Justin Dahl with some of his competitors playing Donkey Basketball in 2017. Donkey Basketball and other events like this are a fun way to support Watford City Future Farmers of America. (Photo by Judy Jacobson)
After a two-year absence, the Watford City FFA is excited to bring back Donkey Basketball. It will be held at Watford City's Rough Rider Center on Monday, January 14, 2019 starting at 7 p.m. Again, Watford City FFA chapter will receive the proceeds from almost an hour and a half of hooping, hollering and braying fun. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Preschoolers and under are free. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Watford City high school office.
This year the game will consist of 4 teams of 8-12 people. The first match will be the teacher's verses FFA members. The second match will be student council verses the police department. There will be two elimination rounds of 40 minutes each, with a 15-minute intermission. The last game will be a 5-minute playoff between the winners. January of 2017, when they had the last Donkey Basketball event, it was held in the intermediate school gymnasium, now, the much roomier Rough Rider Center will set the stage. At the last Donkey Basketball fundraiser, FFA Advisor Scott Wisness said that he was very pleased with how the community showed up to support the FFA, as part of the proceeds for this event go to support the chapter and its members. Funds from events like this and other fundraisers go towards helping members to attend leadership events and competitions.
Dairyland Donkey Ball is coming from clear over in Chippewa Falls, Minnesota to supply the donkeys again. Each of their donkeys is specially trained to carry their riders in basketball games, baseball games, and races. They are trained to perform in arenas, grass, sand, and dirt. Dairyland Donkey Ball currently does fundraisers in 18 different states. They only operate in the eastern parts of New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming, eastern Indiana plus upper Michigan but they will go to all parts of Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Louisiana, and Arkansas. The business has been a family tradition since 1934. That's three generations, 84 years of donkey training. For information on Dairyland Donkey Ball events, how they care for their animals or to make a reservation visit their website at dairylanddonkeyball.com.
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