Best In Show

If you're like us, you're eagerly anticipating the upcoming ARBA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, also affectionately known as our "family reunion."  Crossroads Rabbit and Cavy Shows General Chairman Gordon Williams gives us an update on Convention planning as well as some tips for success for new and seasoned exhibitors!

Many breeders don’t have ready access to a veterinarian with rabbit experience and rely on word of mouth for advice with herd management, disease prevention and treatment..  In the second part of this interview series, Dr. Hayhow answers some of the most frequently asked rabbit health questions, provides an update on RHDV2 best practices, policy and vaccine production and gives advice on finding and working with a veterinarian.  Get ready to take notes!

Dr. Chris Hayhow joined the ARBA in 1967 and has been a continuous member of the ARBA for over 50 years.  He is an ARBA Hall of Fame member, lifetime ARBA member, and an all-breed ARBA rabbit judge.  Few have served the ARBA quite like Dr. Hayhow, including several terms as President, founder of the ARBA Rabbit and Cavy Health Committee, and District Director.  His lifelong passion for rabbits and cavies and his professional career as a veterinarian have combined to safeguard the ARBA in broader reaching ways such as animal medicine, pharmaceuticals, and federal recognition.  Dr. Hayhow published his book, “Care of the Domestic Rabbit” in 2003, and is a frequent contributor to publications on the topic of rabbit and cavy health.

Betty Chu has unquestionably the most celebrated line of Angora rabbits in the history of our industry, worldwide.  She captured the first-ever ARBA Convention Best In Show by an Angora in 1992, and has an unmatched winning history which spans nearly four decades.  With an uncompromising philosophy on perfection, there is no one like Betty Chu.  Listen to her story of persistence, revolution, fame, and above all, passion! 

Without many ARBA show opportunities or traditional club meetings, preparing ARBA youth for county fairs and the upcoming 2021 ARBA Convention is no easy feat.   ARBA District 8 Director, Terry Fender, along with Amanda Beehee, accepted the challenge and discovered just how to reach these kids through inventive social media and Zoom technologies.  What they didn’t expect, was just how many people they would impact!  

Show rabbits in Southeast Asia have seen a growing interest over the last decade, with newly chartered ARBA clubs and sanctioned shows in five countries.  Why are rabbits so popular in this warm, metropolitan, equatorial region of the world?  ARBA’s first Asian-born judge, Arie Wardhani, explains the trend, and shares her personal story of the ARBA in Asia.

Best In Show at the ARBA Convention is equal to none, and remains a lifelong pursuit for rabbit breeders. Joe Kim shares his unique journey which includes ARBA Royalty, a break from rabbits, and a determined return in the early 2000s.  This episode is the second in a series of episodes featuring those who have achieved the ultimate, ARBA Convention Best In Show.

Becoming a judge requires dedication and determination, no matter the time or season of life.  Veteran judge Allen Barr and newly licensed judge Kathi Groves discuss their paths to licensure, the changes in the process, and some of their challenges, inspirations and memorable moments as an applicant and judge.

Attending ARBA shows bring people of all ages together in a safe, fun, and supportive environment.  It’s not uncommon for rabbit and cavy breeders to come from multi-generational families.  Longtime ARBA rabbit and cavy judge, Gene Gillispie, takes us back in time to the 1970s, and shares how he and his wife raised their children, and now grandchildren, in this incredible show animal activity.

The most coveted award in the ARBA is Best in Show at the annual ARBA Convention.  This is the first in a series of episodes featuring those who have achieved the ultimate.  Doug Harrah shares some history of the award as well as his own path to putting his name on the Fibber Cup.