TEN THINGS TO DO FOR A SUCCESSFUL FAIR

TEN THINGS TO DO FOR A SUCCESSFUL FAIR Pen Reservations: 1. Pen reservations and entry fee are due to Sue Keen by June 23. 2. The reservation form needs to be filled out completely with sex, color, age, and ear numbers (no blank ear numbers). Please print. Make sure your rabbit is sexed correctly. If it is entered into the wrong class, it will not be shown. Fair Check-In: 4. You can scratch a rabbit due to illness, death, molt, etc. or if you just don t want to bring it for whatever reason. You can substitute another rabbit only if it will be in the same class (breed, sex, age, and color) of the original rabbit. If you entered a meat class and they do not all make weight, then you can change it to a heaver class. 5. If rabbits are tattooed just before bringing to the fair, the ink must be removed so that the numbers can be read. 6. Nails should always be trimmed before entering to avoid excess scratches on the people checking in the rabbits. 7. Check in will be from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 7. Please be patient as the Open Show will be going on during this time. 8. Know your rabbit s ear number or have a list made out to bring with you. This will be a tremendous help if the number cannot be read. 9. Once you are checked in and all rabbits are put away, please clean up around your area. Remember: Boys are bucks and girls are does (not males and females). An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution

Address: Extension Office Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service La Porte County 2857 W St Rd 2, Suite A La Porte, IN 46350 Phone: (219) 324-9407 Fax: (219) 326-7362 Website: Hours: https://extension.purdue.edu/laporte Monday Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm 4-H Staff: MaryJo Moncheski, Extension Educator mmonches@purdue.edu Gayle O Connor, Extension Educator gjoconno@purdue.edu Mindy Rose, Secretary msrose@purdue.edu Important Dates La Porte County Rabbit Leaders Nancy Williamson 219-369-9314 Superintendent Sally Dipert 219-362-8617 General Questions Susan Keen 219-362-9803 Matthew Mueller 219-363-2430 Diane Prestin 574-309-1461 Rabbit Ambassador, Rabbit Races, Pre-Entry Money Pee Wee, Costume Class, Show Stager Rabbit Ambassador, Rabbit Races Tonya Rogers 219-575-9720 Facebook Page and Harvesting Angie Rose 219-608-4373 General Ouestions Jody Rose 219-608-4372 Processing, Barn Set Up Kimberly Saylor 574-952-1104 Hop To It Kellie Woods 219-851-3235 Rabbit Races March 14 March 30 March 21 April 28 April 18 April 4 April 11 April 14 April 15 May 8 & 9 May 15 May 16 June 23 July 7 July 14 July 21 July 22 First Workshop Meat Pens/Single Fryers Breeding Date Doe & Litter Breeding Date Second Workshop Rabbit Contests Workday/Barn Set Up Rabbit Ownership Deadline Third Workshop Fourth Workshop Rabbit Check In Rabbit Release Barn Clean Up Rabbit Achievement Banquet 11

Interactive Demonstration An interactive demonstration is not like a regular demonstration where the audience sits and listens to a prepared talk. An interactive demonstration lets the audience get involved. Interactive demonstrations are given by 4-H members in the Rabbit Barn at the fair. Your job as the demonstrator is to interest them in your topic so that they stop and try their hand at what you are doing. Sign-up sheets will be posted in the Rabbit Barn. Dear 4-H Family, Welcome to an exciting year of fun and learning activities for Rabbit project members. Please read the information in this book and keep it posted. SAVE THIS BOOK! A few reminders: Members must belong to a local club to complete this project. The La Porte County Fair will be July 8-14, 2018. Fair Concession/Food Stand We need rabbits! Each year, the stand buys rabbits from members, creating a market for our members to sell their rabbits. We will buy all breeds at $.75 per pound live weight. If you wish to sell rabbits, contact Tonya Rogers at 219-575-9720 or Nancy Williamson at 219-369-9314. We need help processing the rabbits. These steps are very easy to learn and if everyone would offer to help, it would lighten the load for all. Our theory is, come when you can and leave when you have to. We will compensate everyone who helps with payment of Bunny Bucks, which can be redeemed at the food stand during fair. Processing dates will be announced at the workshops. MAY 15 OWNERSHIP deadline will be enforced. Rabbit must be owned and cared for by the 4-H member and may not be shown by any other person other than the exhibitor from May 15 th through the fair. Hop To It Family Award - This special award will recognize the volunteer efforts of families to improve the La Porte County 4-H rabbit program. Information will be available at workshops and applications will be due by July 21. We hope that you have a great year learning about rabbits! Closer to fair, we will be looking for help to set-up and tear-down the stand, work shifts, help clean, etc. Please call Jody Rose at 219-608-4372 to let her know where you can help. Each year, the stand is better and better because of the hard work and dedication of our volunteers. We can be very proud of the stand because there isn t another one like it that we know of! All proceeds from the stand come back to support the 4-H rabbit program and its members. Visit us on Facebook at: La Porte Co 4-H Rabbit Project 10 2

