Kritter Korner's Blog

The summer is just flying by, it's hard to believe the annual Island summer show is all over and done with. I think overall, the show it was huge success. It was definitely a lot of work for everyone involved in putting the show together but we're getting pretty good at it now, and I think it gets easier every year...well, sort of! Still, I think we can all agree that it was well worth the work we put into it.

It was really good to see some of our good bunny friends from Bunny Hop Wabbitry win their first best in show with a beautiful little holland lop. There were lots of nice rabbits there, I felt that the quality of the Holland lops being shown on the island was at an all time high for the Maritimes, there were a lot of nice Hollands on the show table that day. I also noticed the quality of the Netherlands and American Fuzzy Lops being shown seemed to be higher than I remember it being before.

I had a great day, and we got some good comments on our rabbits. I didn't go in expecting any big wins, most of our senior rabbits are molting and had to stay behind anyways. Mom got Best Opposite Mini Rex with a buck who was just starting to blow his coat. Best of breed went to a Castor Mini Rex, that was purchased from us by a 4-H member. I got Best of Breed Dutch with my Black Jr. Doe, this is her second BOB win as a Junior and I have high hopes for her! We also got best of breed English Lop, which isn't really a big accomplishment seeing as he was the only one in his class. I was still happy though because he got some great comments and when the judge passed him back to me he said "not a bad animal at all". Now that might not sound very exciting but if you've been in rabbits long enough, you know that hearing those words from a judge is a huge compliment, and for me any rabbit who gets a remark like that is a definite keeper and a fine representation of it's breed.
I made a lot of rabbit decisions that day, I decide to sell of many "mediocre" hollands, which was a difficult decision for me, but I'm glad I made it. I also bought a new herd buck. With the judges help, I made my decision which baby english lop I should keep from my litter. I chose the broken fawn doe. She's been a favorite since day one so I'm really pleased with my decision.

When the show was over a small group of us went out for supper with the judge. It's something I look forward to at the Island show, since we have no need to rush home. I always like hearing what a judge has to say about the show, the Island and the overall quality of our rabbits here. I was a little surprised when the judge told me he had been watching me throughout the day. At first I was worried, thinking I had done something wrong but it turns out he thinks I know my stuff and he thinks I should apply to become a registrar. It's definitely something I considered before but now I'm thinking I might actually go through with it. I'm supposed to write to ARBA, telling them I want to apply and they send me a study book. We're planning on attending a Spencerville ON show in September, I could probably learn a a lot of that book in the 30 hours driving there and back!