09/24/2025
This is a story about how one man, one mule and one minute made a difference in someone’s life and they didnt know the size of the impact at the time. Anyone who knows Deb Racheter of Crest Ridge Saddlery or follows their page knows that lately life has been more than just a little hard. Deb and family have had some trying times as of late and to put it bluntly life has sucked on the home front with a recent terrible mule tragedy, in Debs professional business with issues with trucks and thank goodness she has Brent, Sarah, Travis and the grand boys. Debra is very family oriented and the matriarch of their little tribe. For an unfamiliar someone looking at their family from the outside you would just see the custom saddle business and a bunch of seriousness but if you get to know them you will find the best group of loving and downright hilarious family members who are dedicated and very supportive of one another. Over the years of getting to know Debra from MidWest MuleFest Mary and I went to stay a bit at her place and make some instructional videos for Deb. We got to spend days at her farm as their guests. Sarah her daughter is amazing by the way. Her and husband Travis are raising up two of the neatest boys, Tristan and Wyatt. These are the two young men who always compete at MWMF. They are such gentlemen, super helpful and have great manners. While staying at their farm we got to know them all quite well. Mary and I got to have dinner with the entire family and just had the absolute best time. We ate and sat around and just enjoyed each others company. Had many laughs. Mary even accidentally opened a christmas gift for Rose Melvin. Coffee is important yall…just sayin. We all got a chuckle out of that too. It felt like time had slowed and for lack of a better explanation visiting family back in the 80’s. At any rate back to the point of this story. Life lately has been so hard for this family. It’s taken a real toll on Deb who is an incredibly strong woman and normally always upbeat, cheerful and positive no matter what is in front of them. (For those who dont know - Deb single handed raised up her girls and made a beautiful life for them. Yes there were struggles and hardships but this lady made a life for them to be proud of against all odds and in a time when it was not acceptable for a woman to forge the way. I truly enjoyed getting to know this beautiful family.) So back to the story …Deb who is such a strong character in life was different this year at MWMF. She was there in person but not really into the festivities and refused an interview earlier in the week. I didnt push because I know the hell they have all been dealing with and just moved along. Many times during the day I thought about how they were all there in full force supporting and participating in MuleFest while such turmoil existed just out there at the fringe to fully encompass them yet again when MWMF was over and they returned to their daily lives. I didnt know what to say and at one point just simply gave Deb a big hug. We all need that now and then you know. For someone to just bear hug us and not let go for a good solid ten to fifteen seconds. As the week moved on into the mule fun show that Saturday an unexpected event happened. Mr Ethan Norris of Diamond N Equine had brought his mini mule, Mater, and cart down to MWMF. What Mater was actually there for was the MidWest MuleFest MuleJump but Ethan had been driving Mater around camp and decided he would participate in the mule games also. One of the events set up was poles. Ethan and Mater were awesome and made good time on the course. It was fun to watch them and they even had dust flying off the cart wheels. Then what happened next was a surprise for us all. Down below the announcers stand Ethan and Deb chatted and the next thing we know Mater comes rolling into the arena again but this time with a different driver. IT WAS DEBRA. Now a little back story here. After spending time at their farm I had learned about Deb in her younger days and knew that she drove a wagon. To myself I was thinking oh boy this is gonna be good. And boy let me tell you it was. They blasted off the line and Deb let Mater get into a full run. They streaked down the field and entered the poles like Mater had ran em a million times. They worked those poles in a tight pattern. Deb balanced there on the cart, Mater digging in, reins high, dust flying and cutting so close to the poles a couple times the cart wheels rubbed the poles! Then they were at the end of the pole bending pattern and swung around that last pole to hustle to the finish line and home they came! Mater was flat out moving and Deb pushing him forward! To say the least they were running hell bent for leather! They blew Ethans and Maters previous time. Of course an old wagon hand beat her younger competitor and to boot with his own mule and cart! We had to tease Ethan about it a little and he was a great sport. But this has now sparked yet another new event for MWMF! Carts being incorporated into the mule fun show! So now thanks to Ethan, Mater and Debra we will have a cart division at MWMF. Today is the Wednesday following the end of MidWest MuleFest 2025. Chatting with Deb about an egg incident making breakfast the conversation turned to Ethan, his mini mule, cart and that double 00 back tag non official impromptu pole run. I quote “my two minutes of sheer thrill driving that little mini mule got me out of my funk. I’m going to get one just to enjoy!” And “That was a blast”. So today’s life lesson is this. You never truly know what some small thing you might do can help someone find their spark again. Something like say loaning out your mini mule and cart for an old mule gal to drive through some poles at a mule fun show. It was monumental and returned the laughter and brightness to a woman so deserving of it. Ethan Norris….you and Mater made Debs day and we all enjoyed watching both of you compete with Mater. Even though Deb didnt have an official back tag or entry we still recorded the run. Ethan your kindness made such an impact and has restored her spirit and inspired her. You sir better be helmet, cape, racing wheels and super sonic mini mule speed ready for next year because Debra Racheter is coming for you sir…You and Mater!
