A message from Mclain and Merrilee Mecham
We both grew up in Tropic, a tiny town that sits in the valley of Bryce Canyon National Park. We’ve worked in the service industry for most of our lives— hosting people from around the world who come to see all the beauty Bryce Canyon country has to offer.
Mclain had a lifelong dream to host a mule event in Tropic. In May 2016, that dream finally came to fruition in the form of Bryce Canyon Mule Days. Now, 10 years later, the event has grown into a full-fledged celebration of the animals and community we love. Each year gets better and better, and we are so grateful to everyone who makes it a success.
Bryce Canyon Mule Days wouldn’t exist without Tim, Amy, Sam, and Hope Skaling. They have dedicated much of their time and expertise to this event, and their enthusiasm and support is unwavering. We also want to thank Fred Syrett, Klay Chynoweth, and Andy Mortensen for their continuous support. We couldn’t do it without them! We are also grateful for the support from our son, Hunter, and his wife Kallie.
We also want to send gratitude to our many friends who help us every single year, along with all our generous sponsors, Premier Mule Sales, the town of Tropic, and Garfield County. We are blessed in the friends and family department, and we hope you all know how much you mean to us. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!
In Memory of Clint Mecham
In 2017, after a valiant fight with cancer, the world lost a great cowboy.
Clint Mecham spent a lot time on the back of a mule following his hounds across southern Utah. He was an advocate for wildlife conservation, a trusted hunting guide, a passionate houndsman and a true cowboy.
His charismatic personality attracted people to him and helped him develop friendships with people from all walks of life. He was a great example and source of inspiration for many people.
John Wayne said “courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." After Clint was diagnosed with melanoma, he saddled up bravely to the very end. He taught us how to live, and he taught us how to fight.
We miss Clint terribly, life simply isn’t the same without him.
Bryce Canyon Mule Days is dedicated to Clint, along with all the other loved ones we’ve lost too soon. We love you, and we remember you.
Raise money for a great cause
We always wanted Bryce Canyon Mule Days to be a place where people could gather, connect and celebrate; while also supporting an important cause. We’ve lost too many friends and family members to cancer, which is why we felt compelled to create the Bryce Valley Community Cancer Fund.
Proceeds from Bryce Canyon Mule Days go into that fund, which then goes toward helping families who are dealing with a cancer diagnosis or other serious Illnesses. We also sponsor scholarships for local teens, who we know will make the future bright. It’s inspiring to see the generosity displayed at this event— and it reminds us how acts of kindness can truly change things for the better.