RABBIT PROJECTS

There are three rabbit project options: 1) Breeding Rabbit (228BR) and 2) Market Rabbit (228MA), which are Livestock projects, and 3) Pet Rabbit (228PE) which is a General Project. Livestock animals (Breeding and Market Rabbit) DO participate in the Fair Rabbit Show, and the project animals are kept on the fairgrounds during the fair. General Project/Pet Rabbits are brought to Project Judging but do NOT stay on the fairgrounds, nor do they participate in the Rabbit Show. 

Rabbit Project and Record Book: All three (3) Rabbit Projects are now combined in the same Project and Record Book. Each Junior Fair participant should complete the section/pages of the Rabbit Project and Record Book that are applicable for their project judging. A NEW project book must be used and filled out each year. 

The Rabbit Resource Handbook is a required resource for all three projects (Breeding, Market, and Pet) but only needs to be purchased once and can be used by multiple family members. NOTE: The Rabbit Skillathon is primarily based on information provided during clinics and found in the Rabbit Resource Handbook.

 

RABBIT GENERAL REGULATIONS 

• Possession Dates – All project animals must be in the possession and care of the Junior Fair participant by the following dates

  • May 1st of the current year for Breeding Rabbits projects

  • June  8th of the current year for Market Rabbits

• Registrations - All rabbit projects must meet the following registration deadlines. Late or missing paperwork will make the participant ineligible to compete in the current year at the Hamilton County Community Fair.

  • 4-H Enrollment Form deadline – March 1st

  • Project Commitment Form deadline – May 7th

• Quality assurance - Junior Fair participants who wish to exhibit a market or dairy animal are required to attend the Livestock Quality Assurance training along with a parent or guardian. 

• DUNF forms are NOT needed for any rabbit projects.

• Tattoos 

  • All Breeding and Market (Meat Pen, Single Fryers or Single Roasters) rabbits MUST have a permanent (clamp, plyer or permanent pen style) and legible tattoo-style ID in the LEFT ear. The tattoo must be done with a clamp, plyer, or pen that punctures the ID permanently into the ear. No Sharpie marker or temporary markings will be accepted.

  • Rabbits should be tattooed by the participant prior to fair. If assistance by the species superintendent is needed, you must give notice at least 1 week PRIOR to bringing the rabbits to the fairgrounds.

  • Breeding and market rabbits without a permanent and legible tattoo will not be permitted to be exhibited in the Junior Fair Rabbit Show.

  • If Market rabbits are not tattooed properly, they will not be sold through the Livestock Sale due to processor rules.

  • All participants must register the tattoo numbers of all rabbits they wish to show at the Hamilton County Community Fair on the Project Commitment Form. The only exceptions are MARKET rabbits that are unborn or too young to be tattooed at the time of submitting the Project Commitment Form.

  • If a change to a registered tattoo is needed, it MUST be given in person to the Species Superintendent prior to rabbit weigh-in/check-in.

  • Tattoos will be documented and confirmed at weigh-in/check-in and cannot be changed.

  • If a rabbit is brought into the show ring that does not match the registered tattoos listed, the participant will be disqualified and removed from the show ring. If it is a market project, the participant will not be allowed to sell the project at the Livestock Auction.

  • No rabbits other than those registered for the fair and properly tattooed are permitted in the rabbit tent.

  • No kits/litters of a senior doe are permitted. NOTE: if you want to show your senior doe at fair, DO NOT breed it if it will have babies that are too young to be separated and left at home.

• Project Commitment Form

  • All Junior Fair participants MUST provide the following information for each individual Breeding rabbit on the Project Commitment Form: Class, Breed, Tattoo ID, Division; 1. Age (Senior or Junior) 2. Sex (Buck or Doe)

  • If a mistake is made by the Junior Fair participant, he/she should contact the Species Superintendent PRIOR to weigh-in/check-in or the rabbit will be disqualified from the breed class. The rabbit may still participate in the showmanship class.

