Linn County 4-H Rabbit Project Training Outline PDF DOWNLOAD
Important Facts:
Dates to remember
§ March 15th Add/Drop Project - Register for Rabbit Project (sign up through local club)
§ May 15th Animal ID. Enter ALL rabbits you may want to bring, in case some are ill or out of condition. Must be tattooed in left ear. Unborn litters, enter intended ear number.
§ If attending State Fair, FSQA Training Dates: 2/26/08 Extension Office 6:30 PM Denise Schwab, Presenter; 3/31/08 Extension Office 6:30 PM Larry McMullin, Presenter; 5/6/08 Tippie Beef Center, Kirkwood, 6:30 PM Terry Chapman, Presenter. Youth ages 9-11 on 1/1/08 will need to attend an approved FSQA training class. Youth ages 12-14 (or 15-18) on 1/1/08 will have the option of attending a training class or completing a test which will certify them until they turn 15 (or 19).
§ Linn County Fair Rabbit Show – Saturday, July 12, 2008 – Limit 12 rabbits. Meat pens = 1 entry.
4-H Attendance Requirements – In order to show a rabbit at the fair:
§ First & second year exhibitors MUST attend two (2) Linn County 4-H Rabbit Workshops
§ Third year & above must attend 1 Linn County Rabbit Workshop, or may substitute participation in approved area wide rabbit event (ARBA sanctioned rabbit show or regional rabbit clinic) from a list provided to members in lieu of the attendance requirement.*****
§ Fourth year and above exhibitors may help at one 4-H County or regional workshop and/or serve as an approved mentor for younger 4-H rabbit youth in lieu of the attendance requirements.*****
***** Exhibitor is responsible for turning in a signed Non Linn County 4-H Rabbit Training form to a committee member by July 1st.
Linn County 4-H Rabbit Workshops
§ Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at Extension Office, 7 PM
§ Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at Extension Office, 7 PM
§ Thursday, May 14, 2008 at 7 PM at the Linn County Fairgrounds.
§ Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at the Linn County Fairgrounds, 6 PM Fun Show + tatooing
State 4-H Rabbit Workshops (Counts as 1 county clinic for 3rd years and above. Must sign in with Linn County Rabbit Committee representative)
§ Saturday, April 5, 2008 12:30 – 4:30 PM Eastern Iowa 4-H/FFA Rabbit Workshop – Cedar County Fairgrounds, Tipton, IA
§ Sunday, April 6, 2008 12:30 – 4:30 PM Central Iowa Rabbit Workshop – Jasper County Fairgrounds, Colfax, IA (immediately south of I-80 at Colfax interchange)
ARBA Rabbit Shows (Counts as 1 county clinic for 3rd years and above. Must sign in with Linn County Rabbit Committee representative for credit)
§ April 19 & 20, 2008 – Cedar Rapids RBA, Campgrounds Amana, Iowa
§ May 11, 2008 – Waterloo RBA, National Cattle Congress Grounds, Waterloo
§ June 7, 2008 – Indian Hills Rabbit & Cavy Breeders, Oskaloosa Fairgrounds
4-H RABBIT COMMITTEE & CONTACTS:
§ Diane Coberly: home: 849-2093 / email: bluecreekmeal@aol.com
§ Candace Coberly: ccoberrly2180@mustangs.mtmercy.edu
§ Deb and Katie Stockman: home 854-6511/ cell 551-1481/ email: bdstockman@netzero.com
§ Neill Dunlap: home 438-1222 / cell 270-7539 / email: tanman@iowatelecom.net
§ Karen & Craig: home 438-1222 / cell 389-0536 / email: Karen@dunlapintl.com
§ Tina & Melanie Jochimsen: home 447-6251 / email: trjochim@rockwellcollins.com
§ Kathy & Mikayla Hartl: home 439-6643 / email: patchworkarabian@aol.com
Sources of Information:
4-H Rabbit Books:
§ Level 1 What’s Hoppening?
§ Level 2 Making Tracks
§ Level 3 All Ears!
American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) Domestic Rabbit Magazine
§ Dues
· Individual Youth - 1 year - $8.00 - 3 years - $20.00
· 1 Yr Family - $20.00 (1 or 2 adults [must be spouse] ) plus $2.00 per youth
· 3 Yr Family - $50.00 (1 or 2 adults [must be spouse] ) plus $6.00 per youth
§ Website www.arba.net
¨ Breed photos & links to national specialty clubs
¨ Show dates and information
¨ Registered rabbitries as a source for quality rabbits
§ Books:
· Standard of Perfection - $15.00
· Raising Better Rabbits & Cavies - $10.00
· A Practical Beginning to Successful Rabbit Raising - $1.50
· Domestic Rabbit Guide - $2.00
Iowa State Rabbit Breeders Association (ISRBA) – Hawkeye News
§ Website http://www.iowastaterba.com
§ Dues: Youth membership $6.00, Family $13.00 with each youth $2.50
Cedar Rapids Rabbit Breeders Association (CRRBA)
§ Website http://allrabbits.net
§ Dues: Youth $2.00 / Couple $5.00 / Single Adult $3.00 / Family $5.00 + each youth $2.00
§ Meetings: 1st Monday of each month (except summer) at Skogman Bldg, 410 First Ave SE, Cedar Rapids (across from Five Seasons Center Parking Ramp.) Enter ground floor door facing railroad tracks & watch for signs to CRRBA meeting room. 4-H/FFA visitors & families always welcome!!! For more info contact Rabbit Committee Members: Coberlys or Dunlaps.
