The Slim’s King of the Trail Ride was held last weekend without the required permits, according to local officials, prompting questions about safety and regulatory compliance.
Sunflower County passed an ordinance outlining requirements for the popular trail ride events in 2023.
Located on 189 acres owned by the Brand family, the event drew hundreds of attendees and numerous vehicles. Organized and promoted by Aubrey “Slim” Smith, the trail ride featured mudholes and extensive riding across the land, located two miles west of Ruleville on Highway 8. Despite its popularity, community leaders emphasized that proper legal procedures were not followed.
Deborah Brand, landowner and mother of Rrell “Bubba” Brand, opened their appearance before the board of supervisors this week with an apology, stating that the event was organized in good faith. “We want to do everything legally,” Deborah Brand said. “We only recently received the guidelines and were not trying to disobey the board or the rules.”
Brand noted that the event had as many as 30 security guards.
As many as 2,000 people were reportedly at last weekend’s event.
District 1 Supervisor Glenn Donald stressed that law enforcement must be made aware of such events in order to make sure that the manpower is on hand to handle the crowds.
County Code Enforcement Officer Percel Moore explained that the event lacked the necessary permits and documentation. “It is pretty straightforward,” Moore stated. “You have to submit an application at least 30 days before the event, provide proof of insurance, bonds from a security company, and certify that security measures are in place. You can’t just have friends or volunteers serve as security.”
Board members confirmed that Sheriff James Haywood had served the organizers with a cease and desist order last Wednesday, a few days before the event took place in spite of the order.
Moore emphasized that failure to follow these procedures could lead to penalties, including fines of up to $5,000 and possible jail time for willful violations. He noted that the sheriff’s department must review and verify all documentation before approving any large event.
“People have trail rides all the time, but they’re organized,” Moore said. “If you don’t follow the process, it’s a violation of the law. If organizers knowingly disobey, they could face serious penalties.”
Donald reinforced that the event did not have proper approval from the county board.
“They didn’t have permission to hold this event,” Donald said. “They need to go through the proper channels and submit the required paperwork before doing anything similar again.”
Supervisor Gloria Dickerson of District 5 added that community fun is important, but safety and legality must come first.
“We want everyone to enjoy themselves,” she said, “but everything needs to be done properly and in accordance with the law to make sure everyone stays safe.”
The officials advised that future events, including a trail ride scheduled for June 7, must be properly permitted and documented well in advance. Moore explained that applications should be submitted 30 days prior to the event and include all necessary details—insurance coverage, tax IDs, and proof of security arrangements.
“The key is to get everything in order before the event,” Moore said. “Once approved, everyone can enjoy the event safely and legally. If not, it could be shut down, and organizers could face penalties.”
The meeting concluded with a reminder that compliance with county regulations is essential to prevent legal action and ensure community safety.
Organizers expressed their willingness to work with authorities and plan to submit the proper paperwork for upcoming events.
