Woodchoppers' Ball 2013

Ever heard of a Woodchoppers' Ball? Neither had we. But sounding like something that should be on a Bucket List, it had to be checked out (and off).

How does one travel to a Woodchoppers' Ball?

On a 4-wheeler, of course!

Our friend Donna won Best All-Around pie for her lemon meringue! 

A band entertained the crowd.* 

So did the free moonshine samples.

A random cute baby smiled for my camera, and I used my friend's horse for a photo op of my own.

*"Woodchopper's Ball, also known as "At the Woodchopper's Ball" is a 1939 jazz composition by Joe Bishop and Woody Herman.  The up-tempo blues tune was the Woody Herman Orchestra's biggest hit, as well as the most popular composition of either composer, selling a million records. (Betcha didn't know that.)

A little boy mesmerized by the huge bonfire.

What is a Woodchoppers' Ball without chopped wood?

And what is a food buffet without a long line?

A tug o' war between Ellisville and Wildwood town folk.

A man put his horse before the cart. Good thing.

Kiddie potato sack races.

Our friends Jeff and Katie celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary.

 I was obsessed with the baby donkey and his little girl.

Jeff and Katie ready to ride on home. Yee-haw!

Someone started this event on their property years ago with 20 people, and this year there were about 300. 

From left: Me, Larry, Jane, Paul, Jeff, Katie, Donna, Mark

New for them this year was chicken shit bingo, which is just what it sounds like: everyone standing around waiting for chickens to poop on their number...what else?

Donna showing off her her prize-winning pie ribbon. (And that goes for your horse, too.)

They had the coolest catapult thingy for the kids.

The baby donkey lost his little girl for a minute. (I really, really want a baby donkey.)

Cute tractors. (Can tractors be cute?)

"Fried, baked, thighs, wings...I'm really not picky."

Attend a Woodchoppers' Ball....