The Mules of North Bend-Anderson Family Show Mules

The Mule Herd-The Anderson Family Mules

If you drove down North Bend Way heading east out of town the past few years you might have noticed some beautiful animals in the field on the side of the road. There they were every day for a handful of years. All 6 of them! Beautiful, powerful, well cared for mules.

And not just any old mules! These were the Anderson Show Mules! 

Who are the Anderson's and why do they have show mules?! Great question!

North Bend Mule Pasture-The Dahlgren Property

See Russ Anderson and his family are from Idaho. But in 2014 Russ got a call from Tanner Electric (a local electric service company) to come be a crew chief for lineman. And since Russ was the right man for the job and with his wife Wendy's blessing he came to work in North Bend on a temporary basis. The problem was, Russ didn't like being away from the mules.

So he did what anyone would do for "his girls" and found a local family that had a pasture available for rent. Russ could move the mules from Idaho and have them close to him as he worked in North Bend. He could check on them every day, feed them, and continue to care for them. As he put it to me, "give him something to do after work" since he was away from Wendy and Trevor (son).

Show Mules or Family

Now these mules are not your typical mules. In fact they had won so many shows in their years and bring joy to so many families that came to see them around the circuit they were celebrities! 

When they first stepped onto that pasture in North Bend, the locals were smitten. People would drive by every day to say hello or just be near them. Often our family would walk the Snoqualmie Valley Trail and go up to the fence line and say hello.

You could always count on them to be there. Rain, snow, or sunshine. Up and down the field each day.

I first approached Russ about doing a story about his family in the spring of summer 2019. I told him I thought his story was incredible and that our town needed to remember how much their family brought joy to town just by being there.

Luckily we had some good talks and he agreed to give me full access to follow him, to film the "girls" and travel with them. 

And Then They Left...

Now this story doesn't have the happiest of endings. In fact for a lot of people in town, the mules leaving are a symbol of a time lost and a town changing. For a lot of people they wondered why a real estate broker would care to know anything about a pasture slated for development and a retired mule herd from out of state.

Well it is pretty easy in my mind to understand.

The Anderson Mules were a treasure of our towns history for the short time they were here. Russ and the mules have no connection to the frustrations that some have with development of North Bend.

Instead what they showed us while they were here was a dedication of a family to take care of their responsibilities no matter what. The Anderson's have had these mules in their family for decades. Their son practically grew up with them. Their family forever changed. They showed anyone who noticed another example of tremendous dedication and Love.

Mules, shows, and Idaho

I would certainly appreciate you taking the time to watch the short film on the Anderson Family Mules. If you have read this far I certainly appreciate that as well. I had so much fun being with the Mules of North Bend and learning of the Anderson Family. They were so kind to let me in to their circle and I'm forever grateful.

Brian Davis

Snoqualmie Valley Real Estate