The Mule Club at the University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine has a new truck to help transport its mule teams around the state, thanks to a donation from MFA Oil. The company donated a 2015 Chevy Silverado outfitted with four-wheel drive, a custom Knapheide flatbed with a headache rack and a recessed gooseneck hitch ball.
Tom Procter, director of safety and maintenance, said the truck, which was once part of the company’s maintenance fleet, had outlived its usefulness to the company.
“The projects and duties our team tackles changed, and we are now using larger trucks that handle heavier loads for maintenance work,” Procter said. “This particular truck no longer suited our needs and was being underutilized, so it immediately came to mind when the Mule Club contacted us about a potential donation.”
Veterinary students in the Mule Club will use the truck to haul the Missouri Mule Team’s trailer to events throughout the Show-Me state. The club’s members are responsible for exercising, grooming and feeding the mules.
Dr. John Dodam, one of the Mule Club’s advisors, was on hand to accept the truck when it was dropped off. “We can’t thank MFA Oil enough for this generous gift,” Dodam said. “This truck is exactly what we need and it will serve us well.”
“We are always happy to find ways in which we can help educate the agricultural students of tomorrow,” Procter said.