Hee-haw. Yee-haw.

Most of the time, the historic Jefferson Gymnasium sees the Webster City basketball teams take center stage, with the majority of the crowds eager to cheer on the Lynx.

This time around, a different kind of hoops will tip-off, maneuver down the court and, hopefully, light up the scoreboard.

That is, if their designated pack animals don’t get too out of hand.

Set for 7 p.m. this Thursday evening, the Dairyland Donkey Basketball game will be the featured set of contests held at Jeff Gym, 1101 Des Moines St., Webster City. Organized by the Webster City FFA Alumni, the doors are scheduled to open at 6:15 p.m.

To sweeten the pot, the first 125 kids — age five and younger — will receive a free donkey ride at intermission. The child must be accompanied by an adult during that time.

There is a cost to attend, with tickets available at True Value, The Trash Man and at North Central Turf.

The game was originally scheduled for Feb. 23, before inclement weather pushed the event back in the tail end of March.

At these games, teams made up of students, teachers, local leaders and first responders will take to the court upon the backs of their burros.

Established in 2004, Dairyland Donkey Basketball is based out of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and traces its roots back to the Great Depression.

Along with holding fundraising events on the hardwood, Dairyland Donkey Basketball also offers donkey baseball and “celebrity” donkey races.

The outfit covers an 18-state region, from Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska and the Dakotas to southern states such as Alabama, Texas, Louisiana, Kentucky and Tennessee. Dairyland Donkey Basketball also stretches from eastern Wyoming and eastern New Mexico to Michigan and Ohio.