November / December

A few thoughts…… 

• In November TDA elected their 2014 officers. They are as follows: President - Sally Lightner, Vice President - Katrina Fleener, Secretary - Jacqueline Brown, Treasurer - Dena Wilson, Reporter - Theresa Puckett, Awards - Dayle Haworth and Dena Wilson. 
• I am sorry to say that I am stepping down from Reporter so this will be your last newsletter from me. I have truly loved being reporter! I just need to step back and concentrate on other things right now. 
• TDA's holiday party will be held on January 11th at 3PM. Location is Henry Horton State Park. We will be playing dirty Santa so each person will need to bring a $10 gift to play.
• Don't forget to pay your 2014 dues!!
• Dead line to turn in your points is January 4th email them to Dayle Haworth  minidonks@united.net. Forms can be down loaded from: http://www.tennesseedonkeys.com/HighPointAwards.html     
• As always watch for any upcoming events at  http://www.tennesseedonkeys.com/Events.html 

Merry Christmas

TDA wishes all its members a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

Out And About With Longears

Several members of TN Donkey ASSociation went to the Shaker Village in Pleasant Hill, KY to go trail driving. When we called to book our rooms they asked if we would drive the donkeys through the village on Saturday to let the people meet our donkeys. We had a ball and plan to go back soon.

August / September

A few thoughts…… 

•  TDA's Annual Meeting has been set for Saturday, November 16th at Farm Bureau Building, Shelbyville and will begin at 4 p.m. Anyone wanting to enjoy a meal prior to the meeting can meet us at LEGEND's in Shelbyville at 2 p.m. .
•  The TDA 2014 calendars are on sale now! Support your club and buying yours today by contacting any TDA officer to get yours.
• 2013 Awards show point sheets are due by Dec. 1st and Jan 4th for non show awards.
• To check on upcoming events go to  http://www.tennesseedonkeys.com/Events.html . 

June / July

A few thoughts……

• The TDA 2014 calendars are on sale now! Buy yours today by contacting any TDA officer.
• To check on upcoming events go to  http://www.tennesseedonkeys.com/Events.html 
• To view show results go to http://www.tennesseedonkeys.com/ShowResults2013.html

Super Duper Youth

This year's Carson Carroll Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Shyanne Lopp. Shyanne is the granddaughter of members Travis and Barbara Henderson. The scholarship was presented to Shyanne by Sandy Carroll at this year's Celebration. Shyanne intends to study Agriculture at Columbia State for 2 years then plans to finish her studies at UT Martin. The members of TDA wish Shyanne all the best as she starts this new and exciting part of her life.

The Great Mule and Donkey Celebration in Shelbyville played host to the NMDA National Championships this year. Brittney Conyer, showing CCC Love Bug owned by Laura George, won the title of "NMDA National Champion Youth". Brittney, the daughter of Lisa Graves and Jeff Conyer, is a youth member of TDA and we are very proud of her!

Out And About With Longears

Several members loaded up and went to Alabama to drive the Rails to Trails. They have made trails where old railroads used to be. It was a nice shaded drive.

April / May

A few thoughts…… 

             - Remember to check the TDA web site for upcoming events http://www.tennesseedonkeys.com. If  you know of an event you think the membership might enjoy please let our web designer know and she can add it to the site.

         - The 2014 TDA calendar is off to the printer and will be here in time for Shelbyville. Start taking orders now because the person who sells the most calendars will get a free month in the 2015 calendar. Just let me know and I can get you an order form ccrdonkeys@comcast.net.

          - Due to the enormous success of the previous calendars we want to thank you by lowering the price of the 2014 calendar. You can buy your 2014 calendar for the low price of $10.00! You can get your calendar at any TDA event or if you are going to be at the Celebration come by and pick up your 2014 calendar, you will find them at barn 12, barn 29, barn 9 or any TDA officer. You can also order yours and have it mailed to you, just contact any TDA officer.

Sad News

It is with a heavy heart that TDA sadly announces the loss of one of their longtime members Betty Thomas of Winchester, Indiana. Betty lost her fight with Leukemia only one month after being diagnosed.  Betty, her husband Jerry and their granddaughter Haley have been very strong advocates for these wonderful long eared animals we all love so much. Jerry and Betty’s farm Thom-Ass Acres is located 70 miles East of Indianapolis.

Betty, Jerry, Haley and their donkeys were frequent visitors to local rest homes, hospitals and schools. During Christmas and Easter, the Thomas’ made the rounds reminding people how these little beasts of burden carved their place in history. They loved parades of all kinds even making it to the Mule Day parade in Columbia, Tennessee. They also participated in the March for a Cure for breast cancer with their donkey Snickers. They won the TDA Ambassador of the Breed Award 4 times and took the Reserve award 7 times. All Betty’s family and friends, along with her furry family will miss her very much.

Betty & Ezra at the nursing home.

South Carolina State Fair, 1st Place Costume Class 
Wizard of Oz
Left to Right: Poncho, as the Cowardly Lion; Deby Cochran, as the Wicked Witch of the West; Betty Thomas, as the Tin Man; Tom Cochran, as the Scarecrow; Jerry Thomas, as the Wizard; Leana Lefrapper, as Dorothy; Weezer, as Toto; and Diane Sears, as the Good Witch of the East.

