There is a miniature donkey farm in Canfield

By Katie Rickman | May 25, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

STORY & PHOTOS

By KATIE RICKMAN

CANFIELD

Don and Alona Ever- son have lived on their farm in Canfield for 36 years, but as they grew closer to retiring, they decided to do something for themselves.

In 2012, they bought a jack – a male miniature donkey – from their niece, Wendy Byler, who owns BFF Donkey Farm in Alliance. Since then, they have added several others to the mix, and currently the Eversons own five miniature donkeys – one male and four females.

So why, after all the years, did they decide to farm miniature donkeys?

Alona smiles as she remembers her late sister, Debbie Kerns, who inspired her to start her farm, known as “Everson’s Hee Haw Miniature Donkey Farm.” Her sister’s love for the smart, friendly animal transferred to Alona, and the rest is history. “They just make me smile!” Alona said.

Though the Eversons don’t participate in any kind of petting zoo, they encourage visitors to drop by and see their donkeys that graze roughly 21/2 acres surrounded by an electric fence at their home at 7160 W. Middletown Road.