By JIM LUKSIC
The Progress
Despite powerful gusts and brooding clouds on Saturday, Mar. 2, the 10th Donkey Jamboree proceeded without obstacles at the Donkey History Museum in Mesquite.
The four-hour affair – which took place at 355 W. Mesquite Blvd. for the first time – featured donkeys, food trucks, a jump house for kids, a coloring competition, Pin the Tail on the Donkey, face painting, and live music.
“We’re muscling our way through,” said Mark Meyers, who oversees the museum and operates the nonprofit Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue (PVDR) along with his wife, Amy.
On a wind-swept day with conditions more suitable for flying kites or sailing, the Jamboree was starting off according to plan, Mark said. With roughly one hour remaining, rays of sunshine gave way to leaky skies.
“When it comes to rescue donkeys, we can’t let the weather stop us,” he asserted. Although he anticipated hundreds of participants – raising thousands of dollars for the occasion – Mark described the visitors’ arrivals and departures as spread out, with a “nice steady flow.”
For Amy, the Jamboree was primarily about her favorite animals.
“This draws attention to the donkeys, our organization, and gets people talking,” she explained in reference to PVDR, whose headquarters is based in Texas. “It also gives us an opportunity to educate people about donkeys.”
Several of the four-legged friends were in a gated area just outside the museum’s entrance, where the rescue organization’s General Manager Kimberly Clark was taking care of business. She has worked with PVDR for one reason: the donkeys.
“You just can’t beat ‘em,” Clark said with a grin, as curious onlookers ogled a large multi-colored animal named Aphrodite. “Donkeys are like 500-pound dogs.”
Also enjoying the outdoors was Mesquite Cafe Blues Band, comprising the duo of Linda and Paul Villaneuva; they filled the Brickyard Shopping Center’s swirling air with popular songs from the likes of Fleetwood Mac and Bob Seger.
“It’s exciting and we are happy to be here performing for a worthy cause,” said Linda, adding that her favorite donkey was Aphrodite “because we have the same hair color.”
Among the vendors peddling their wares in the parking lot were Fixxology, The Corn Dog Co, White Boys Tacos, Little Caesars pizza, and El Chac Mool Catering.
Back inside the venue, visitors were shopping, mining and panning for gems by the water tower, in addition to checking out items related to donkeys, including the War Room’s vintage military photos.
Among the guests Saturday was Lynda Edwards, a Sun City resident who was touring the museum with her niece and great-great nephew. “They do a great job here,” Edwards said. “It’s a fun event.”
That’s what the annual family-friendly Donkey Jamboree is all about, to Mark Meyers’ way of thinking.
“The whole idea is to educate people about donkeys, which are intelligent creatures,” he said. “We want young kids to come away with a good impression of them.”
