Are you looking forward to the Howard County Fair Aug. 7-14? 4-H members are, as they prepare their entries for the various shows and displays. Changes are always happening and as you make your way through the poultry barn, you may notice that there will be rabbits inhabiting some of the space where chickens use to reside.

This year marks the first year of an open rabbit department. Previously all rabbits on display belonged to 4-H'ers. Now, rabbits in the open class can belong to 4-H members or to anyone in the state. The contest is open to all ages regardless of their involvement in the 4-H program.

Staging an open class show is not new to other livestock. Anyone in the state that raises cows, steers, sheep, swine or poultry has always had the opportunity to show their animals at the county fair in the open shows.

Open class animals are judged by the same criteria as 4-H animals. The owners of the top animals are awarded premiums just as 4-H'ers receive premiums for their top animals. In fact, 4-H members are allowed to participate in both open and 4-H contests. Except for poultry, the same animals can be entered in both contests.

Having an open class show gives the 4-H'er an opportunity to compete against a wider number of animals. It also gives 4-H'ers who do not officially carry a livestock project but raise that particular animal, a chance to show the animal.

For youth entering both 4-H and open contests, it gives them a chance to win more money for their hard work in the form of the premiums.

The rabbit shows at the county fair are sanctioned by the American Rabbit Breeders Association. This means that there are specific rules which must be followed.

The goal is that shows all follow a certain format, the animals are judged on the same criteria and approved standards are upheld.

This year, the open class rabbit show will be held Aug. 8. The 4-H show will be on Tues., Aug. 10. Judges for the two shows will be different, but all certified by ARBA. 4-H'ers may elect to have their rabbits judged in both shows. Like all open livestock contests, there is an entry fee that must be paid. All other rabbit shows require a fee, and the result is that many people only enter their best rabbits.

What does all this mean for the general public? It may mean that there will be a greater variety of rabbits, and there certainly will be more rabbits to view. Just don't try to visit the rabbits during the rabbit shows.

During the rabbit shows on Sunday and Tuesday mornings and into the afternoon, the rabbit barns and pavilion will be closed. The reason for this is that rabbit owners will be running rabbits from their cages to the judging table throughout the show. Trying to dodge onlookers slows the process down.

The rabbit department invites you to visit anytime there is not a rabbit show, however. 4-H rabbit raisers are usually on hand and can answer any questions you might have.

Many of these 4-H'ers will also compete in the judging contests later in the week. They are knowledgeable about everything from basic care of rabbits and names of the different breeds. The older ones can name the bones and the parts of the digestive system, if you have an interest in biology.

If you like, you may even ask a 4-H'er to pet their rabbits, but only pet the rabbits with permission. Visitors are asked not to stick fingers or objects into the cages. Rabbits, in the past, have been injured by objects and a child's fingers may look like a carrot to a hungry rabbit.

So come and see the new open class rabbit department, as well as the 4-H display. You may learn something new about these furry friends.

user comments (0)