2014 Calendar Winners

2013 Show Season

The show season usually starts with Mule Day in Columbia, TN which falls on the first weekend in April but this year the Mini Mania show was cancelled due to the weather. TDA working with Carol Tisher scheduled a make up show on May 18th which replaced the TDA donkey day. May 11th was the first time miniature classes were held at the Middle Tennessee Mule Skinner show in Woodbury, TN. This was a great show and they are looking forward to adding more miniature classes to this show in 2014. Check out the results of these two shows at http://www.tennesseedonkeys.com/ShowResults2013.html

January / February / March

A few thoughts……

• Don’t forget to pay your 2013 dues! You can send them to Dana Rathbun at 1450 Donna Rd. Lewisburg, TN 37091. Dues are $15 per person and $5 for youth.This will be your last newsletter until your dues are paid. 

  New TDA Website: Our address is http://www.tennesseedonkeys.com

• Congratulations to Lydia Spears and Kay Allen for winning best animal in the Lewisburg parade.

TN DONKEY ASSOCIATION - 2013 Dates to Remember:

April 4th - Mule Day Mini Mania Show, Columbia at 1 p.m. - Judge Marvin Butler

April 6^th – Mule Day Parade, Columbia

April ? - Driving Event
April 27th deadline for calendar photo submission

May 3rd thru 5th - KY Horse Park Driving Event, Lextington, KY

May 11th - Woodbury - a few classes?

May 18th - TDA Event, Maury Co. Park, Columbia - possibly Spring Meeting as well

May ? - Driving Event

June 1st - TDA Event, Sandy Carroll's farm, Shelbyville

June 22nd – Westmoreland Show – Judge ??

July 11th thru 13th - Great Celebration Mule & Donkey Show, Shelbyville

July ? - Driving Event

August 3rd - Bedford Co. Fair Donkey Show, Shelbyville - Judge Dawn Ware

August 4th - Williamson Co. Fair Donkey Show, Franklin - Judge Brittney Barnett

August 18th - Wilson Co. Fair Donkey Show, Lebanon - Judge Lori Love

Sept. 14th - TN State Fair Donkey Show, Nashville – Judge Karen Iverson

Sept. 28th - Westmoreland Donkey Show, Westmoreland - Judge ??

October 8^th thru 12^th - National Drive Event, KY Horse Park, Lexington, KY

October 19th - TDA Event, Maury Co. Park, Columbia

October 26th - Pet Day, Maury Co. Park, Columbia - TENTATIVE DATE
November- Annual Meeting ?
Keep an eye on the events page on the web site:
http://www.tennesseedonkeys.com/Events.html

2014 Calendars

Yes it is time to start thinking about the 2014 TDA Calendar. Keep in mind as you take photos of your new babies this year to set your digital cameras to the highest resolution. If you are scanning a photo it would be great if it was scanned at 600 dpi.  Landscape photos only unless they can be cropped to landscape and keep their integrity. The deadline for submitting photos for the calendar is April 27th and voting will be open to the membership for 2 weeks. Keep in mind that if you have a photo chosen for the calendar you must pay the $100 publishing fee. To submit a photo please email them to minidonks@united.net so that Dayle can get them on the web site for voting. As soon as the voting has completed I will notify you as to which photos have won. Any member can submit photos for the calendar! If you need more info about the calendars you can contact Theresa at 615-230-7260 or email ccrdonkeys@comcast.net.

2012 Awards Winners

 

Congratulations!

Winning the Lottery

As a general rule I do not buy lottery tickets. My sister is forever asking, "How do you expect to win the lottery if you don't buy a ticket?" But still, I just can't make myself throw that money away knowing the odds. What are they....about one in a billion? I'd rather put that money in savings and have something to show for it in the end.

Paying an entry fee is kind of like buying a lottery ticket but, at the same time, it's oh, so very different. I am buying a person's opinion of my donkey on that particular day. In a way it's like a game of Russian Roulette. That's a scary thought. Anyway, on that particular day that judge's opinion is all that matters. We pay for it; we ask for it and, by golly, we get it!

When one pays that fee one is agreeing to accept that opinion. Take it with a smile even if you disagree. Why spoil the joy of the moment for the competitors who do win? They paid their entry fees, washed and groomed their donkeys, worked their donkeys, drove to the show and most importantly LOVE THEIR DONKEYS just like you do.

If you choose to purchase an opinion of your donkey take the outcome like a true sportsman; shake the winner's hand, look them in the eye and congratulate them. We are the examples our youth see. They see how we handle winning and losing. They will apply what they learn in these donkey shows to how they handle their future world situations where nothing is ever fair.

Let's treat each other the way we want to be treated. Let's help those around us instead of striving to get a ribbon or a point. When we see or know about an injustice, let's do our best to right it with the least amount of demoralization. Let's encourage one another instead of cheating to win or griping or stepping on someone else to get to the top. We all like and want to win but let's not make it at the expense of someone else.

I say an entry fee is much more than a chance to win. It is a chance to build relationships and celebrate with friends and strangers alike. It’s a chance to make a deposit in a bank that will last forever. It's a ticket that can be a winner every time.