  • If the Junior Fair participant is unsure of the rabbit breed or sex, contact the Species Superintendent for assistance prior to submitting the Project Commitment Form. 

  • If the Junior Fair participant is showing more than one (1) rabbit in the same class (i.e., two senior does or two junior bucks), then he/she MUST be able to handle both/all animals in the class or have another 4-H exhibitor lined up to help in advance. If help is not prearranged, the Junior Fair participant will not be able to show the extra rabbits.

• Project Judging

  • The Breeding Rabbit Junior Fair participant must complete the applicable section/pages of the Rabbit Project and Record Book.

  • If doing a Market Rabbit project, the Junior Fair participant may choose between completing either the Breeding portion or the Market portion of the Project Book. 

  • For Pet Rabbit Projects, complete the applicable portion of the Rabbit Project and Record Book each year. Pet Rabbits are NOT Livestock. (See the “General Projects” section of the Rulebook for more information or contact your Club Advisor.)

  • For all projects, the completed Project Book must be presented at project judging, along with the educational display.

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​​​BREEDING RABBITS

• A Junior Fair participant entering a Market Rabbit in the Rabbit Show must also participate in a Breeding Rabbit project and exhibit at least one other rabbit in a Breeding Rabbit class.

• All rabbits that are not market projects are considered breeding projects.

• Breeding rabbits may or may not have been bred prior to the fair.

• Breeding rabbits are shown in one of two classes (4 Class or 6 Class) and one of four Divisions based on sex and age.

• Rabbits must be a minimum of 8 weeks (2 months) old to bring and show at the fair.

• Note: “Pet Rabbit” Projects are NOT Livestock and are not kept at the fair.

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MARKET RABBITS

• In addition to the breeding classes, a Junior Fair participant is permitted to exhibit up to two (2) meat pens, up to two (2) single fryers, and up to two (2) single roasters.

• A Junior Fair participant entering a Market Rabbit in the Rabbit Show must also participate in a Breeding Rabbit project and exhibit at least one other rabbit in a Breeding Rabbit class.

• A Junior Fair participant may use a single rabbit from his/her market/meat rabbit pen in showmanship classes.

• All rabbits that are not market projects are considered breeding projects.

• Market rabbits are intended to be sold at auction and processed; therefore, they may only be shown once in a Junior Fair Rabbit Show Market Class and may not have been exhibited previously, nor can they be exhibited later in another rabbit class or by any other Junior Fair participant.​

• Meat Pen Information

  • A meat pen consists of three (3) fryer rabbits.

  • Each rabbit must weigh a minimum of three (3) pounds and a maximum of 5½ (5.5) pounds and each rabbit may not be older than 10 weeks prior to weigh-in.

  • A meat pen exhibit not meeting the minimum/maximum weight per rabbit will NOT be permitted to sell in the Livestock Sale.

  • If breeding a rabbit for a meat pen, participants may not share a doe unless the participants are siblings.

• Single Fryer Information

  • A single fryer consists of one (1) rabbit.

  • A single fryer must weigh a minimum of three (3) pounds and a maximum of 5½ (5.5) pounds and may not be older than ten (10) weeks of age at weigh-in.

  • A single fryer exhibit not meeting the minimum/maximum weight per rabbit will NOT be permitted to sell in the Livestock Sale.​​​

• Single Roaster Information

  • A single roaster consists of one (1) rabbit.

  • A single fryer must weigh a minimum of three (3) pounds and a maximum of 5½ (5.5) pounds and may not be older than ten (10) weeks of age at weigh-in.

  • A single fryer exhibit not meeting the minimum/maximum weight per rabbit will NOT be permitted to sell in the Livestock Sale.

 

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RABBIT SHOW

JR. FAIR PARTICIPANT ATTIRE

• A clean, buttoned, appropriately tucked-in, collared shirt with long sleeves. 

• Long blue or black slacks/jeans or skirt falling at or below the knee.

• Footwear must consist of work boots or heavy shoes. Athletic-type shoes are NOT permitted.

