DEPARTMENT RABBIT
Judge: Dennis Riemersma
Superintendent: Shannon Rehbein
Assistant Superintendent: Dasie Nichols
Ribbons P. B. R. W.
$1.25 $1.00 $.75 $.50
RABBIT SHOW RULES
A. 4-H entries must be made according to the printed 2026 Custer County Fair Premium Book and entered online by 5:00 p.m. on June 26. Instructions for online entries will be emailed to 4-H families on approximately May 15.
- Check-in will be at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 26. All exhibits must be in place by 8:00 p.m., Sunday, July 26. Bring your own padlocks for cages.
- IDENTIFICATION-All rabbits must have a tattoo as indicated on their rabbit identification form, 4HF103. Also, please add the breed of the rabbit to id sheets.
- NUMBER OF ENTRIES PER EXHIBITOR-A 4-H member is limited to exhibiting 5 entries.
E. SHOW SCHEDULE - The 4-H Rabbit Show will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 28 beginning with senior and junior showmanship, followed by regular classes. Exhibitors must be present for interview judging. If 4-H'er is not present, animals will not be judged. The FFA rabbit show will be held immediately following the 4-H rabbit show.
F. Each exhibitor must bring their own feed, water bowls, broom, dust pan, bucket to carry water, a small padlock for cages, and a carpet square for showing their animals.
G. Purebreds may be judged separately from other hybrids. Crossbreds must show in the pet or market class if the proper age.
H. No individual animal may be shown in both 4-H and FFA.
I. Exhibitors are required to wear Custer County 4-H T-shirts or white shirts with 4-H chevrons, and blue jeans when showing their animals.
J Exhibitors should not talk to parents while their exhibits are being judged.
K. Age will be the age of the rabbit on the show date.
L. RELEASE TIME-Thursday, July 30, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
RABBIT SHOWMANSHIP
Rabbit showmanship videos can be viewed online at:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVgaAiYktyY
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE8Q_oPyD1A
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02lY4ndAYkU
- Other resources can be found in publications 4-H 339, Rabbits, Rabbits, Rabbits; Rabbit 1: What's Hoppening?; Rabbit 2: Making Tracks; and Rabbit 3: All Ears.
The participant may use any rabbit they choose, so long as it was owned by the 4-H'er by June 15 of this year and trained by the 4-H'er. Judging of showmanship is based on grooming and training of the rabbit and the appearance and behavior of the exhibitor. The exhibitor must vocally explain the steps in their routine and the merit of the rabbit. Showmanship is the skill of the exhibitor in presenting and explaining the rabbit before the judge, the excellence of the rabbit is not considered in scoring. The judge may or may not ask questions of the exhibitor at the close of the routine. The rabbit used in showmanship must be one of the five rabbits that exhibitor entered.
CLASS G180001 Senior Showmanship (12 years & over before January 1). Maximum length of showmanship presentations is four minutes. Exhibitors will be timed.
CLASS G180002 Junior Showmanship (8-11 years old before January 1)
MARKET RABBITS
CLASS G181001 Single Fryer, 3 ½ to 5 ½ lbs/under 69 days of age
CLASS G181002 Pen of 3 Meat Rabbits, 3 ½ to 5 ½ lbs/under 69 days of age
CLASS G181003 Roaster, over 5 ½ lbs.
CLASS G181004 Roaster, 5 lbs. & under
FANCY BREEDING RABBITS
CLASS G184001 Doe and Litter (Litter must be 7 weeks old or younger and doe must still be lactating.)
CLASS G184002 Junior Buck (6 months & younger)
CLASS G184004 Senior Buck (over 6 months)
CLASS G184005 Junior Doe (6 months & younger)
CLASS G184007 Senior Doe (over 6 months)
FANCY BREEDS:
American Fuzzy Lop, American Sable, Belgian Hare, Britannia Petite, Dutch, Dwarf Hotot, English Angora, English Spot, Florida White, French Angora, Harlequin, Havana, Himalayan, Jersey Woolie, Lilac, Holland Lop, Mini Lop, Mini Rex, Mini Satin, Netherland Dwarf, Polish, Rex, Rhinelander, Satin Angora, Silver, Silver Marten, Standard Chinchilla, Tan, Thrianta, and Lionhead
COMMERCIAL BREEDING RABBITS
CLASS G184008 Doe and Litter (Litter must be 7 weeks old or younger and doe must still be lactating.)
CLASS G184009 Junior Buck (under 6 months)
CLASS G184010 Intermediate Buck (6-8 months)
CLASS G184011 Senior Buck (over 8 months)
CLASS G184012 Junior Doe (under 6 months)
CLASS G184013 Intermediate Doe (6-8 months)
CLASS G184014 Senior Doe (over 8 months)
COMMERCIAL BREEDS:
American, American Chinchilla, Beveren, Blanc d Hotot, Californian, Champagne D’Argent, Checkered Giant, Cinnamon, Creme D’Argent, English Lop, Flemish Giant, French Lop, Giant Angora, Giant Chinchilla, New Zealand, Palomino, Satin, and Silver Fox
PET DIVISION: This class is for crossbred rabbits or rabbits that do not meet breed characteristics (color, markings, etc.).
CLASS G185001 Pet Rabbit