Workshops MEMBERS SHOULD ATTEND AT LEAST 2 (TWO) WORK- SHOPS! Older 4-H rabbit members are encouraged to volunteer to help with presentations and demonstrations at the workshops. First Workshop- Wednesday, March 14, at the Community Building from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Activities will be about breed scramble, and ambassador quiz bowl. Rabbit Auction/Second Workshop- Saturday, April 14 at the Small Projects Building. This will be a great opportunity to obtain rabbits before the May 15 deadline. Check-in for rabbits will be 8:00 a.m., viewing at 8:30 a.m., and the auction will begin at 10:00 a.m. A Youth Seminar will be presented from 8:30-10:00 a.m. Topic will be YQCA (you need to preregister at http://yqca.org). Third Workshop- Wednesday, May 16 at the Small Projects Building from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Explanation of show classes, summer care, and Preentry. Nutrition and home remedies. Tattooing from 5:30-6:30 p.m. (prior to workshop); door prizes. Fourth Workshop- Pre-Entry due at this workshop (form and $5.00 to Sue Keen) - Saturday, June 23 at the Rabbit Barn from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Tattooing from 7:00-9:00 a.m. (prior to workshop). We will be going over what you need to bring to fair. Gray s Cage Supply dealer from Kalamazoo, MI will be on-site. Pre-orders are preferred; it is to your benefit to pre-order. To place an order, please call 1-269-858-6544. If no answer, please leave a message. If interested after the workshop we will go over meat pen selection. This workshop will feature a review of check-in procedures, a mock judging so you will know exactly what to expect on show day, cover Fair Survival, and a Rabbit challenges activity. Bring a rabbit and nail trimmers. NEW this year YQCA (Youth for the Quality Care of Animals Workshops) Starting this year, to exhibit rabbits, beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, sheep, meat goats (includes pygmy), dairy goats, and poultry/waterfowl/pigeon. 4-H members must be certified through the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) program. You will need to pre-register for these workshops (you just need to attend one). You can pre-register at http://yqca.org by signing in with 4HOnline. There is a registration fee. More information and workshop dates can be found on our website and in the newsletter. 3 Fair Activities Peewee Rabbit Show- Anyone age 4 thru 2nd grade can participate. The show will be on Saturday, July 14 at 10:00 a.m. For more details contact Matt Mueller. Fun Photo Entry Be sure to be taking pictures of your bunnies. There will be a photo contest during the fair and pictures will be displayed in the Rabbit Barn for everyone to see. One exhibit per member, either a single or group photo. Framed and ready to hang with label. Photo will be judged on imagination, quality, and display. Awards given at the banquet. Rabbit Races- Rabbits complete an obstacle course, competing for the best time. The event will be held on Thursday of fair at 6:00 p.m. in the Rabbit Barn. Practicing with your rabbit ahead of time will get you the best results! Practices with the obstacle equipment will be held during judging practices in April. Sign Up by noon on Thursday of fair. Rabbit Achievement Dinner/Banquet will be Sunday, July 22 at 4:00 p.m. at the Community Building at the La Porte County Fairgrounds. Make plans to attend. Let s have a great turnout to honor our 4-H rabbit members for all of their hard work. Costume Class will be lots of fun. Be thinking of unique ways to dress up you and your bunny in a costume. It will be held at the Rabbit Banquet on July 22. Rules will be in the rabbit manual. Contact Kellie Woods with any questions. Cage Cleaning- Saturday, July 21 starting at 9:00 a.m. Be sure to mark your calendars; entry fee money is returned if you help at least two hours on this day. Bring the whole family! 8

