Friday, April 17, 2015

Preparing to judge a 4-H Show


As I sit down at the computer for a few quick minutes, I gather my thoughts and think back to when I was a 4-H exhibitor. The night before a 4-H show, I was trying to get all of my show gear ready. Bath any animals that needed to be bathed and groomed. I prepared my food for the next day, and sat my clothes on the edge of the bed. I would read over the show rules to make sure I was familiar with them. Looking back 4-H was a great experience for me. I learned so much from listening to the judges and asking questions once judging was over. I was always the first kid to volunteer to write for the judge.

Many years later, I have taken the initiative to take the steps needed to advance in my hobby of rabbits and cavies. I have become a dual rabbit and cavy registrar. I am waiting to schedule my rabbit judge’s exam, and next year I will take my cavy judges exam. Even as an adult 4-H has given back to me. I have been judging 4-H/FFA shows for about three years now. I really enjoy judging and sharing my experiences with the youth. I judge to the ARBA Standard of Perfection, and explain the important points to those who are new to showing rabbits and cavies.

I really enjoy spending one on one time with the youth during showmanship classes. This is where I can tell if the youth actually knows about his or her animal or if someone else does all the work. After showmanship I have the opportunity to listen to the kids ask me questions about their particular breeds. I am always excited when I have a youth exhibitor teach me something about their particular breed that I did not already know.

ACBA National Specality Results

Fuzzibutt's Rabbitry and Caviary represented the little state of Delaware well this past weekend 4/11/15 in Berea, Ohio at the 2015 American Cavy Breeders Association (ACBA) National Specialty Show. The show was held at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds. The theme was We will Rock you in Cleveland! That they did. This was my first time attending Cavy Nationals...and to boot I exhibited cavies from my own breeding's (I bred both parents) except for Vodka's sire.

I enjoyed the judges conference on Friday night. Saturday night was a nice banquet hosted by the Ohio Cavy Club. These ladies and gentleman really outdid themselves! On Sunday there was the Ohio Cavy Club show...again, my piggy's did really well. On Monday my travel buddy and myself went to the Rock N Roll Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. I even rode the "train" for the very first time.


Fuzzibutt's Bayleigh was 1st in her class and BJV (she needs an updated photo as well).
 
Fuzzibutt's Twist of Time won 1st in his class and BIV. I need to take an updated photo of him, lol.

Fuzzibutt's Piccadilly placed 1st in her class and won BOSV


Fuzzibutt's Vodka On The Rocks placed 2nd in his class



Fuzzibutt's Defying Gravity placed 1st in his class