Casper the Friendly Lawn Ornament Donkey

On the farm, pets tend to be of the wider variety than for urban folks. Pigs make good pets, as do chickens, horses, ducks, geese, cows, sheep, llamas, or anything alive on the farm. For Krista Jennings Hagge, southeast of Winfield, her pet was Casper the Friendly Lawn Ornament Donkey.

On their anniversary, husband Jeff took Krista out for dinner and apologized for not having a present. But when they got home, lo-and-behold, there in the barn yard was, surprise, surprise, a pregnant donkey named Jenny. (Female donkeys are also known as Jennies.) Krista couldn't have been more surprised or happier. She had ridden a donkey in a donkey-ball game in Wayland, and had always wanted one. She thought they were cute, sensitive and loving.

When Casper was born, (white like Casper the Friendly Ghost) she walked him around the yard and they bonded. Krista's cousin, JoEllen, gave her a jar painted with a picture of Jeff, Casper and Jenny.

Finding a farrier was the biggest problem Krista had with Casper. Robert Asby was their first farrier and knew how to handle the uncooperative guy. After Asby retired, the next farrier quit before he got started. The Hagges were fortunate to find Kolt Slater who was super kind and took great care of Casper.

Casper outlived three dogs, Winnie, Daisy and Stella. Stella was an Aussiedoodle and liked to herd Casper into the corn bin, which Casper thought was a game.

Jeff's Uncle Terry asked the Hagges to take one of his llamas, Spike, that wasn't getting along with his other llamas. Krista was concerned that Spike would bully Casper. Not to worry, it was the other way around.

When people asked Krista why she liked having a donkey, she said that Casper was like a lawn ornament. Grandma always smiled when she arrived at the Hagge farm and saw Casper, and Casper brayed at her. Countless kids loved to pet and feed Casper. And Casper seemed to know when the gate wasn't locked. He'd escape to eat grass that was greener. It took an apple and tugging to get him back where he belonged.

Casper was a lawn ornament that brayed when they left the house in the morning, then again when they came home at night. Precious.

Casper was with the Hagges 25 years. On his last day, Krista sat with him most of the morning. Poor guy couldn't get up and struggled to produce a weak bray. Casper is buried in the lot where he lived and entertained man and animal alike.

Krista misses her lawn ornament.

PS: Don't get mules and donkeys mixed up, like my city-slicker wife, Ginnie, does. A mule is produced when a male donkey, a jack, mates with a mare horse. Mules are sterile and cannot reproduce. Donkeys can mate and reproduce.

That is your mule and donkey genetics lesson for the day. If you'd like more exposure attend the Clark County Mule Festival in Kahoka, MO, the third full weekend of every September. There is an abundance of donkeys there also. You might just come home with a yard ornament.

Have a good story? Call or text Curt Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at 319-217-0526 or email him at curtswarm@yahoo.com. Curt is available for public speaking.