Hamilton County Rabbit Project Calendar 2008

Welcome to another great rabbit project year!

Our next rabbit workshop for 2008 is Saturday May 3 at 10:00-11:30 in the Van Diest Building at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds! Led by teen leader Colin Ryan, we will go over everything you should know about showmanship before bringing your rabbit to the county fair. We will go over showmanship, conformation and DQ's. Also we will be tattooing rabbits. Your rabbit must be tattooed if you want to show at the fair.Don't miss this! Especially if you are a new member. Bring your rabbit and a carpet square to the meeting.

REMEMBER Rabbit ID's are due MAY 15th by 4:00 PM. If you don't have them in, you cannot show.

Hamilton County Rabbit Kids did awesome at the State Fair Last Summer! Hamilton County 4-H'ers earned top awards in at the Iowa State Fair last summer! Great Job! You make your leaders proud!

Remember to attend your FSQA Session! You MUST do this if you want to show your rabbits at the fair this year. Check with the Extension Office for the dates.

Remember recordbook forms can be found on the website at
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~rhendric/pages/rec.html

Check back here often for updates on workshops, shows in Iowa, more general rabbit information, and Hamilton County Rabbit Project Notes!

State 4-H Rabbit Shows 2008

Upcoming 2008 Rabbit Shows in Iowa—

One way you can learn more about showmanship and rabbit judging is to participate in Iowa ARBA sanctioned shows. They are held throughout the state all year long, and no advance registration is required. (If you have never been to a show before, it might be a good idea to call ahead and check with the show facilitator for locations, times, and other information. Make sure your breed is being shown that day at the show, and find out if it is a youth or open show). More in-depth information is available on the IRBA website at http://www.iowastaterba.com. ARBA membership fees are often required to show and ARBA Standards of perfection are strictly adhered to. Again, these are great places to meet rabbit breeders, acquire stock, equipment, and have a great time!)

IA - APRIL 27, 2008 - (Town: THURMAN) - YOUTH
MILLS COUNTY RBA - PH. 402.895.4936
Contact: Sue Johnston , 8807 Meadows Parkway , Omaha, - NE 68138

IA - APRIL 27, 2008 - (Town: THURMAN) - OPEN
MILLS COUNTY RBA - PH 402.895.4936
Contact: Sue Johnston , 8807 Meadows Parkway , Omaha, - NE 68138

IA - MAY 11, 2008 - (Town: ALLISON) - OPEN
WATERLOO AREA RBA - Ph. 319.984.9292 MIXDORF6ERIC@AOL.COM
Contact: Sharon Mixdorf, 1876 25th St , Denver, - IA 50622

IA - MAY 11, 2008 - (Town: ALLISON) - YOUTH
WATERLOO AREA RBA - 319.984.9292 MIXDORF6ERIC@AOL.COM
Contact: Sharon Mixdorf, 1876 250th St , Denver, - IA 50622

IA - JUNE 7, 2008 - (Town: OSKALOOSA) - YOUTH
INDIAN HILLS R&CBA - Ph. 641.842.4895
Contact: Janet Ritchie, 928 Nixon St , Knoxville, - IA 501388651

IA - JUNE 7, 2008 - (Town: OSKALOOSA) - OPEN
INDIAN HILLS R&CBA - Ph. 641.842.4895
Contact: Janet Ritchie, 928 Nixon St , Knoxville, - IA 501388651

IA - JUNE 28, 2008 - (Town: ALLISON) - OPEN
BUTLER COUNTY FAIR - Ph. 641.751.5316 ISRBAMYRON@MCHSI.COM
Contact: Myron W Dinsdale, 112 N Main , Traer, - IA 50675

IA - JUNE 28, 2008 - (Town: ALLISON) - YOUTH
BUTLER COUNTY FAIR - 641.751.5316 ISRBAMYRON@MCHSI.COM
Contact: Myron W Dinsdale, 112 N Main , Traer, - IA 50675

