By John I. Carney

Staff Writer

An estimated 54 wagon teams, according to park ranger Shane Petty, were at the Henry Horton State Park campground Monday for the annual wagon ride to this weekend's Mule Day festivities in Columbia.

Participants rode in and around the park on Monday, and visited the Nathan Bedford Forrest boyhood home on Tuesday before leaving the park today [Wednesday] to head for Columbia, where Mule "Day" - actually an extended, multi-day festival - will kick up in earnest on Thursday.

Shorty Beaty of Chattanooga, one of three daughters of Ruble Beaty of Crossville, was enjoying her third year on the wagon train.

"We had so much fun," she said, "we had to come back."

Her father was raised around mules, and loves to tell childhood stories of cutting wood for both the cook stove and the heat stove. Shorty used to show quarter horses, but gave them up at some point. Then, when the family borrowed a team of mules to participate in the wagon train, they were immediately hooked, and eventually bought mules of their own.

"This way, the whole family can come along," she said. They enjoy visiting with other Crossville families and meeting new friends from across the state, spending time around the campfire.

"You know, people don't have time for that anymore," she said.

Tanna Norman of Water Valley, Tenn., near Santa Fe, was last year's Mule Day Queen. But don't think she's one of those pageant contestants who'll promote anything. This is her third year to ride in the wagon train, even though it's her first to camp out. Her mule, Festus, makes her laugh.

"He acts like a dog," said Tanna, biting at the strings of her sweatshirt.

An image of Tanna barrel racing appears on this year's program, T-shirts and buttons, a point of pride for family members; it makes Tanna a little self-conscious.

"It's weird," she said.

The pageant is held each March.

Grady George of Woodbury has been participating in the wagon train for four or five years now, but this was the "maiden voyage" for mules Kate and Jane.

"They did just tremendous," said George. He's traveling with his wife, but other family members will join them on Wednesday and as the weekend goes on.

Thursday's Mule Day activities will include a log loading competition at noon, mule races at 2:30 p.m., a log pulling competition at 4:30 p.m. and a bluegrass music festival.

On Friday, there will be an auctioneer contest at 10 a.m., a mule driving show at noon, a gaited mule show at 6 p.m., pony mule pulling, also at 6 p.m., line dancing and clogging, also at 6 p.m., and a liars' contest at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, there will be a pancake breakfast at 6 a.m., a bloodys and biscuits brunch from 9 to 11 a.m., the Mule Day parade at 11 a.m., mule pulling at noon, a draft mule show at 2 p.m., a knife auction at 4 p.m. and a square dance at 7 p.m.

ON Sunday, there will be two different riding mule shows and a gospel singing.

Throughout the weekend, there will be arts and crafts, a flea market and live music.

For more information about the event, go to muleday.com.