The fair will be here soon. We are working hard to get our rabbits ready and beautiful. We have two Mini Rex we will be taking, Sapphire and Rose. We will also be taking four Dutch bucks, Cobalt, Solo, Gizmo and Sarge and two Dutch does, Isabelle and Victory. We'll keep you posted when we get closer to showtime.
Fair Days Are Here Again Labette County Fair 2017
We are already gearing up for the fair this July. Cady and Aiden are working on positioning their rabbits and getting them presentable for the judge. It takes a lot of work to get a rabbit, who's primary instinct is to run away, to sit still. This will be the kids third year showing rabbits in 4H. Cady will be showing her Mini Rex, Rex, again this year and Aiden is showing his Dutch buck, California Dreamer. If you're planning on showing rabbits for showmanship here are some pointers on how to properly prepare your rabbit for show day.
Work with your rabbit everyday- Practice makes perfect! You should practice posing your rabbits properly and going through the routine that the judges will use to check your rabbits for disqualifications and placings. If you plan to compete in rabbit showmanship, you should say aloud each step as you practice checking and posing your rabbit. This will help you build your confidence since you will need to do so during showmanship in order to demonstrate to the judge that you know your rabbit stuff!
Nutrition and Conditioning - Months before the show you should be making sure that your rabbit is getting the proper nutrition. All rabbits need good quality, high fiber pellets. We use Manna Pro Gro, for our younger bunnies, which contains 18% protein, and Manna Pro, for our older ones, which contains 16% protein. We feed about a tablespoon of black oil sunflower seeds to make their coats shiny and sleek. Also if your needing to put some weight on your friend before showtime, we mix a tablespoon or two of Calf Manna in with their feed to put some bulk on them.
Grooming - You should groom your rabbit often. Grooming will help your rabbit’s temperament by allowing the animal to get used to being handled. It will also greatly improve the condition, luster, body and texture of your rabbit’s coat. It will also help you establish a trust relationship with your rabbit. The rabbit will learn to trust you and hence not become as stressed when handled. This will also help you to learn your rabbit’s habits. Also remember to cut your rabbit’s nails prior to the show.
Register for the Show - Don't forget to register for the show! Most shows have registry deadlines, make sure that you are aware of them. If your entry is submitted late, you may not be allowed to participate in the show.
Transportation - Rabbits can get stressed quite easily. Transporting the animals to and from the show should be done as comfortably for the animal as possible. Exposing the rabbit to extreme heat or cold can be damaging to both the animals condition and health. Make sure that you take water bottles, feeders, feed and water to rabbit shows the rabbit show. If the rabbit it traveling in an air-conditioned car, make sure that the A/C vent is not directly blowing air at the rabbit as this can make them sick.
Have Fun! - Bunnies are intelligent and affectionate creatures that make great companions. Getting that blue ribbon is always exciting but it isn't always about the win. Having fun with your little bunny buddy should be your top priority.