Hopping at Adams County Fair
Candice Boutilier/Columbia Basin HeraldBethany Thompson, 7, Othello, Francia Bedard, 14, Othello, Carla Garza, 13, Othello and Justin Bedard, 12, Othello, demonstrated how they show their rabbits to judges at the Adams County Fair Wednesday.
Youth demonstrate rabbit knowledge
OTHELLO - Members of the Columbia Basin Livestock 4-H club gathered in the rabbit barn at the Adams County Fair to talk about showing their animals.
"I like showing them because it's fun and you get to answer questions," said Bethany Thompson, 7, of Othello.
She said there are some questions that make her nervous when asked by the judges. Thompson said identifying when a rabbit has the snuffles can be difficult.
"(It's sick) if they're sneezing and goobers are coming out of their nose," she said.
Thompson has shown rabbits and cows for three years through 4-H.
She got involved with the club because her mother had bunnies when she was a child.
"Then my dad got cows so he had cows (to show)," she said.
Justin Bedard, 12, Othello, said winning first place ribbons is the best part about showing rabbits. He said he's won a first-place ribbon once and hopes to get another one. He entered his Satin rabbit named Ruby. He hopes to win an award in the market category on Saturday so someone will buy the animal from him.
"It's fun and exciting," Jacob Gratton, 15, of Othello said about showing rabbits.
He entered two rabbits, a Netherland Dwarf and a mini rex. He likes it when judges ask him questions about the breeds he owns because he usually aces it, he said.
It takes three to five minutes to answer questions from the judges but sometimes, one of his rabbits makes him nervous, Gratton said.
If the rabbit squirms during the judging portion, he loses points.
Most people can place their hand over their rabbit's eyes to calm them down, but that doesn't work with his rabbit.
"If you put your hand over its eyes, it jumps up and tries to clap at your hand," he laughed.
Francia Bedard, 14, Othello, said she got involved with showing rabbits after coming to the fair a few times and seeing other people having fun doing it. She's been a 4-H member for one year and has won ribbons for market, breed and show.
Various rabbits of all sizes are on display in the rabbit barn at the fair through Sunday.