NATCHEZ — The money is still pouring in from the Nov. 15 Sandy Creek Farms St. Jude Trail Ride.

But even without final totals, Adams County Extension Director David Carter is confident the day was a success.

“Right now we’re at just about $15,200,” Carter said. “But it’s still coming, and I think we’ll see the total somewhere in the mid- $15,500 range. We raised a lot of money.”

That money will all be donated to St. Jude’s Children’s Research hospital to fund research to end childhood diseases.

Carter said 131 total riders and another 250 adults and children came out to the event to enjoy the trail and the evening festivities at Sandy Creek Farms, some from as far away as Jackson and Monroe and Lake Charles, La.

Three chefs were preparing food, with two live bands, an exotic petting zoo also as entertainment.

“The atmosphere was great, the crowd was large and they really seemed to enjoy themselves,” Carter said. “ A lot of kids got to do stuff they don’t normally get to do. How many kids in Natchez get to see a camel or a zebra?”

“And I think the adults enjoyed it just as much as the kids.”

Carter said the Extension Office plans to hold another trail ride next year, and he expects Sandy Creek Farms to be involved again.

“They were very hospitable and helpful,” he said. “It was a perfect location, and the trail was beautiful.”

The rest of the plans for next year’s ride are not set in stone, however.

Carter said they may donate again to St. Jude, or they may find a more local charity like the Natchez Children’s Home.

He said they also might change the events of the day.

“Most people who came to ride the trails, they were out there early and then rode all day, and then a lot of them had to haul their horses home,” he said. “So a lot of them didn’t get to stay for the evening stuff. I’d say about one-third stayed.”

Still, those decisions are days away.

And whether the Extension Office holds even two trail rides next year, Carter is basking in the success of this year’s event.

“Everybody had a blast,” he said. “It was amazingly successful.”