Press Release 3/26/2020- Mule Days Board

Mule Days

In 1970, Bishop Mule Days Celebration rose from humble beginnings to bring a world-class mule show to the Eastern Sierra. We have become the premier mule show in North America. Our annual event brings visitors from all walks of life: RV enthusiasts, campers, equine enthusiasts, contestants, celebrities, fans and friends. Mule Days has endured through recessions, high fuel prices, devastating equine diseases and the loss of many dedicated, dear friends and volunteers.

Our all-volunteer Board has continued to promote the legacy of our founders: “Anything a horse can do, a mule can do better.” And, we have continued to promote and enhance the local community and tourism-dependent economy.

Mule Days has become a vital part of our local economy by bringing packed hotels and campgrounds during a time that had previously been slow, foot-traffic and visitors raising revenues in our local businesses and government.

Mule Days is estimated to bring multi-millions of dollars in direct spending to the Bishop area. For a tourist-driven economy, this equates to $7 million in economic value for every $1 million spent. Our humble show is honored and proud to be such a vital part of our local economy.

While Mule Days has succeeded, Tri-County Fairgrounds has been struggling. The State has cut much of the funding for county fairs leaving them struggling to remain open. Unfortunately, this has resulted in many fairs closing. Mule Days has long been a partner of Tri-County Fairgrounds providing much needed capital improvements, sponsorships and assisting with repairs. Mule Days is the single largest financial contributor to the Fairgrounds. Mule Days provides labor and facilities for hosting the State High School Rodeo Finals and the Tri-County Fair.

Despite our partnership and the fair hosting events generating much needed income and city and county TOT funds, the fairgrounds is struggling. The reality is, Mule Days cannot exist without Tri-County Fairgrounds and Tri-County Fairgrounds cannot exist without Mule Days. The economic and social benefit of Mule Days and Tri-County Fairgrounds cannot be replaced and should not be ignored. Mule Days is primarily a volunteer-run event; but, we do have a few employees who rely on the success of our event for their income and benefits.

Mule Days is a private, not-for-profit entity and may not be eligible for the stimulus programs related to this pandemic. While we recognize the economic and social benefits of our event, we are cognizant of the impact such an event can have on the health and welfare of the citizens of our small community.

Mule Days has been contacted by many contestants, participants and fans. We have heard your concerns and agree the well-being of our community is paramount. To that end, Mule Days is giving the local, state and federal government time to address this pandemic.

We will continue to do our part to produce a quality event while it is our hope, solutions will be forthcoming and we can ultimately move forward.In the meantime, Mule Days continues to monitor the situation. We realize the decision to continue with our 51st event may be taken out of our hands. If such a decision is made, we will do our mule-minded best to save Mule Days and the fairgrounds for the future.

We want to assure our competitors, fans, campers, RVers, ticket holders and volunteers we have a policy in place to ensure refunds will be made fairly and appropriately. We have also developed a procedure whereby reservations and payments are fully credited to our event in 2021 – our “pay-it-forward” option.

Mule Days wishes to thank our community, fans, competitors, volunteers and attendees for your patience and understanding while we work through this unprecedented time of uncertainty. Your dedication to our beautiful American mule is our strength.

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7 Comments

Rich Kirchner on April 4, 2020 at 4:57 pm

I am’a Past Captain of the TUOLUMNE County Sheriff Posse and we have more time in doing the Annual Motherlode Roundup than Mule Days. Our Board of Directors chose to cancel. Our 62nd Annual event which will result in millions of dollars in lost revenue to Toulumne County.. We put the safety of our citizens and visitors over the income to the community. In essence we did the right thing. I find it ludicrous that your Executive Board cannot make a decision to cancel when the entire state is in lockdown. How can you have your heads buried in the sand and feel it is alright to go against the grain. I had a conversation with several attorney friends of mine and the common comment was “I.hope that the executive board is deep in liability coverage because they will need it to defend the lawsuits that will inevitably result.
I have been an annual participant for some thirty years and deeply regret my future participation
is over. Do the right thing to protect your community and cancel this event. By the. Way is it true that your local hospital has17 beds? How will you check for positives that come to your event? Thank you for listening. I am awaiting your response.
Rich Kirchner, Past Captain
TUOLUMNE county Sheriff Posse

John Shepherd on March 28, 2020 at 9:38 pm

Anyone care to speculate on what Dr Richardson, Dr Brown or Dr Boo might have to say about Mule Days 51?

Rick Deckard on March 28, 2020 at 5:01 pm

Money before people. Mule-headed?

Darlene on March 28, 2020 at 2:13 pm

I am holed up in my home, wearing mask and gloves to go to grocery store and there is even a consideration of holding Mule Days. Sorry, I think the people of Bishop are more important than an event. What we have here folks is the movie Jaws syndrome. Stay open at any cost.

David Dennison on March 27, 2020 at 7:02 pm

Jennifer…if your saying what I think your saying,I agree.
I always looked at Mule Days,the Tri County Fair,and other little Inyo County gatherings as just that.Not some hoping for massive out-of-town tourism money-making events where the locals don’t want to go to anymore.
Maybe I’ve been watching too many “Little House on the Prairie” reruns the last couple weeks.

Jennifer on March 27, 2020 at 3:41 pm

Just a small correction. Mule Days started in 1969. A little heavy on the pitch for money but I’m not a professional fund raiser. Start treating the fairgrounds like an urban business and it will fold. This is Bishop, not a large community. Maybe you could consider what other rural fairgrounds do to be their best and see what works for Inyo/Mono/Alpine counties.

The masked locals on March 27, 2020 at 1:05 pm

Yeah baby, yeah! Mardi Gras, Inyo County style! I suppose this could work so long as they bring their own t.p., face masks, food, hand sanitizer, unemployment checks and big government bailout money to spend on the local community. Look how well this strategy worked for the Big Easy. But, oh crap… that’s right, no businesses are left!!! and all the citizens are dead of starvation and long lines for the ER. Oh well..so long as nobody forgets the sign postings reminding the mules to maintain at least 6 feet social distancing, including the tail. Of course the crowds that attend will ignore this requirement because of the herd immunity approach to addressing small town cures for this virus. Hey, we could even invite Gavin to be the Grand Marshall!