American Mule Museum Fall Newsletter 2013
Meredith Hodges
The American Mule Museum would like to take the time to feature one of our most generous donors and friend Meredith Hodges. Meredith has done so much for the Mule community from her Lucky Three Ranch to her character Jasper the mule. We are proud and honored to have Meredith on our team. Meredith’s Bio Meredith Hodges was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the daughter of renowned cartoonist and “Peanuts” creator, Charles M. Schulz, and Windy Valley Mule Ranch founder, Joyce Doty. Meredith has been associated with horses all of her life, and with mules since 1973. In 1980, Meredith moved to Loveland, Colorado, where she started the Lucky Three Mule Ranch, breeding and training a line of mules that were exceptional in their quality and athletic ability, and producing numerous world champions. Meredith’s mules have competed successfully against horses in breed shows and in dressage and combined training, and she trained the first mule ever to reach fourth-level dressage. Meredith also trained the only formal jumping donkey in the world to date that was able to jump four feet in exhibition at Bishop Mule Days in 1991. Meredith is a respected authority as a riding and training instructor, breeder and promoter of mules and donkeys. Since 1980, she has been an animal inspector, representative and judge for the American Donkey & Mule Society (America’s national mule and donkey organization). Since 1983, she has written the column, “Mule Crossing,” which has appeared in numerous equine publications both nationally and internationally, and has sparked renewed interest in mules and donkeys. Meredith has studied horsemanship with some of the best: Major Anders Lindgren (Swedish Olympic team), Denny Emerson (US Olympic team), Bruce Davidson (US Olympic team), Jim Graham (US Olympic team), Richard Shrake (AQHA Congress judge & international instructor/trainer), Pat Parelli (Natural Horsemanship), and numerous others. Her mules have marched in the 1988 Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena, California, and in the 53rd Presidential Inaugural parade in Washington, D.C. She was instrumental in getting mules accepted in Dressage by the United States Dressage Federation and by the United States Equestrian Federation. In 1990, while considering ideas for her “Mule Crossing” column, Meredith came up with the idea to write a letter from a little mule named Jasper who was abused and confused by humans and feature it in her column. She wrote the letter for her column to remind people that animals also have feelings that need to be considered. The letter proved to be a hit and, in honor of her father and inspired by her mother, Meredith went on to produce Jasper: The Story Of A Mule, which sparked a heartwarming series of books and DVDs that continues to captivate children, while introducing them to mules and donkeys in a favorable, educational and entertaining way. Meredith hopes to open the eyes of the world to the wonderful attributes of these incredible animals, so people can experience the same infectious joy that she has experienced…most commonly called, “Mule Fever.” We encourage you to visit Meredith’s websites at luckythreeranch.com
www.jasperthemule.com www.facebook.com/Meredith-Hodges
SILENT AUCTION 2013 Nearly 100 items were donated and auctioned off at the 2013 Silent Auction to benefit the American Mule Museum. Auction items brought in anywhere from $5 to $2,400. Much larger than expected, organizer Ruby Allen was surprised by the quantity of donations, and asks that all who wish to participate in 2014, begin gathering potential auction items now. We are looking for items with a western flair, and it is helpful if it is “mule” related. Items can be works of art, tack, jewelry, or unique antiques. Already, donations have been provided by well-known artists, and locals interested in helping to build the museum. BENEFIT CONCERT SUCCESSFUL Thanks to Fiddling Pete Watercott, Neil Gelvin and Dave Decker, a successful fundraising concert added a free event to the Bishop Mule Days Celebration and to the museum’s coffer as well. Young cowboys and cowgirls added to the event, by gathering donations, handing out Pete’s Curly Fletcher CD as well as T-shirts donated by Dee Younger of Mountain Apparel for gifts greater than $35. This is the second concert given to benefit the American Mule Museum, and we are grateful to our hosts, Bishop Mule Days Celebration, and to these fine musicians for donating their time and talent.
CONGRATULATIONS TO SADDLE WINNER Congratulations to Keith Paget for his winning bid for the custom built saddle made especially to benefit the American Mule Museum, built by Rick Ericksen of Ericksens Saddlery. Special thanks to Rick for his generous donation. Learn more about his products at
www.ericksensaddlery.com
KIDS PROGRAM The Mule Museum was privileged to be a part of the “ I want to be a Packer!” Kids Passport Program at Bishop Mule Days this year, participating in educating kids about the different uses of mules. Educating the youth of today about the mule, is important to the mule community. This is one of the main purposes for building the museum, a community facility for education and adventure, that families can visit and enjoy together.
