www.johnsoncitypress.com Where you can still read Thursday your newspaper, even when the cat July 28, 2011 gets to it first. Section D UTDOORS O ( Pfau Iimlxiwcring Pcoplc Through the Press Johnny Molloy ADVENTURES Donkeys’ tale Rock Creek ■ Prize-winning Mediterranean Miniatures more will keep than a hobby for Mountain States CEO Vonderfecht. keys look their best when they go into the show you cool By AMANDA MARSH arena.” Press Staff Writer That includes a lot of preparation, like making
[email protected] ummer heat bringing sure the donkeys are completely clipped 10 days you down? I’ve got the before the show and loading up all the supplies to Affection from a four-legged animal has the bathe them and blacken their hooves before the big Sperfect antidote. Its power to soothe nerves and heighten spirits. When moment. nearby and it doesn’t cost Dennis Vonderfecht comes home to his prize-win- much. Rock Creek “They are very independent minded,” he said. ning Mediterranean Miniature Donkeys, the “Sometimes they want to cooperate in the show Campground will cool you off, stressful hours spent as the president and CEO of get your head right and arena, sometimes not. We happened to have a good Mountain States Health Alliance seem far away. On day of cooperation.” maybe bring back memories the Appalachian Farmstead, handshakes come in of your childhood. Back in the Donkeys at the Appalachian Farmstead travel to the form of nudges from warm noses and instead of three or four shows each summer and are primarily 1930s, the Civilian coffee breaks, salty rod pretzels are distributed Conservation Corps developed shown in halter classes where judges score them among the 29 small donkeys and two mammoth based on how they measure up against the breed the area as a showcase of the donkeys.