at River Valley Park, Grassy, Mo., which covered 60 miles in the hills on gravel roads. This ride was an annual fund raiser for Special Olympics hosted by George Cox and others. Herb and Wanda Blattel’s team prepared great food and fellowship. An auction raised $20,000 for Special Olympics.

We were on to Perryville, Mo., to the Old Timers Day Equipment fair hosted by Allen Muench and Davis Farm Supplies. There was a lot of history at this event. We covered 20 miles with lots of antique tractors, hit and miss engines, rock crusher, thrashing machine, sawmill, and a stationary hay baler. We gave rides and watched the machinery work. There was lots of good food, competitions, and other activities. Then, we went to 4J Big Piney Trail Ride with the Cowboy for Christ gathering at Waynesville, Mo. This was about 15 miles on the Big Piney River (a clear, spring-fed river). There were good services, an auction, and seminars. The Laughlin Family, Jerry, Jay, Betty, and Joey, were gracious hosts.

The next big event was Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyo., in July. We covered 50 miles over three weeks doing the cattle drive, four parades, and grand entries. Frontier Days is known as the “Granddaddy of ‘Em All,” and you haven’t seen a rodeo until you have experienced this event. There are pancake breakfasts, rodeos, and 63 vintage carriages pulled in the parades. We haul ‘VIPs.’ We were hosted by J.D. Romsa and family (Beth, Larry, Lane, Quade, Kim, and Blair). We enjoyed lots of good food, auctions, fun and homemade ice cream. Then, we said ‘adios!’

We were on to Sikeston, Mo., where we hauled the Sikeston J-C’s Rodeo Committee in the parade. Then we drove 10 miles giving wagon rides at the Depot Museum in a pioneer covered wagon.

We were looking forward to Clinton, Ark., for the National Championship Chuckwagon Races. We camp at the Buffalo Rock. It’s very hot but lots of fun with over-the-top, thrilling races. We travelled about 50 miles working a three-abreast mule team. There was lots of entertainment, including sales, shows, races, dancing, church, rides, BBQs, fish fries, and climbing up and down rock hills - and big rocks. Dan and Peggy Eoff at the Bar ōF Ranch are great hosts.

Home and barely rested, we headed to Mustang, Okla., for 50 miles of parades, wagon rides and grand entries in the rodeo during Mustang’s

Tennessee

Jacksboro, Texas

Clinton, Ark.

34 • April 2020 43rd Annual Western Days and Open Rodeo. Ms. Paulette Statler hosted us in her great city. We visited Cattleman’s and the Oklahoma Stockyards and met Kelli Payne, manager of the stockyards. We also met Congressman, Samuel Hill and his family. We met chuckwagon cooks Kevin Rommes and Jack Ramey.

We were then back in Missouri for Old Greenville Days, travelling 20 miles hauling a lot of people in a covered wagon. It was a beautiful day filled with was music, food, crafts, and working trade exhibits. Greenville was an old fort town on the St. Francis River.

Our next engagement was Doniphan, Mo., Heritage Days, covering 25 miles in beautiful weather. Schools came for history lessons, exhibits, and wagon rides. There were historical events, costumes, food, “goober peas,” a working blacksmith, and campfire cooking by Dennis and Karen Williams.

We were on to New Madrid, Mo., for 20 miles on the Mississippi River, home of the great earthquake that happened in the early 1800s. A beautiful day sponsored by Bass Pro for a catfish and bass tournament, where the catfish caught weighed 60+ pounds or more. We drove around the levee where barges came down the river headed to New Orleans giving wagon rides.

In October, we head to Jacksboro, Texas, on the 26th Red Steagall Cow

Mules and More Magazine boy Gathering for 11 days, driving 120 miles down the highway. We had great Highway Police support. We were given dinner at Mineral Wells. We turned Weatherford, Texas, “Red,” and attended a Red Steagall concert. We enjoyed good chuckwagon cooking, cowboy church, music, poetry, and fellowship. We also got to see Mr. Steagall’s life-sized bronze statue unveiled in Fort Worth.

We were back home for Thanksgiving, and on to Jackson, Mo., to turn on Christmas lights. We gave rides to look at the lights and many activities in the park covering five miles. Janet Lumsden and her committee did a great job.

In December, we headed to Williamsville, Mo., covering 10 miles doing a Christmas parade, rides, and hauling Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, who gave each child a gift. There were real reindeer on sight. It was cold and the hot chocolate was great! The next rides were in Advance, Mo., where we drove five miles. Fusion Street Ministries and several other churches joined together for this special event. They sang songs, had hot chocolate, cookies, and rides.

On to Mayfield, Ky., for two days and 10 miles of wagon rides. Cartwright Village is a replica of Carson City, Nev., on Bonanza. It has a general store, jail, livery, church, saloon, doctor’s office, bank, hotel, dress shop, and wagon rides. Hugh and Jill Kirby have worked very hard to make this dream come true. Our mules, Jake and Dixie, stayed in the stalls in the livery. If you are in town this time of year, consider touring the village, seeing the lights, and enjoying a covered wagon ride, taking you back in history.

The grand finale came when Jerry hauled an 83-year-old lady who logged with a team of mules to a remote, rural cemetery (covering five miles).

In closing, our Creator has blessed us to live our dreams. Now we look forward to whatever service He has planned for us to do.

Who would have thought that a little boy with a team of goats would get to travel 930 miles in a covered wagon pulled by mules. Jerry’s first team ∙ Jerry and Donnie Statler with a team of goats Jackson, Mo. Janet White, Trail Boss Richard Lee, and Yolanda in Texas

Event Canceled