Books by specific breed clubs
Handouts
§ Parts of the body
§ Vocabulary
Lynne Rechterman (Cedar & Linn County 4-H Rabbit Resource person) larecht@iastate.edu
Other opportunities to show your rabbits:
Iowa State Fair (4-H)
§ Entry requirements
§ FSQA training required to show rabbits at Iowa State Fair
· Deadlines – Must register through County Extension Office by July 1st.
· Costs $1.00/rabbit, limit 5 rabbits, for breed competition. No charge for showmanship and posters.
· Forms available at Linn County Extension Office in June
ARBA Shows
§ Partial listing of area shows:
· DeWitt, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Oskaloosa, Tipton, Davenport, Des Moines, Ft. Dodge
§ Sources of information for upcoming shows:
· American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) website www.arba.net
· Iowa State Rabbit Breeders Association (ISRBA) website http://www.iowastaterba.com
· Cedar Rapids Rabbit Breeders Association (CRRBA) Website http://allrabbits.net
Buy from a reputable rabbit breeder.
Ask for a show quality rabbit!
LINN COUNTY WORKSHOP 1 – TUES., FEBRUARY 12, 2008 (no rabbits)
OVERVIEW OF DATES AND PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
FOOD SAFETY QUALITY ASSURANCE (FSQA) TRAINING
Selecting your rabbit
Personalities of different breeds
Size considerations
What is available in your area
What traits do you like in a rabbit
Competition factors – age of rabbit at time of show, coat condition, number of competitors, etc.
Health of rabbit: teeth, toenails, markings,
TYPES OF RABBITS
Rabbit Breeds
Fair Classes – Commercial, Fancy, Market, Home Grown, Meat Pen & Single Fryers
PARTS OF THE RABBIT - Handout
Care for your rabbit
Shelter – indoor vs. outdoor hutches, cages. Shelter from heat!!!! Fans, water bottles
Transporting rabbits – carriers
Holding & carrying your rabbit
Feed – Quality feed helps develop a quality coat & skin condition for your rabbit, feed supplements
Water (LOTS!)
Health Issues
CONSIDERATIONS IN BREEDING RABBITS – home bred rabbit competition
LINN COUNTY WORKSHOP 2 – TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2008 (no rabbits)
REVIEW IMPORTANT FACTS & DATES
BREED COMPETITION (rabbit is judged, not youth)
Identifying your rabbit (ARBA breed book)
§ Breed Types
· Compact (Dutch, Mini Rex), Full Arch (Britannia Petite), Semi-Arch (Flemish Giant), Cylindrical (Himalayas), Commercial (New Zealand, Silver Marten)
§ County Fair Classes (4 vs. 6 class)
· Fancy Classes – generally smaller breeds -4 class rabbits
· Commercial – generally larger breeds raised for meat or fur purposes-6 class rabbits
· Market, Fryer and Meat Pen Classes
· “Home Grown” – Bred by exhibitor
§ Buck or Doe
How to bring rabbit to the judging table
POSTER COMPETITION
§ Poster paper size
§ Content more important than elements of style (at county level)
Breed poster – highlight something important about a specific breed
Science poster – may be about health issues, housing, care of rabbits, etc.
SHOWMANSHIP COMPETITION (youth is judged on knowledge of rabbit)
Need to know information about the breeds
Demonstration & hands-on in handling a rabbit
§ How to show a judge the parts of the rabbit
§ Setting up a rabbit to show
§ Breed specific differences – running breeds (Tans, English Spots)
Senior 4-H youth explain what they have experienced from judges
The written quiz on breed and general rabbit knowledge
LINN COUNTY WORKSHOP 3 – WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2008
REVIEW OF IMPORTANT FACTS & DATES
Deadlines For Entry
How to enter unborn litters
FSQA training
4-H General Rules, Animal Division Rules, and Rabbit Dept Rules
Dress Code (4-H t-shirt, jeans)
Code of Conduct
Rabbit ID’s – Ear tattoos
REVIEW BREED, SHOWMANSHIP & POSTER COMPETITIONS
REVIEW OF THE LINN COUNTY Fair TIMELINE
tUESDAY – cLEAN RABBIT BARN, SET UP FOR COMPETITION
Friday timeline
§ Arrival time
§ Vet Check
§ What to expect for paperwork
§ Cooping rabbits – what to bring
§ Keeping your rabbits cool in the summer
Saturday agenda
§ Responsible for feeding and watering own rabbits!
§ Poster Competition
· Junior, Intermediate, Senior
· Breed, Science
§ The Breed Competition routine
· Remarks cards
· Classifying your rabbit
· Carrying your rabbits to table (Parents cannot carry the rabbits up, only 4-H ers)
· Best Variety, Best of Breed, Best Opposite, Best Fancy, Best Commercial, Best of Show
§ Showmanship Competition routine
· Written test
· Knowledge of breeds
· How to show a judge the parts of the rabbit
· Setting up a rabbit to show
Sunday
§ Responsible for feeding and watering own rabbits
§ Must keep rabbits at fair until 1 PM
§ Procedures if rabbits need to be removed early due to family conflict.
§ Must remove promptly between 1 PM and 2 PM before arrival of Poultry
Tattooing SESSION AT END OF MEETING
LINN COUNTY WORKSHOP 4 – WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2008
fun match for LINN County Fair
Filling out the forms
Breed Competition
PREPARING FOR STATE FAIR COMPETITION
Tattooing SESSION AT END OF MEETING