Texas Victoria Newspaper column of Sept. 15, 1999 by Henry Wolff Jr., The Victoria Advocate
Photo by the author.

     "Lil Bit O' Bandito," a miniature donkey owned by Stephanie Dove of Three Rivers, was named South Texas Beautiful Burro on Saturday, Sept. 11, at the Texas Zoo in Victoria. The contest featured 20 entries.
     There was a time when one could hardly give a donkey away.
     It was not unusual to see a donkey come through an auction ring when a bid of $5 would be enough to take it home. Wouldn't even be unusual for nobody to bother to bid at all, those who did just wanting to have a donkey around for the children or because they liked the way one looked.
     I have always liked the way donkeys look.
     It has been a pleasure for me each year to be involved with the South Texas Beautiful Burro Contest and this year it was a sight to see with 20 beautiful burros competing in the 16th annual event on Saturday, Sept. 11, at the Texas Zoo in Victoria where a pretty little miniature donkey from Three Rivers was named the most beautiful burro in South Texas.
     "Lil Bit O' Bandito," owned by Stephanie Dove of "Brayers Are Us" Miniature Farm, has joined 15 other reigning burro beauties of past years--several were repeats, however--going back to 1984 when a nattily attired "Tierra del Fuego" had been purchased in a City of Victoria pound auction on the city hall steps, as I recall, but went on to become the most beautiful burro in South Texas, an appropriate honor in that he was indeed a real beauty, as have been all the winners since.
     Once an unwanted burro, "Tierra del Fuego" had been purchased in a City of Victoria pound auction on the city hall steps, as I recall, but went on to become the most beautiful burro in South Texas, an appropriate honor in that he was indeed a real beauty, as have been all the winners since.
     "Lil Bit" was purchased by Dove in April, the seven-year-old, 31 and one-half-inch miniature donkey being of championship stock that includes a great--great grandfather that  is a "four star rated" jack in the International Miniature Donkey Association.  Born in Maryland, then moved to Ohio and then onto Buffalo, Missouri where Dove purchased him, he is now part of a herd of 29 miniatures and on standard donkey.
Dove has also taken him to nursing homes and school programs and will show him at the State Fair of Texas in halter and some of the performance classes later this month.
     There are several different kinds of donkeys -- we have seen everything in the South Texas Beautiful Burro Contest from miniatures to mammoth donkeys, spotted asses and some standards - and donkeys have come a long way since the days when one could hardly give one away, even to the extent that in some area towns they would run loose and kids would ride them at will. 
     In earlier times, donkeys ran wild on the open prairies of the South Texas Coastal Plains, herds that developed from those of the Spanish Colonial days and periods of early settlement when the donkey was used as a beast of burden.   

There are stories of travelers seeing the ears sticking up from the tall marsh grasses between Victoria and Indianola and of settlers being kept awake at night by the braying of burros at favored watering holes.
     The donkey, or burro as they are known in South Texas, has become popular in more recent times and especially with the small breeds, although that isn't taking anything away from a beautiful old standard donkey or South Texas burro.
     They make good pets, have become show animals and are used to guard sheep and goats against coyotes, all attributes contributing to their renewed respect and popularity.
     That and the fact that they are beautiful.

1999 South Texas Beautiful Burro Contest winners:
"Lil Bit O' Bandito," a miniature burro with personality plus won the South Texas Beautiful Burro Contest on Saturday, Sept. 11, at the Texas Zoo in Victoria. Owned by Stephanie Dove of Three Rivers, it was the dark brown burro's first time to compete in the contest.
     Two spotted jacks were the first and second runners-up, "Silverado Spur," owned by Kimberly Garza of Needville, and a big burro named "Dandy,"   owned by William R. Kirkpatrick of Bay City, respectively.
     The 16th annual burro beauty contest was open to burros of any sex, persuasion or denomination.
     Selected as the most obstinate was a little crossbred burro named "Teresa" and owned by Bill and Gertrude Burrow of Hallettsville.   Most congenial honors went to "Cocoa," owned by O.N. Taylor of Pettus, and the best dressed burro was the adorable "Crystal Gayle," owned by Bonnie Payne and shown by Molly Shelton.
     There were 20 entries competing before a select panel of judges known as the Better Burro Bureau.