sr4hshows

4-H Shows

4-H shows are ran differently than open shows. They’re not sanctioned with the ARBA
like how open shows are, meaning you can not earn legs or sweepstake points at these
shows. They’re a good starting point for kids just getting into showing. Kids who show in
4-H, I highly recommend they show in ARBA shows. Kids who show in ARBA shows
and do well in them usually dominate in 4-H shows, and not just for their breed.
Open shows only have type competion, whereas 4-H shows also have what’s called fit
and show. Type is where the rabbit is judged, fit and show is where the kid is judged on
how much they know on rabbits and how well they handle their rabbits. Make sure to
check out my fit and show page for a sample of questions that you might be asked.
It’s usually from your 4-H leader that you will find out about the 4-H shows from.
However you might find fliers for their show at other rabbit shows or 4-H events.
On the flier it will have a deadline date for the entries. You’ll want to make sure to get
your entry in before then. There will also be a show secretary listed, this is who you will
mail your entry into. Sometimes the fliers will have an entry blank attached to it, but not
always. For how to fill out a show entry click here. In addition to what’s listed on that
page, for a 4-H show you’ll also want to include the following on the show entry for a
4-H show:
4-H Club Name
Grade in School
You’ll also want to register for fit and show on this by putting your age division for it.
Juniors are 3rd-5th grade, Intermediates are 6th-8th grade, and Seniors are 8th-12th
grade. If this is your very first year in 4-H, you’ll want to make sure to put that you’re a
Novice. This is so you’ll be competing against other beginners your age. Some 4-H
shows also have primary competions for the younger siblings who are in 2nd grade and
under. This is none competive and made fun for the kids. On the fit and show table they
will all receive participent flat ribbons (they’re usually rainbow colored, made different
from the rest of the regular 4-Her’s). On the type table the rabbits will not be able to
compete with the 4-Her’s rabbits. Instead the judge will say some comments on their
rabbits, and they will receive a flat ribbon for it.
When you mail in the show entry, make sure to include your entry fee. It’s usually
$1.00-$2.50 per rabbit at 4-H shows. Some shows also charge for fit and show, per kid.
Make sure to know what time the show starts. Most 4-H shows start at 9:00 am. Here in
Washington State the majority of the 4-H shows have a vet check. This is where every
rabbit that is going to be in the showroom has to be checked over by a member of the 4-H
club that is sponsering the show to make sure no diseased animals come into the
showroom. Warning, especially if you have a white rabbit, do NOT put hay in the
rabbit’s cage for a few days before the show. I’ve seen so many rabbits not pass vet check
because the kids checking the rabbits said the rabbit had “fur mites” when it really was
only hay dust. This is most common on white rabbits where it shows up more so. Vet
checks normally start somewhere between 7:30-8:00 am. When I was in 4-H, I would get
my rabbits there right when the vet check was starting, only because I perfer my rabbits
to be first. There are diseases that can be passed by doing these, and I perfer to have my
rabbits checked before the kids have handled every rabbit there.
When you get to the showroom you want to put your rabbit’s cages in the line for the vet
check, then go over to the check in line. If you called or email your entry in, you’ll want
to pay now. You’ll be given back cards for each of your rabbits which you want to make
sure they’re all correct. If one has the wrong information, now is the time to change it.
After this you go back to the vet check line with your rabbits. You’ll want to make sure
to have these cards with you, for if your rabbit passes the vet check they’ll stamp your
card. If your rabbit doesn’t pass vet check, make sure to get a second opinion. Make one
of the adults incharge check the rabbit out, not just the kids who say it doesn’t pass.
After this you just have to wait for when your rabbits are called to the show table. This is
when you groom your rabbits out and make sure they look good for the table. I always
clip my rabbits’ nails and groom them the day before the show, so the morning of the
show is just making sure they didn’t get dirty over night, ect.
There are usually only one or two judging tables for type at 4-H shows. They will
normally have the breeds listed in the order they’ll be judged behind the show table.
Remember to check out the fit and show lists to see which table you’re on, and make sure
they have your information correct. This is normally by the secretary’s table. If you can’t
find it ask somebody. You’ll want to be listening for when your table is called, and when
your rabbits are called to the table.
Once your breed is called, depending on how many of that breed are showing, they might
call up one variety at a time, like say only Black Dutch. Then if the classes are really big,
they shorten it even more, by calling just Black senior bucks, or all Black bucks. On
smaller breeds like the Rhinelanders, they usually call all of them up to the table at the
same time, just because there aren't many of them.
When taking your rabbit up to the table, you go on the judge's side, but make sure to stay
out of the judges way. They usually will have the comment cards lieing on the table. Find
the one that is for your rabbit, then you put your rabbit in that cage. Once your rabbit is in
it's cage, flip the card over. This is what the table writter will take notes on what the
judge says on your rabbit, and puts what your rabbit placed.
After you put your rabbit on the table, you then go to the other side of the table. The
judge will go through each of the rabbits on the table, placing them, and giving them
comments. They will let you know when your rabbit can go back. Remember you do not
want the judge to know which rabbit is your own. Do not be asking other people
watching the rabbits being judged which rabbit is their’s. When I’m asked this I usually
tell them I do not know, even though I know exactly where my rabbits are.
If your rabbit gets called to the type table while you’re on the fit and show, the judges are
usually really flexable about this. Normally they take the fit and show rabbit over to the
type table, while the fit and show judge just asks questions. Or you can have someone
bring you up another rabbit to use. I usually perfer using rabbits that I’m not planning on
showing for fit and show, because of this. Also gripping the scruff of the rabbit loosens
it’s flesh condition, which isn’t good for show.
When you’re done with type judging, you’ll want to wait about half an hour before going
to the secretary’s table to claim your flat ribbons. Most 4-H shows give out rosettes for if
you win Best of Breed or Best Opposite Sex, however there are some that do not. Some
will give our ceretificates instead, or something else.
After getting your ribbons and are done with fit and show, you can go home, unless you
won Best of Breed, you then have to stay for Best in Show, where all the Best of Breeds
go up against each other to see who the best in the show is.
And that’s how 4-H rabbit shows go.

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