MONKEY RUN — In minutes, the little barn that Lurch — the famous Watusi steer — and friends called home was torn down as workers and volunteers started building a new barn and storage building at Rocky Ridge Refuge Wednesday.

This is the first of many charitable projects Zootoo House and Zootoo.com founder Richard Thompson plans around the country.

Last week, Thompson met refuge owner Janice Wolf following Lurch's appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" last month.

Thompson was back Wednesday and plans to stay until the barn and storage shed are completed next week.

Thompson also pledged to provide the refuge with a year's supply of food for the 50-plus animals, including a goose, a zebra, a water buffalo, a llama, a goat, dogs, sheep, donkeys, horses, miniature cows, cats and several orphaned does which eventually will go back into the wild.

Early Wednesday morning, 35 Mountain Home High School construction-class students and teacher Owen Carpenter started clearing off the property, picking and stacking limbs and piling rocks. Other volunteers joined in, swelling the number of helpers to 70.

Wolf had only one word to describe the activity: "Awesome."

She has lived in the Twin Lakes Area 14 years but has rescued animals her entire life, at times working two jobs to pay the feed bill.

"Kind of like what I said before — incredible, awesome," she said. "What can you say? It is over the top. The coolest thing is the animals, they are coming up to the fence to visit with people and everything."

Lurch first gained fame in 2003 when the Watusi was recognized by the Guiness Book of Records as having the largest horn circumference on any animal at 37.5 inches. He's also been featured on Japanese television and in the Chicago Tribune Sunday magazine.

Wolf says she has been getting many calls and visits since she and Lurch appeared on DeGeneres' show. "They are all excited, it is electric," Wolf said. "The whole community is just sending good wishes and good thoughts, and it is all good."

And Thompson was pleased with the number of local people who pitched in to help him help Wolf. "So far it looks great," he said. "It looks like we have the community out here. Let's get that barn down."

It is definitely a communitywide project, says Eddie Majeste, Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce executive director. "The Twin Lakes Area has really showed their spirit and support for Janice and Rocky Ridge Refuge," Majeste said. "It is almost overwhelming to be honest with you." Local people have chipped in with bales of hay, hosting meals and providing taxi service.

The high school construction students added to the enthusiasm Wednesday. "I think it is something really great," said Nancy Harvey, 17, who was busy picking up leaves, twigs and branches.

Matt Whitaker, 18, welcomed the opportunity to volunteer. "I think it is good, and I have a chance to do something for the community and the lady who is doing so much for the animals in need," he said.

The project should be complete in a week, according to Scott Callies of local company Pole Barn Specialist Inc. "We are still on track," Callies said. "We have a lot of volunteers out here that have really stepped up and we are getting a lot done."

Wolf and the Mountain Home area were perfect for Zootoo.com's first project, according to Thompson, who sold his cat-food company last year.