Donkey basketball rides into town

Hearty, residents are preparing to ride live donkeys in an upcoming Donkey Basketball Game.   

Future Farmers of America (FFA) and the Grange club of Del Norte will sponsor the event, which is at 6 p.m. March 2 at the Del Norte High School big gym.   

Students and adults from both Del Norte FFA and Lake Earl Grange will be playing basketball on the backs of the trained donkeys to raise money for the FFA trip to State Conference in April and the Lake Earl Grange Club activities.  

All players have been training extensively for this monumental event, and team coaches want to be ready, physically and mentally. Rumor has it that teams have had professional rodeo bronco riders come in to give a few tips to team players.  

Donkey Sports, Inc. of Entiat, Washington, will be providing the donkeys and the officials. Donkey sports officials will be strictly enforcing the rules against players abusing the donkeys in any way. However, no such rules apply to the donkeys abusing their riders.  

Advance tickets may be purchased from students in the FFA and Grange clubs as well as at DNHS. Presale tickets prices are as follows: $8 for adults, $6 for kids from grades 7-12, and $4 for kids from kindergarten to sixth grade. Tickets purchased at the door are each $1 extra.