Area Future Farmers of America students mounted somewhat unsteady steeds Monday at Glenville-Emmons High School for a game of donkey basketball.

The game served as a fundraiser for the Glenville-Emmons FFA program and around 300 people turned out to watch the spectacle as a number of students successfully and unsuccessfully tried to ride donkeys and make baskets.

The donkeys bucked, kicked and most of all were stubborn the course of the evening.

Glenville-Emmons student Trent Thoms got an unfortunate ride most of the evening as he struggled to stay atop his donkey.

“When they’re moving it’s a lot harder than just taking your normal jump shot in basketball,” Thoms said. “I didn’t know what I was getting into when we first got here.”

Neither did many of those who participated.

The money raised will go toward helping finance summer camps and a trip to the state convention, said FFA advisor Angie James.

James said the event will raise about $800 to $900 dollars.

Four teams competed and free donkey rides were given to children 12 and under during the first intermission. The two Glenville-Emmons FFA teams competed against a Northwood-Kensett FFA team and a Glenville-Emmons celebrity team.

The Glenville-Emmons FFA group has 50 members and is sending several to the state convention.

It was the first time in three years Glenville-Emmons has held donkey basketball and James said the student were excited for the event, which the group started planning in July.

“They’ve been asking all year,” James said.

Dairyland Donkey Ball provided the steeds and puts on around 85 to 90 games in a four-month span, said Billy Cordell, who works for the company and kept the donkeys in line.

“Every night’s a little different and usually we go to the smaller towns and they’re happy to see us,” Cordell said. “They’re all really friendly and most of the time everybody has a good time. It’s hard not to enjoy it.”