In February of 2002, ten donkey owners met and made the decision to form a new club for donkeys. The name chosen was The Tennessee Donkey ASSociation. Since that time this organization has grown to over one hundred members with over fifty farms represented.

What our group has accomplished since that time is very impressive. Prior to our formation the only known event for donkeys in Tennessee was The Great Celebration Mule & Donkey Show held each year in Shelbyville, Tennessee. Since our group began we have added Mule Days Show in Columbia, the Bedford County Fair Show in Shelbyville, the Maury County Fair Show in Columbia, the Tennessee State Fair Show in Nashville, the Fall Fun Show in Columbia, and the Wilson County Fair Show in Lebanon. Our donkeys have also been exhibited at the Volunteer Horse Fair in Murfreesboro and the Pet Expo in Lebanon. Several members, along with their doneys, have participated in Easter plays, Christmas Parades, Christmas Nativity scenes and local fairs and events.

The Middle Tennessee group has quarterly meetings. The East and West Tennessee groups schedule as they can. There is an Annual Meeting also held during the first quarter of the year. All meetings are open to all people interested in donkeys, whether they live in Tennessee or not.

There have been a lot of educational clinics arranged since the founding of our ASSociation. We have held clinics on harnessing, driving, hoof care, all phases of showing, body clipping, snigging, driving, conformation, coon jumping, and how to give your own vaccinations.

Everyone involved in our organization loves their donkeys deeply and wants the public to understand the truly sweet and gentle nature that donkeys possess.

Membership is only $15 for adults (age 18 and over) and $5 for youths each year. Memberships normally run from January through December, but if you are a first time member that joins October 1st through December 31st, your memberhip will include the following year.

For more information on our ASSociation, please feel free to contact the following officers:

Kay Allen