CLARK COUNTY, Mo. (WGEM) - Mule rides ranging from age five to 80 took over the arena Friday.

Hundreds of mules and riders have invaded the Clark County Fairgrounds for the 39th annual Clark County Mule Festival.

The event continues on Saturday and there are vendors, live music, a rodeo and of course, mule riding shows.

“The Clark County Mule Festival was founded in 1986 with just some people getting together and having a good time. We really concentrate on our youth as you can see out here today. There’s a lot of five-year-olds running and then we have 80-year-olds running too,” said Mike Schantz, the Clark County Mule Festival president.

Mules are the state animal of Missouri and are hybrids of a donkey and horse.

Organizers say it’s fun to watch riders young and old try to ride the

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