Let’s get this started…

This past weekend was the start of our rabbit show season. It was the Cajuns Vs Cowboys show in Longview Texas. This is a fun show for us to travel to and we love to be able to see some of our Texas people that we don’t always get to see. This time we had another family that was coming with us and it was their first our of town show, it was also our first out of state show so it holds a sweet spot for me. Longview is also where my grandfather grew up and I keep saying that I will explore the town more one day but I never seem to get the chance to with bunnies to haul around in the heat.

The heat and humidity makes being competitive hard with the rabbits that are judged harshly on coat. We deal with crispy and out of condition coats as well as rabbits that are not in the best shape due to the heat hindering growth and weight building. Things just don’t seem to grow as big down here due to the heat and humidity but I just keep at it and I hope that I can build a building this winter so that when the heat comes back around, I will be able to have animals that can be competitive from the start of the season to the end.

We loaded up early Friday morning and headed out at about noon so that I could get there early to get a spot with a plug and start grooming the angoras, which I had groomed mainly Thursday evening. We hit a few thunderstorms on the way up but nothing bad and made it early enough to get the last spot with a plug.

Show A, Friday night went well with the rabbits doing well with tough competition: Satin Angoras were the only ones so they placed Best of Breed and Best Opposite of Breed all weekend, My French Angora buck that I brough showed before when he was still very tiny so this was his first big boy show and he got some good comments but he needs to mature in his coat more. My American Chinchilla doe was the only one so yet again, she got Best of Breed all weekend. The two Rex that were last minute brings, got good comments but the other Rex there were in great coat and condition so they didn’t win their classes. I am not really sure how the Hollands and the American fuzzies did but I will update their info when the show results get sent out, but I know that the hollands got top 10 this weekend against some really nice animals.

I love going to shows because it is something that I get to do with my kids and friends. Show season is always welcome when it comes due to this. We always get to see old friends and make new ones. The kids like to show their rabbits and they like to sell their candy to all the people that they can to earn money to put up. This show the kids worked really hard at showing and selling and they we able to make quite a bit of candy sales. I am hoping that this hobby teaches them valuable life skills that they will be able to use throughout their lives. Not winning all the time has taught my kids that losing is ok and it makes winning, that much sweeter when they do.

Well here’s to the start of the busy season with shows, 4H, and general busy time of the year here. Much more adventures await as the cooler weather brings more action and liveliness to our lives.

Be Blessed and Happy Homesteading.