Published: July 07, 2008 10:51 pm            

Trobaugh once again reigns over rabbits

GREENTOWN — Taylor Trobaugh continued her winning tradition Monday during the Howard County 4-H Fair rabbit show, taking home the best of show award for the second year in a row.

She also won master showmanship and the master ambassador competition.

The best of show competition is between the best six-class, or commercial, rabbit, and the best four-class, or fancy, rabbit. Ryan Horner’s Flemish giant won grand champion six-class rabbit.

Trobaugh said her best of show rabbit, a mini lop named Isabelle, is the daughter of her 2007 best of show mini lop.

Judge Todd Naragon examined each rabbit during the show, setting it up and brushing its coat back and forth, then lifting each one to examine its underside and feet, before describing each one’s strengths and weaknesses, and then determining placements.

He said a lot of his judging is based on “the care of the rabbit,” and the standard of perfection set by the American Rabbit Breeders Association for each breed. Each of the 47 recognized breeds has its own standards to meet regarding features such as coat color, ear placement, weight and others.

The 4-H’ers could also compete in showmanship, which judges how well they choose their animals and how well they show them to best advantage; and ambassador, which is based on a test of rabbit knowledge.

First-year 4-H’er Macey Jordan was excited to show her Jersey wooly rabbit, Delilah, for the first time. She decided to show rabbits because a friend had them and she liked them. She said she brushes Delilah every day, and makes sure she has fresh food and water.

She likes rabbits because “they’re fun, and they know what you’re talking about.”

Her mother, Beth Jordan, said Macey, is responsible for caring for the animal, and has done a good job.

“She’s been practicing her showmanship every day,” Beth Jordan said.

She said having a rabbit has been a positive experience for their family, and she expects they will get more rabbits.

Peter Davis is a third-year rabbit showman. He had two Holland lops, Milton and Pumpkin. He likes rabbits because “they’re small, and they’re nice and friendly.”

Kirstin Ennis showed a mini lop, a mini rex and a Netherland dwarf, and said she started showing rabbits two years ago because Trobaugh, her friend, had rabbits. She also shows a horse.

“They’re just really small. They’re a lot different from the horses ... They all have different personalities,” Ennis said.

She expected her rabbits to do well because they were from Trobaugh’s rabbitry, and “she’s just really top of the line with her rabbits.”

She especially expected her mini rex, Mike, to do well, because he was best of breed in 2007.

“He’s like the Velveteen Rabbit,” Ennis said.

Other award winners were:

•Ambassador: Kelsey Keller, novice; Katie Richard, senior;

•Showmanship: Kelsey Keller, novice champion, Macey Jordan, reserve; Abigail Elkins, junior champion, Allie Dicken, reserve; Grace Guyer, intermediate champion, Carly Richardson, reserve, Riley Beall, third-place; Katie Richard, senior champion, Molly Guyer, reserve; Maggie Guyer, master reserve champion.

        

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