Mule Days 2013 Museum Planning Update
On April 14th, the American Mule Museum Site Committee, consisting of Sam Dean, Dick Noles, Greg Allen, and Lou and Marye Roeser, met with Larry Lewis, an architect from Visalia, CA. who is drafting a building site plan for the museum.
The plan delineates a driveway entrance to the Tri-County Fairgrounds on Main Street (Highway 395) in Bishop, CA. It shows expanded parking to accommodate large numbers of passenger vehicles, tour buses and handicapped parking. The museum is expected to attract visitors to the Eastern Sierra on a year round basis.
The proposed museum building is 11,500 square feet with the ability to expand in a second phase as public interest grows. An entrance to the museum with a glass core is designed to draw attention from passing vehicle traffic. A proposed life-size bronze of a mule, or a packer and a mule, will catch the eye of the public as well as real-life mules in the adjoining pasture. Included in museum plans are a reception area, gift shop, film auditorium, public restrooms, archive storage and large indoor exhibit areas, in addition to extensive outdoor exhibits, packing dock and stable, wagon and farm equipment displays.
Exhibits will tell the story of the amazing mule in America from George Washington’s mule breeding stable at Mount Vernon through settlement of the west, California and the Sierra Nevada. Historical memorabilia and the history of Mule Days will be included. The goal is to be a living museum with educational , entertaining programs and live events throughout the year. Some of the proposed activities and events are packing, saddle and driving clinics, Twenty Mule Team exhibits, demonstrations, lectures, films and slide shows, and changing gallery exhibits. Special events for children and teens will also be planned.
As always, we welcome suggestions from our Founding Members. Stay in touch via our
webpage
www.mulemuseum.org and follow us on Facebook (American Mule Museum), Bishop, CA for news and updates.
100 Mule Walk
LAUREN BON AND THE METABOLIC STUDIO PERFORM ONE HUNDRED MULES WALKING THE LOS ANGELES AQUEDUCT October 15-November 12, 2013 July 26, 2013—
On the centenary of the opening of the Los Angeles Aqueduct, Lauren Bon and the Metabolic Studio will perform One Hundred Mules Walking the Los Angeles Aqueduct, a commemorative artist action to connect Los Angeles to its water source. This performative parade of 100 mules will traverse the 240 miles of pipelines and canals that bring water from the Eastern Sierras through a gravity-fed system to Los Angeles, passing through three counties and nearly 50 communities along the way. Mule power shaped the modern West and was a primary force in constructing the aqueduct, an engineering feat that took only seven years to complete despite the rough terrain. The parade will take nearly a month, with public events planned in Bishop, Manzanar, the Owens Dry Lake Bed, Pine Canyon, Neenach, The Cascades, Hansen Dam, and Griffith Park. It will culminate in a Veterans Day Parade down Western Avenue in Glendale to welcome the mules into the City of Los Angeles on November 11, 2013, followed by a ceremony at the Equidome to celebrate our country’s equine labor force—the mule. This commemorative action is a prelude to Bending the Los Angeles River Back into the City, a work that will pierce the concrete jacket of the Los Angeles River and use a sixty-foot waterwheel to reconnect the land to the river that originally supplied water to the city. One Hundred Mules Walking the Los Angeles Aqueduct is an action with a resolution to move forward into the next hundred years with renewed appreciation for this vital resource: Let it be resolved that the citizens of Los Angeles will do better at utilizing this life-giving resource in the next one hundred years! This action is coordinated with the support of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) that has itself been working to make a new century of water delivery happen. About the Metabolic Studio: The Metabolic Studio was formed in 2009 to support the signature projects of Lauren Bon’s artistic practice. The studio team also directs philanthropic support to the people, places, and projects that underpin the long-term goals of Ms. Bon’s work. For additional information, contact Michele Urton at
[email protected] or 213-300-6775.
We here at the American Mule Museum encourage you to get connected with the museums social media. Check us out on the web at
www.mulemuseum.org and don’t forget to friend us on facebook. Just search for American Mule Museum.
American Mule Museum PO Box 395 Bishop, CA 93515
www.mulemuseum.org [email protected]