Lamb County Hosts American Rabbit Breeders Assoc. Shows

Friday, November 12 ^th the Lamb County Ag Center welcomed 214 exhibitors participating in seven rabbit shows sanctioned by the American Rabbit Breeders Association, also known as ARBA, the Texas Rabbit Breeders Association or TRBA pronounced “tarba”, and the Llano Estacado Rabbit Breeders Association.

There were three youth shows for exhibitors under the age of 19, and three open shows for all other exhibitors. Llano Estacado Rabbit Breeder’s Association had breed Specialty Shows at the Littlefield Show. The Llano Estacado Rabbit Breeders Association also known by the acronym LERBA, has been active for the last 60 years in the South Plains area.

According to acting president of the Texas Rabbit Breeders Association, Teresa De Sautell of Bula, Texas, there were 1,300 rabbits shown by youth exhibitors and about 1,300 rabbits shown in open competition that were pre-registered and another 100 that entered that entered at the door totaling 2,700 rabbits entered in the shows.

The American Rabbit Breeders association recognizes 50 distinct and separate breeds. Thirty breeds were represented at the Littlefield Shows. The most common breeds shown were Dutch, Mini Rex, Rex, Mini Satin, Satin, Holland Lops, Mini Lop, and French Angora. The visiting judges, including four from Texas, one from Colorado, and one from Arizona, were kept busy during the shows this weekend. Exhibitors from all over Texas and beyond participated in the events, and it is very much a family oriented activity.

There was also a Showmanship Workshop conducted by a group of FFA and 4-H leaders on Friday evening. Rabbits are fast becoming popular animal projects for FFA and 4-H groups across the country. The primary reason is the much lower costs of obtaining, maintaining, showing, and transporting rabbits. The logis tics of transporting rabbits are less complicated as well.

Frenship FFA and Littlefield FFA members helped set up the tables for the shows, as well as assisting with the clean up at the show’s conclusion. These activities counted toward community service.

Youth exhibitors also participated in a popular costume contest which is usually included in Breeder Association shows. The youth exhibitors have to create costumes for themselves and their rabbits.

De Sautell emphasized that “our exhibitors do not compete for cash prizes, rather the Rabbit Associations offer prizes such as rabbit cages, and other practical items. We are not about money. We are an association of people who love and promote their passion for raising and showing rabbits” According to the ARBA website, “The American Rabbit Breeders Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion, development and improvement of the domestic rabbit and cavy (guinea pig). With almost 20,000 members throughout the United States, Canada, and abroad, our members range from the pet owner with one animal to the breeder or commercial raiser with several hundred. Whether you own rabbits and cavies for pet, show or commercial use, we have been dedicated to the ethical and responsible promotion of these animals since 1921.”