APRIL 2011

A few thoughts…….

Shyanne Lopp

What a busy, fun time the TDA members can be experiencing over the next few months….. many of our members participated at Columbia’s Mini Mania – either as exhibitors or cheerleaders – this past weekend, and what a fun time we all had! As quoted by Dayle Haworth (who has not shown in several years), “All the classes were full with some great competitors from our donkey club. It was the most fun we have ever had at a donkey show and a great way for Joe and I to jump back into showing once again.  The judging was fair, and the atmosphere was filled with camaraderie. ...Even with the cold weather the atmosphere at this show really warmed my heart. If all shows could be like this one we would never stop showing again!”

The show results have been posted on the TDA website at: http://www.tennessee-donkeys.com/MuleDayMiniManiaShowResults2011.html

NEW MEMBERS

Please welcome/welcome back these new members:

• Emily Grace Lewis (youth)   Lewisburg, TN            dad’s email: scottlewis2@charter.net
• The Willis Family (Steve, Treva, Breanna, Cammie, & Deedra) of Mt. Juliet, TN trevas5kids@yahoo.com
• Martha Brown    J&M Farm of Smiths Grove, KY  mflbro@aol.com
• Joe Thomas  ThomAss Jackstock of Readyville, TN jgthomas@mtsu.edu
• Julia & Donnie Vaughn of Nashville, TN jkvaughn45@gmail.com
• Sara Kellog   Red Pine Mountain Farm of Danville, VT  redpinemountain@gmail.com

In this months ALL EARS:
Spring Meeting
Trail Ride
Cheers for Ears
Donkey Day Expo
Novice Day
Cicada's?
Bedford County Fair Show
New Show!
Mission Statement

We will chat again soon!

Diana

Spring Meeting

Attendance was low at this years Spring Meeting, which can only mean one thing…. The TDA is taking care of the memberships wants and needs - or probably, it was just a beauty of a day and everyone wanted to enjoy it!   

If you would like to review the Meeting Minutes, they can be found in the Members Only area at www.tennessee-donkeys.com  The next scheduled business meeting will be the Annual Meeting & Elections. It will be held on Saturday, November 5^th at 4pm.

Cumberland River Bicentennial Trail Ride - April 16th

Lets go on a trail ride!
This coming Saturday, April 16^th bring your donkeys and carts out for a beautiful trail-ride in Ashland City, TN. This trail is maintained by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and the scenery is awesome. Bill and I drove out there this past week to check-it-out. The website states the entire trail is paved or gravel.  The area that is for equine travel is gravel, but is PERFECT for driving, walking and biking.  It is a 2.5 mile flat pathway from the Eagle-Pass trailhead to the Cheatham dam. If you would like me to email the flyer (I sent it out a few weeks ago) to you, just let me know. Please RSVP by Wednesday April 13^th. 

Photo I took of the trail. Looks like this the entire trail!

Cheers for Ears Pet Day – Saturday 5/7

On May 7^th, Hohenwald, TN will play host to Cheers for Ears, showcasing and exhibiting the area’s beloved pets. If you would like more information about the event, contact Lydia Spears at miniacre@bellsouth.net

Donkey Day Expo - May 21st

This year’s DDE will not be a public event. It will be held for TDA members only at the Skillington Barn at Maury County Park in Columbia, TN on Saturday, May 21^st. The morning will be dedicated to basic clinics (body clipping, hoof care, basic training of your donkey, etc) and the afternoon will focus on advanced training and guidance. Judge Dawn Ware will be on-hand in the afternoon to offer opinions and advice to the donkey-handlers. Watch your email, we will have full details out soon!

Novice Day @ Half Ass Acres - June 11th

by Theresa Puckett, Reporter

We would like to invite all our members to a day of fun, thrills and excitement. Mark your calendars for our first annual mock show and novice day on June 11^th. Our start time will be 9 AM but you are welcome to show up at anytime. This event will be at Dayle and Joe Haworth’s Half Ass Acres in Chapel Hill, TN. Bring your donkeys and play with them or come and use one of the many that will be available. You also have the option of just coming to visit. Lunch will be provided along with drinks but you might want to bring a chair. This event is designed around helping people do things like trail, jumping and driving along with how to put panties on your donkey. You don’t have to show to get something out of this day. We would very much like to meet your favorite long eared friend. Each newbie (which can be the person or the donkey) will be paired with a seasoned donkey handler to help them with the task at hand. As we all know, donkeys are full of surprises so we expect this day to be full of laughter. More details will be emailed out soon.

The Cicadas are coming...The Cicadas are coming...

This spring when the soil temperature reaches 67 degrees a red-eyed swarm of critters that emerges from underground every 13 years will fill the air over much of Middle Tennessee with their ear-splitting mating calls.  Often confused with locusts, scientists call them Periodical Cicadas, Brood XIX.  These insects are not poisonous.  They don't transmit disease.  They cannot sting and adult cicadas live for only four to five weeks. The adults do not feed on foliage, but the females can cause damage to young trees.

The female cicada has a knife-like ovipositor that she uses to slit twigs before she lays eggs inside the slits.  Once hatched the young cicadas fall and burrow underground.  Each female can lay a total of 400 to 600 eggs and the multiple punctures pose a threat to young trees by causing twig tips to wilt and die.  The slits also provide a point of entry for other insects to invade the tree.  Apple, pear, dogwood, oak and hickory are the favorite hosts, but you can see the puncture marks on many tree species.  Insecticides have not proven effective for preventing cicada damage. When feasible, small, valuable shrubs and trees may be covered with a loose woven or spun fabric such as cheesecloth or floating row cover for protection while cicadas are present.  This covering should be secured at the trunk to prevent infiltration.  Delay pruning young trees until after cicada emergence so damaged branches can be removed.  If pruning is done before eggs hatch, burn the damaged twigs. 

 These love-starved critters are a favorite of little boys, but most folks don't enjoy bugs crunching under foot.  If 1998 is any comparison, it will require rakes and shovels.  Birds, spiders, snakes & the family pets find them tasty so they'll get in on the action along with scientists who eagerly await their arrival.  It's going to be "Yuck" or "Cool" depending on your age and perspective.  (re-printed with permission of the writer, Teresa Goff, The Grounds Guys of Brentwood)

Volunteers Needed for Bedford County Fair Show

by Lydia Spears, Treasurer

The Bedford Co. Fair Donkey Show is on Saturday July 23rd beginning at 9:30 a.m.  (Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.)

The Club needs VOLUNTEERS for registration, setting up/taking down obstacles and possibly Ring Steward.

Contact Lydia Spears at miniacre@bellsouth.com  to volunteer.

New Show for this Year!

The Williamson County Fair (Franklin, TN) has asked the TDA to hold a show during their fair this year! Guess what? It’s under cover! So, mark your calendars for Sunday, August 7^th at 2pm.  Lee Little will be the Judge.  More information (including class schedule) will come out soon.

TDA's Official Mission Statement

Here it is! This is the official Mission Statement of the Tennessee Donkey ASSociation: "To bring together people, adult & youth, that own and/or are interested in donkeys of all sizes, with quality family-oriented activities in a spirit of good community. And, to be dedicated to the advancement and promotion of the donkey breed through educational, charitable and social events. "