Donkey Basketball in Fort Madison

I knew I was in for a treat when the first thing I heard was, “Now, what if your donkey has the squirts? Don’t go pullin’ to one side. The squirts make a 15 foot radius, now you got an oscillating sprinkler situation.” Dairyland Donkey Ball’s C.J. Cordell was addressing a room of Fort Madison students, faculty and community members as he went through the various scenarios that arise in any donkey basketball game. He covered the rules, safety, and riding tips before letting the riders onto the Fort Madison High School gym floor. 


The Fort Madison Future Farmers of America put on the event for the public. From ticket sales alone they raised $3,177.50 which will go back into the program and allow students to travel to state and national conventions.

The rules are that each team has four riders on the court at one time. Players have to keep one hand on the reins of their donkey the entire time and can only pass or score while mounted. 

This is actually the second time I’ve shot donkey basketball and it’s always hilarious. People slide off the donkeys or are bucked off, but mostly they don’t go anywhere at all. The funniest moment to me was when a donkey named Widowmaker just stopped bucking and started to fall asleep under the basket while his rider tried in vain to make him move.

The games last little over an hour and a half with four teams competed in two 16-minute games and an 8-minute championship between winners of the matches. Team Ba-Donk-A-Dunk took home the championship with their 10-4 win against team Re-Donkulus.