Tennessee Mule Skinners Share Their Agricultural Tradition
In partnership with: Tennessee Department of Agriculture
Grady George Jr. was walking into a restaurant when suddenly a little girl barreled into him, giving him a great big hug. He didn’t recognize her, but she revealed how she knew the mule skinner.
The little girl said, ‘You brought your mules to our school and told us all about them! We really liked them and we hope you come back next year,’” George remembers.
Mules are known for their intelligence, and that intelligence can sometimes be interpreted as stubbornness. Years ago, the term “mule skinner” was developed to describe someone who was able to train – or otherwise outsmart – a mule.
See more: Tennessee Equines Range From Walking Horses to Mules
As president of the Middle Tennessee Mule Skinners, George spent four days in the summer of 2021 traveling with his mules to every elementary school in Cannon County to explain how farmers use mules for plowing, riding and other tasks. It’s all a part of the group’s initiative to keep the agricultural heritage alive and share their love of mules with the community.
“People want their grandkids to know about the past and they don’t have a way to show them,” George says. “We can show them by letting them ride or drive our mules.”
The Mule Life
George grew up with horses, but he remembers how his father would borrow a mule from a friend to plow the garden. When George was able to get mules of his own, he carried on traditions of other mule skinners before him including his father.
He now has four mules that he uses in displays and competitions.
Anna Nichols, a member of the Middle Tennessee Mule Skinners, was not initially excited about mules. Nichols grew up around horses and when her partner, Stanley Browning, suggested using mules at their farm, she was hesitant. However, once she got the hang of training and working the mules, she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“They don’t quit, they take care of themselves; it’s just a different mentality compared to horses,” says Nichols, owner of Daylight Acres. “I’ve listened to stories that my dad told growing up about plowing with mules when he was little, and it brings back days gone by. It’s great to keep the traditions alive.”
Not only are the mules hardworking – the animals are known for their toughness and tenacity – but they provide a moment of relaxation. Nichols says she’ll hook up her mules to a wagon and drive around, giving her time to think.
See more: Growing Ag Education in Tennessee
Keeping Traditions
The Middle Tennessee Mule Skinners meet monthly to plan upcoming parades, plows, mule shows, trail rides, wagon rides
and community outreach events. Whenever someone has a large swath of property that needs to be plowed, the skinners get together to work their mules. In fact, the Middle Tennessee Mule Skinners hold the Guinness World Record for most mules simultaneously plowing – 91 mules on George’s farm in 2018.
But most importantly, the group provides camaraderie for people who are equally enthused about their mules and the heritage they’re continuing. Teams will meet at a farm, camp out and ride together for days. George will often bring his family to big wagon meetups, where they’ll have a picnic with other skinners.
“Our association is growing,” Nichols says, citing George’s leadership. “He’s built it back up and worked hard to help promote our mule skinners group, what we do and what we stand for.”
Much of his work has been making his way through his community, chatting with farmers who want to learn more about mules and introducing his team to youngsters.
“I hope there’s somebody who will do that when I’m not able,” George says. “I want the younger people to know and love mules like I do.”
16 Comments
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Mules CAN do it all! My late husband and I had mules, horses, and donkeys and loved them all, but our mules were special.
Late 1940’s Marshall Plan gave Yugoslavia many mules to help with farming
US State Department guy ( from New Yark probably ) went to check on the success of the program
Not a mule could be found on the farms
US guy asked where mules were
“Oh. They are in the mountains breeding “
State Dept guy was very happy 😊
…… mules being used to carry artillery over mountain—-civil war
Growing up that’s what we had on the farm was mules, I road them and we worked and plowed with them. Great fun memories. My cousin Grady George Jr carrying on the tradition.❤️
My Dad Chester Holden always worked .mules and l always help him but he has passed on now and I really miss it and I miss him My name is Doris Holden
Hello, would you know of anyone who raises mules in NE TN? Johnson city, Bristol, Kingsport area? My parents were and raised in JC. I am here visiting family
My grandpa plowed with mules. I would love like go see some while I am here. I am from S. Texas. Have quarter horses. Very few mules in our area. Thank you!
Middle TN was a great center in the early 1900s for the purchase of mules to send to work in the mines in South America. Men traveled the countryside, assembling them in Nashville and sending them off by train.
My grandfather, I.E. Ready, raised them by the dozens on his farm in the Porterfield Community of Cannon Co.
Mules work better than most horses, in my opinion.
I heard the mules from here are used to go down the Grand Canyon
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