Why the Mules? Take a Mule Refresher and Learn What’s So Special about Missouri’s State Animal
Often called mankind’s most successful hybrid, mules are the offspring of crossing a male donkey or jack with a female horse or mare. Since they can’t reproduce, mules have been bred one generation at a time for more than 3,000 years. A strong, resourceful beast of burden, the mule can outwork, outpull, outlive and outsmart a horse of similar size and type. In 1995, the mule became Missouri’s official state animal, but the long-eared creatures have been known as “Missouri Mules” long before then. The term, “Missouri Mules,” was used casually until it became famous at the historic 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. At that exposition a six-mule hitch belonging to W. A. Elgin of Platte County swept all competition, and a mule from a Morgan County farm received the $10,000 Mayor’s Award. Newspaper accounts of this show-ring prowess brought worldwide attention to the state’s mule breeders and helped assure that the largest and finest animals would be known as “Missouri Mules.”
Many people assume that the relationship of mules and jennies is the same as that of siblings, but jennies are female donkeys. So, the relationship of mules and jennies is really the same as nephew/niece and aunt. Jenny is a common name but technically a female donkey is a jennet. Popular with farmers and settlers because of its hardy nature, Missouri Mules pulled pioneer wagons to the Wild West and played a crucial role in moving troops, artillery and supplies in several wars. In fact, many of the mules used in World War I were shipped by train from Warrensburg. The mule’s affiliation with Central Missouri dates back to the early 1920s. When the 1921-22 school year began, school officials decided “Normals” and “Teachers” were no longer appropriate nicknames for UCM’s athletic teams. Therefore, the school’s Athletic Committee established a contest that promised the winner a three-year postgraduate subscription of the school newspaper. More than 80 suggestions were received, but the winning entry was submitted by John Thomason of Chilhowee, class of 1924, who felt at least one Missouri team should be known as “Mules.” Central Missouri’s fifth mascot - Mancow - is the university’s first real Missouri mule. The line-back brown mule comes from Paradise Mules in Belle, Mo. It took several months for farm manager Dave Ewing to find the perfect mule. He was determined to acquire the right mule trained to remain calm around big crowds and loud noises - that game cannon gets loud! Mancow the Mule is the second UCM mule to be tall (14.1 hands), a result of her thoroughbred heritage. The university’s first three mules were Shetland Pony breeds. She’s the second mule to be presented to the university as a gift. Erich “Mancow” Muller, ‘88, made a gift to purchase the new mascot. Abbedale, her immediate predecessor, was donated to the university by 1938 alumnus and well-known mule producer, Sam Smiser from Newhall, Calif. The 10-year-old mare mule represented the university at home football games and other events. UCM agriculture students care for her at Prussing Farm, a few miles east of Warrensburg on Division Road. Following her first appearance at the 2004 Missouri State Fair, Mancow saw her first game action, as Central Missouri hosted MIAA-rival Northwest Missouri State on Sept. 11.
Mule #1 - Gizmo, after Wold War II
Mule #2 - Little Mo in the 1950s
Mule #3 - Roscoe in the 1960s
Central Missouri’s Mancow is the only live mascot in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
Top 10 Reasons to Admire a Mule
1 0. Affectionate and loving as a dog 9. Can carry heavy loads, up to 300 pounds 8. Rarely miss when they aim to kick something 7. Jump amazing heights from a stand-still start (go watch a mule jump at a county fair - it’s amazing!) 6. Have a laid-back style and won’t be rushed 5. Valued so highly, once bought sight unseen 4. Inspire attitudes - cum mula peperit (when a mule foals), similar to once in a blue moon 3. Knows when to quit (hence its reputation for stubbornness) 2. Intelligent and not afraid of working 1. Because it became our mascot in 1922, over the skunk, bobcat and hippopotamus! @UCMMULES • @UCMFootballTeam • #teamUCM
Mule #4 - Abbedale in the early 1980s
Mule #5 - Mancow in 2012
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