IA - JULY 19, 2008 - (Town: AFTON) - YOUTH
INDIAN HILLS R&CBA - Ph. 641.842.4895
Contact: Janet Ritchie, 928 Nixon St , Knoxville, - IA 501388651

IA - JULY 19, 2008 - (Town: AFTON) - OPEN
INDIAN HILLS R&CBA - Ph. 641.842.4895
Contact: Janet Ritchie, 928 Nixon St , Knoxville, - IA 501388651

IA - JULY 20, 2008 - (Town: WEST LIBERTY) - YOUTH
MUSCATINE COUNTY FAIR - Ph. 641.451.5316 ISRBAMYRON@MCHSI.COM
Contact: Myron W Dinsdale, 112 N Main St , Traer, - IA 50675

IA - JULY 20, 2008 - (Town: WEST LIBERTY) - OPEN
MUSCATINE COUNTY FAIR - Ph. 641.751.5316 ISRBAMYRON@MCHSI.COM
Contact: Myron W Dinsdale, 112 N Main St , Traer, - IA 50675

IA - AUGUST 3, 2008 - (Town: DAVENPORT) - OPEN
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY FAIR - Ph. 641.751.5316 ISRBAMYRON@MCHSI.COM
Contact: Myron W Dinsdale, 112 N Main St , Traer, - IA 50675

IA - AUGUST 3, 2008 - (Town: DAVENPORT) - YOUTH
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY FAIR - Ph. 641.751.5316
Contact: Myron W Dinsdale, 112 N Main St , Traer, - IA 50675

IA - AUGUST 16, 2008 - (Town: DES MOINES) - OPEN
IOWA STATE FAIR - Ph. 641.751.5316 ISRBAMYRON@MCHSI.COM
Contact: Myron W Dinsdale, 112 North Main St , Traer, - IA 50675

Hamilton County Rabbit Kids are the Best!

Q&A's about Hamilton County Fair and 4-H rabbit ID sheets....

How many rabbit entries can I take to the fair? You can list as many rabbits as you have on your farm on your ID sheet that is due May 13. There is no maximum or minimum.

But you can only take a maximum of 6 rabbit entries to the Hamilton County Fair. Remember too, that for the county fair this year our rules have changed, you can have as many as 6 entires per class lot this year. But can only take a total of six entries to the fair.

How do I list a production pen on my ID sheet that isn't born yet? If you are intending on breeding a doe for a production pen go ahead and indicate that on your ID sheet. Say that you then intend on showing those rabbits as a production pen. Remember to watch your calendar there are strict rules in the fair book about the number of days old the rabbits have to be. Remember that the mother has to be tattooed, that won't be expected of the babies.

If I have 3 rabbits in a meat pen. Can I show each of them in individual classes as well? Besides the pen of three you can only show them in a showmanship or fur class. None of them should be shown again as an individual rabbits.

How do I count a production pen or meat pen as a rabbit entry for county fair? Since you are allowed a maximum of 6 entries, the Extension Office counts it this way. You could show 5 individual rabbit entries+ one production pen entry. Or in the case of meat pens, 5 individual rabbit entries + one meat pen entry. You are allowed a total of 6 cages at the fair. So the production pen can take up only one cage, and the same is true of a meat pen.

Can I show if my ID sheet gets in late, or the Extension Office doesn't receive it? No.

Where can I get an ID sheet if I don't have one? At the Extension office, or you can download one here.—4-H Rabbit Identification Report 9#1E9EEE (for all age rabbit project 4-H'ers)

Can I show my rabbit if it is not tattooed when it comes to the fair? No. This includes rabbits with production pens.

Other reminders......

—We hope to separate fancys out this year again by breed for the county fair. We are still working on the specifics of this, so feel free to give input if you have ideas on this.

—Only persons showing production pens are allowed to check in late and check out early from the county fair if they are worried the mother and babies will be stressed. They must get permission to do this. If any other rabbit leaves early without permission-- the 4-H'er will not be allowed to show the following two years.

—Remember, if you are showing a production pen, the mother must be tattooed! You cannot show them if they are not tattooed.