4-H Youth and Rabbits were Hopping Happy at the Fair!

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (August 1, 2024) -- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s 4-H Youth Development Program held a show for youth in the 4-H Rabbit Project during the Chautauqua County Fair from July 14-21. The show was organized by volunteers on the 4-H Rabbit Project Advisory Committee. In addition to the breed show, youth had the opportunity to partake in showmanship events to expand their rabbit handling skills and overall knowledge of the species. They had 30 youth and a total of 65 rabbits in attendance. Jim Goodrich judged the Breed Show. Youth exhibited various breeds of rabbits. The Best of Breed (BOB) and Best of Opposite Sex, (awarded to the best rabbit of the opposite sex from the Best of Breed), results are listed below:

Best of Breeds - 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 Show

Netherland 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

Individual youth also tried their hand at breeding their rabbits and brought their doe and litter to fair to be judged. The results are below.

First Place – Madalyn Reading with a Mini Lop

Second Place – Lexus Eschenbach with a Dutch

Third Place – Onna Warner with a Mini Lop

In addition to the Breed Show, Showmanship is a big part of this event. Showmanship requires youth to maintain control of their rabbit and have a broad knowledge of anatomy and breed standards. We had a fierce competition that Jen Burr judged on Thursday. Kaelynn Cunningham took home the 1st Year Junior Grand Champion prize. Aj Kopta showed us her skills and took home the 1st Year Junior Reserve Champion prize. Emelia Catanese won the Junior Grand Champion prize and Kristen Heath won Junior Reserve Champion. In her first year Kierdan Nickerson took home the 1st Year Senior Champion award. In both of their final years in 4-H, Lexus Eschenbach went home with Senior Grand Champion as well as Grand Showman and Luisa Smith came in 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

Grand Showman – Lexus Eschenbach

Reserve Showman – Luisa Smith

Everyone did an amazing job! Congratulations to these youth on another successful fair!

The 4-H Youth Development Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua). CCE-Chautauqua is a community based educational organization, affiliated with Cornell University, Chautauqua County Government, the NYS SUNY system, and the federal government through the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Last updated August 1, 2024