What do you get when you combine a little girl, an artistic dad and a donkey with a sweet tooth? At UC Davis' animal science department, the result is a quarter-scale bronze bust, titled "The Jack," created to raise funds to improve the department's equine facilities.

For the past few years, Eliana Meyer, now 5 years old, has delighted in visiting a prized donkey named Action Jackson, which belongs to the breeding herd of the animal science department where Eliana's mom, Deanne Meyer, is a faculty member. Nearly every weekend, Eliana brings Action Jackson a fistful of carrots and StarBurst candies to spice up his diet.

Action Jackson was loaned to the department by a private donor and stands at stud in the animal science horse barn. Over the past eight years he's bred 134 mares -- more than any of the stallions in the animal science horse barn -- siring many mules that have gone on to excel both in the show ring and on the racetrack.

When Eliana's dad, Trent Meyer, an accomplished bronze sculptor, began to toy with the idea of creating a sculpture to be used as a department fundraiser, Eliana was quick to suggest her old friend Action Jackson as the perfect subject. Trent decided to sculpt a limited edition of 50 signed and numbered bronze statues that are one-fourth life size. The price for the first 10 statues will be $1,500 each.

Proceeds from the sale of Action Jackson's bronze likeness, which should total at least $75,000, will be used to create a new and more welcoming public entrance to the Cole Facility, the animal science department's equine barn and arena facility. The corrals are a popular destination for campus visitors, and the department hopes to develop an area where guests can relax, perhaps even picnic, under a large oak tree in the southwest corner of the facility.

Anyone interested in purchasing one of "The Jack" sculptures can contact Dan Sehnert, animal facility manager, in the animal science department at (530) 752-1256 or djsehnert@ucdavis.edu.

Digital images of Action Jackson with the Meyer family and "The Jack" can be obtained from Pat Bailey, News Service, (530) 752-9843.