May 2011

A few thoughts....

• An update on our members that were in the most effected storm areas. As of today, I have only heard of minimal  damage and/or no utilities. What a miracle! Bill (my hubby) was in Tuscaloosa, AL last week and he said that photo's and video just can not tell the real story. 
• The 2012 TDA Fundraiser calendar is complete! A great big thank you goes out to all the members that participated in the contest and to Theresa Puckett, Dayle Haworth and Kay Allen for your hard work getting it all laid-out and to the printer!
• There are no new additions to the event calendar this month. Lydia Spears is putting together the day's agenda for Donkey Day Expo (Saturday, May 21st,) so keep an eye out in you email for it. We can use some volunteers for the day - if you would like to volunteer your time, contact Lydia Spears at miniacre@yahoo.com

NEW MEMBERS

Please Welcome/Welcome back these new members:

• Larry & Beth Walker, Volunteer Miniature Donkey Farm of Van Lear, KY
  lwalker_621@yahoo.com
• Julie Murphy, The Funny Farm of Hartselle, AL
  jmurphy@regalemployment.com

Since this will be my final installment of the ALL-EARS as President, I just want to thank all of you once again for your support and participation of this club that comes together for the love of the donkey! I will be seeing you around!

~Diana Poole


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May Storms - We Were Lucky!

by Jeff & Donna Langston, J & D Little Acres

We were lucky. We only got 1" hail stones, a little wind and heavy rains. Biggest issues here in the valley was that the creeks came out of their banks. We were better off this time than the last time.


The donkeys are truly being watched over. The night before, I had all the yearling's in the lower two lots down near the creek and lower shed. I got up that morning and drove 45 minutes into work. By noon the local streets near work had begun to flood with water. I never dream'd that the small creek running through the lower lots would ever flood. In 25 years of living there, it never had before. Upon turning down our street, I began to worry as I drove through flood roadways near the creek. As I rounded the corner, I could see that both lower donkey lots were 100% covered in water. As I pulled into the drive, I noticed that all the herd, including the yearlings, were standing in the doorway of the upper barn. The lower gate standing wide open. When I fed the evening before, I forgotten to latch the lower gate. Luckily, my forgetfulness had provided the girls with an escape route from the rising waters. The attached pictures are after the water had falling six to eight inches.

Calendar and Photo Contest Winners

by Theresa Puckett, Reporter

The calendar has been sent to the printer and it looks great. Thanks to all who have participated in this fund raiser thus far. I would like to congratulate the winners of the photo contest. We had so many wonderful photos to choose from.

Monthly winners were:   

Blessed Assurance Farm – Kay Allen, 

Crooked Creek Ranch – Brian, Theresa and Zach Puckett, 

Half Ass Acres – Joe and Dayle Haworth, 

J and M Farm – Jacqueline and Martha Brown, 

JKV Designs – Julia Vaughn, 

Legendary Farms – Richard and Katrina Fleener, 

Little Miracles Farm – Jeff, Maria and Katie Randall, 

Mini Acres – Lydia Spears, 

Red Pines Mountain –  Sara Kellogg, 

Rocking 615 Ranch – Dena Wilson, 

ThomAS’S JACKstock – Joe Thomas and, 

Wit’s End Farm – Bob and Sandy Dorris.   

The winner of the cover and our “Ahh” photo is Half Ass Acres with HHAA Smalls.

With the calendar at the printers it is time to turn our attention to the sales of the calendars. We are hoping that you, our members will support your club by purchasing a calendar. The officers have looked around at other donkey calendars, in an attempt to price our calendar competitively and we have decided to price the calendar at $12.00. We have also found two feed stores that are willing to help us sell our calendar, one Vet and a couple other places that are considering. This is turning out to be a wonderful project, one that I hope each member will be proud of.