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Shawn Black, left, takes a spill off of his aimlessly wandering animal during a game of donkey basketball Thursday, March 29, 2012, at Spanish Fork High School in Spanish Fork, Utah. The school's agriculture club used the event as a fundraiser, bringing Donkey Sports, Inc. all the way from Washington state. JORDAN STEAD / Daily Herald

Jordan Stead

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Luke Isley, 33, center, attempts to wrestle the ball away from an opposing player during a game of donkey basketball Thursday, March 29, 2012, at Spanish Fork High School in Spanish Fork, Utah. The school's agriculture club used the event as a fundraiser, bringing Donkey Sports, Inc. all the way from Washington state. JORDAN STEAD / Daily Herald

Jordan Stead

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Onlookers crowded the gym to watch teachers and students compete in several games of donkey basketball Thursday, March 29, 2012, at Spanish Fork High School in Spanish Fork, Utah. The school's agriculture club used the event as a fundraiser, bringing Donkey Sports, Inc. all the way from Washington state. JORDAN STEAD / Daily Herald

Jordan Stead

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Trevor Chappel, center right, clings to his animal in hopes of not taking a spill during a game of donkey basketball Thursday, March 29, 2012, at Spanish Fork High School in Spanish Fork, Utah. The school's agriculture club used the event as a fundraiser, bringing Donkey Sports, Inc. all the way from Washington state. JORDAN STEAD / Daily Herald

Jordan Stead

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What do eight donkeys, 11 faculty members, a basketball and 32 high school students have in common? Well, they all came together on Thursday night at Spanish Fork High School to raise money for a good cause and provide a night of fun and entertainment for others. The Future Farmers of America chapter at SFHS organized a donkey basketball event to raise money for scholarships.

“Our FFA chapter was looking for a great way to get students and faculty to interact and raise money for senior scholarships,” FFA adviser Kasee Smith said. “The FFA officers contacted a company located in Washington, which travels and brings in donkeys for basketball games. The group was doing a traveling tour through Utah this week, so the students booked the event.”

The donkeys were brought in from Entiat, Wash., by Aaron Shirley, part-owner of Donkey Sports Inc. Shirley travels all over the western United States holding donkey basketball events six to seven nights a week.

“I’ve been doing this since I got out of high school,” Shirley said. “It is a good fundraiser with lots of laughs. We have been all over Utah, but it has been a long time since we have been in Spanish Fork, so I am glad they invited us to come.”

Four teams participated in the event. Team one, The Wild Donkeys and team two, The Funky Bed Donkeys, were comprised of students who rotated positions throughout the game. Team three included all the FFA officers and team four, the Wise Asses, included the 11 faculty members.

“I am most excited to have a chance for students and teachers to interact in an informal setting, raise money for scholarships and of course to watch the action unfold,” Smith said. “It will be interesting to see who is more stubborn — the students, the faculty or the donkeys. My money is on the donkeys.”

Before the games began, Shirley explained the rules — and etiquette — to those participating. Each team had four donkey riders and one center. The centers work as the relay for the riders — they tip the ball and pass it to their teammates riding on the donkeys. Shirley explained that each player must have a helmet while they are riding on a donkey.

“These donkeys know way more about this game than you guys do,” Shirley said. “We want you to have a lot of fun, not get hurt and respect the donkeys.”

The evening’s event included two games, and the winners of the games went on to the championship. Each game was played with two, eight-minute halves.

“I signed up to participate because it looked fun,” sophomore Trevor Chappel said. “This will be the first time I have ever ridden a donkey and I think it will be a great experience. To tell the truth, I am a little scared after our teacher told us about a donkey that freaked out during a game, but I still think it will be a lot of fun.”

Senior Kelly Olsen signed up because she thought it looked fun.

“I wanted to say I had experienced riding a donkey and played a basketball game,” Olsen said.

The court was kept clean thanks to a few freshmen who volunteered as pooper-scoopers.

“I always tell the kids cleaning up the court that being a pooper-scooper is like winning the lottery,” Shirley said. “You never know how much you are going to get and when.”

The championship game was played between the The Wild Donkeys and the Wise Asses, with the students taking the win, 6-1, over their teachers.

“When I heard about the event I figured why not sign up,” said Luke Isley, photography teacher at SFHS. “It seemed like a good opportunity to make a fool of myself.”