Entry and Show Details Pre-entry forms (pen reservations) and entry fee ($5.00/child) are to be turned in to Sue Keen, Rabbit Committee Secretary/Treasurer, by the last workshop (June 23). No exceptions to deadline and substitutions at entry time only in same class. ENTERING RABBITS - SATURDAY JULY 7 BEFORE FAIR- 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. There will be NO entering of rabbits on Sunday of fair!! Rabbits will NOT be entered without a permanent tattoo. Exhibitor s animals must ALL be in the barn before being caged (ALL animals must be entered at the same time). Turn in manual and rabbit record sheet and sign commitment sheet at this time. Do not turn record sheet in to your local club leader. There will be no early release of rabbits. Removing rabbits before checkout time will result in forfeit of premiums. Release time is Saturday, July 14 at 6:00 p.m. Barn will close at 4:00 p.m., pens need to be cleaned out. SENIOR MEMBERS- Senior age rabbit members (8th grade and up) may show an unlimited number of breeds- but still no more than 12 entries in the show classes. RABBIT SHOW 4-H member is responsible for showing their own rabbit or getting another La Porte County 4-Her to show for them. Committee will not bring rabbit to the table. Three calls will be made for the member. If the rabbit is not brought to the table after the third call, the judge will move on to the next rabbit. ARBA Open Class Rabbit Show- Saturday, July 7th at 8:00 a.m. Check with committee for details. Food stand will be open. This is a carrying cage show. If you are showing in Open Class, you will need to check in your rabbits with the committee at the check-in station BEFORE placing rabbits in their fair cages. Pre-entry is necessary through the La Porte County Fair Office at $1.25/rabbit. Contests Rabbit Contests will be held on Sunday, April 15 th at the Small Projects Building at the La Porte County Fairgrounds at 10:30 a.m. Registration is at 10:00 a.m. Food will be available. Rabbit Showmanship Contest This contest puts the emphasis on the 4-H member and how they show their animal; not the quality of their rabbit. Rabbit Ambassador Contest - Rabbit Ambassador Contest winners reign over Fair Week and move on to state competition. Contest consists of written test, Breed ID, showmanship, and behavioral expectations. Specific information will be presented at the first workshop. Area X Rabbit Judging Contest No prior knowledge needed! Members will place groups of three rabbits just like a real judge! 4-H ers from surrounding counties may participate in this contest. Practices for La Porte County Rabbit Judging and Rabbit Races will be on Wednesdays at the Small Projects Building at 6:00 p.m. March 21 Rabbit 101: Handling, 25 steps, parts of the rabbit, turning, holding, sexing & choosing breed. March 28 Fur (texture/density, moult, etc.), disqualifications, general faults & schedule of points. April 4 Disqualifications and major faults, judging procedures, wording, reasons, and practice! Judging, placing, and giving oral reasons. No need to bring your rabbits to the last workshop. April 11 last practice Bring at least one rabbit to the first practice. If you are interested in learning to judge, please call Nancy Williamson- 369-9314, Jody Rose- 608-4372, or notify the Extension Office at 324-9407. If you don t own a rabbit, you are still welcome to participate! Parents: Help with the teaching of judging and with the contest will be greatly appreciated. 7 4

Tattooing Sessions- All rabbits to be shown must have a tattoo in the rabbit s left ear. There will be a $.50 charge per rabbit. No tattooing during fair. Note: Committee cannot be held responsible for injury or death of rabbit as a result of tattooing. Attention High School Members: The Food Animal 2 (Swine, Poultry, Rabbit, Aquaculture) Science Workshop will be held from June 13-15 at Purdue University. This three-day workshop is a great learning opportunity and also happens to be a lot of fun. Your only cost is transportation (we car pool), and some meals (the Rabbit Committee and sponsors pick up your registration fee). Please let one of the leaders know if you are interested or call the Extension Office by March 15. Attention Seniors: There are two $250 scholarships available each year. You must be a current member and have completed 4 years in the project. Applications are available at the Extension Office and at workshops. Meat Classes Members may show in two meat classes, but will only be able to auction one. Meat Pens/Single Fryers- The breeding date for meat pens and single fryers is March 30. This will make your bunnies 70 days old on the day they are judged. Rabbits are over 3 1/2 lbs and a maximum of 5 1/2 lbs. Roasters- weigh over 5 1/2 lbs. and no more than 9 lbs. Rabbits are less than 6 months of age on check-in day. Stewers All rabbits must be 6 months of age or older and weigh a minimum of over 8 pounds. Carcass Class - Rabbit must be raised by the 4-Her and must weigh 3 1/2 to 5 1/2 pounds, and 10 weeks old. Judging is based on yield weight and following ARBA rules. This class does not count as a meat class entry. Doe & Litter Requirement- The litter must be 7 weeks of age at check-in. Be sure to breed on April 18th; too young or too old will be sent home. Doe & Litter does not count as one of your 12 entries. There will be 2 categories 4 class and 6 class. Members may exhibit one entry in each category. 5 Fair Schedule Monday before fair Poster projects due. Think about Rabbit Education! Saturday Check in rabbits from 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Open Rabbit Show 8:00 a.m. Sunday Monday Enter photos for the Rabbit Fun Photo Contest between 9:00 a.m. and noon Rabbit Ambassador Announcement/Presentation of Awards at 10:30 a.m. Judging for Meat Pens, Single Fryers, Stewers, Roasters, and Doe & Litter at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday Judging for Juniors (grades 3-7) begins at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday Judging for Seniors (grades 8-12) begins at 9:00 a.m. Thursday Rabbit Races at 6:00 p.m. Friday Rabbit Auction, 4-H Show Arena Auctioned rabbits released after auction. Saturday Pee Wee Rabbit Show at 10:00 a.m. (age 4 through 2 nd grade) Rabbits released time 6:00 p.m. 6