Ida Jones is pictured with her award banners.
DUNKIRK – The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County 4-H Youth Development Program hosted a youth 4-H rabbit project show during the Chautauqua County Fair.
The show was organized by volunteers from the 4-H Rabbit Project Advisory Committee. In addition to the breed show, youth had the opportunity to participate in showmanship events to increase their rabbit handling skills and general knowledge of the species. There were 30 youth and 65 total rabbits in attendance. Jim Goodrich was a judge for the breed show. The youth exhibited various rabbit breeds. The Best of Breed (BOB) and Best of Opposite Sex (awarded to the best rabbit of the opposite sex as Best of Breed) results are listed below:
BEST OF BREED – BOB
Britannia Petite – Eddie Light
Champagne D Argent – Kristen Heath
Dutch – Lexus Eschenbach
Harlequin – Vytas Morris
Holland Lop – Katie King
Jersey Wooley – Presley Martell
Mini Lop – Ida Jones – Best in Show
Mini Rex – Ida Jones – Reserve in the exhibition
Dutch Dwarf – Kristen Heath
Polish – Bryce Skarzenski
Silver Fox – Madalyn Reading
Rex – Paige Winton
BEST OPPOSITE SEX – BOS
Britannia Petite – Eddie Light
Dutch – Lexus Eschenbach
Mini Lop – Kaelynn Cunningham
Mini Rex – Onna Warner
Some young people also tried their hand at rabbit breeding and brought their females and litters to the fair for evaluation. You can find the results below.
First place – Madalyn reading with a Mini Lop
Second place – Lexus Eschenbach with a Dutch
Third place – Onna Warner with a Mini Lop
Along with the breed show, the show is an important part of this event. Showmanship requires youth to have control of their rabbits and have a comprehensive knowledge of anatomy and breed standards. We had some fierce competition with Jen Burr serving as judge on Thursday. Kaelynn Cunningham took home the first year Junior Grand Champion award. Aj Kopta showed us her skills and took home the first year Junior Reserve Champion award. Emelia Catanese won the Junior Grand Champion award and Kristen Heath became Junior Reserve Champion. In her first year, Kierdan Nickerson took home the first year Senior Champion award. In her final two years in 4-H, Lexus Eschenbach went home with Senior Grand Champion as well as Grand Showman and Luisa Smith came home close behind with Senior Reserve Champion and Reserve Showman.
SHOWMANSHIP
1st Year Junior Grand Champion Showman – Kaelynn Cunningham
1st Year Junior Reserve Champion Showman – AJ Kopta
1st Year Senior Grand Champion Showman – Kierden Nickerson
Junior Grand Champion Showman – Emelia Catanese
Junior Reserve Champion Showman – Kristen Heath
Senior Grand Champion Showman – Lexus Eschenbach
Senior Reserve Champion Showman – Luisa Smith
Big showman – Lexus Eschenbach
Reserve Showman – Luisa Smith