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RABBIT SHOWMANSHIP 

• For a description of Showmanship, see the Rabbit Resource Handbook and the Special Contests and Awards section of the Rulebook.

• For all species, the 4-H youth must participate in his/her respective showmanship class in order to participate in other classes in the species show.

• If there are less than 2 participants in either Senior or Junior Showmanship, these classes will be combined. The combined class will be used as the Showman of Showmen Run-Off.

• Senior Showmanship

  • Open to all poultry exhibitors 14 – 18 years old (as of January 1st of the current year)

• Junior Showmanship

  • Open to all poultry exhibitors 8 – 13 years old (as of January 1st of the current year)

• Novice Showmanship

  • Open to all Junior Fair participants in the Junior or Senior age group, showing a goat project for the FIRST TIME EVER. A participant may OPT OUT of Novice Showmanship and show in their age category but must notify the Species Superintendent.

  • If there are fewer than 3 novice participants the Species Superintendent may choose not to hold a novice class. In this case, the participants would show in their age category.

 

RABBIT SHOW CLASSES

Note: If there are not at least three (3) rabbits in each division, they may be merged or dropped. The final determination of show classes/divisions will be made by the Species Superintendent prior to fair based on the Project Commitment Forms; and changes may be made based on final registrations at animal weigh-in/check-in.

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4 Class Breeding Rabbits (previously know as "Fancy")

(American Fuzzy Lop, American Sable, Belgian Hare, Britannia Petite, Dutch, Dwarf Hotot, Dwarf Papillon, English Angora, English Spot, Florida White, French Angora, Harlequin, Havana, Himalayan, Holland Lop, Jersey Wooly, Lilac, Lionhead, Mini Lop, Mini Rex, Mini Satin, Netherland Dwarf, Polish, Rhinelander, Satin Angora, Silver, Silver Marten, Standard Chinchilla, Standard Rex, Tan, Thrianta)

Division 1: Senior Buck - 8 months & older                                  Division 3: Junior Buck – 2 to 8 months old

Division 2: Senior Doe - 8 months & older                                   Division 4: Junior Doe – 2 to 8 months old 

                      

6 Class Breeding Rabbits (previously know as "Commercial Class")

(American, American Chincilla, Argente Brun, Beveren, Blanc De Hotot, Californian, Champagne d’Argent, Checkered Giant, Cinnamon, Crème d’Argent, English Lop, Flemish Giant, French Lop, Giant Angora, Giant Chinchilla, New Zealand, Palomino, Satin, Silver Fox)

Division 5: Senior Buck - 8 months & older                               Division 7: Junior Buck – 2 to 8 months old

Division 6: Senior Doe - 8 months & older                                Division 8: Junior Doe – 2 to 8 months old

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Market Class (Market/Meat Rabbits must be breeds from the "6 Class Breeding Rabbits" list).

Please see the 'Market Animals' section above for details and specifications. 

Division 9: Pen of 3 (Fryers)                                                      Division 10: Single Fryer

Division 11: Single Roaster

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AWARDS FOR RABBIT SHOW

• 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place ribbons will be given in each of the 8 Breeding Rabbit Divisions.

• Grand and Reserve Champion banners will be given in each of the 2 Breeding Classes.

• Grand and Reserve Champion banners will be given in each of the 3 Market Divisions. 

• 1st and 2nd Place winners in Showmanship will receive trophies.

• Top Exhibitor and Reserve Top Exhibitor Awards will be given for both Junior and Senior divisions. These winners will be the Junior Fair participants who have the two highest combined scores from the four project program areas: Project Judging, Skillathon, Showmanship placing, and Class placings.

• To qualify for Top Exhibitor Awards, the participant must participate in EACH of the four project program areas and receive a minimum score of 80% on Project Judging and Skillathon.

• Top Exhibitors will receive a monetary award. Top Exhibitor Awards are given at the Awards Ceremony. 

• Exhibitors showing in Novice Showmanship are not eligible for Top Exhibitor Awards.