One appealing location on the Whiteside County Fairgrounds, 201 W. Winfield Street, Morrison, IL, is the Rabbit Barn, with its range of adorable fur bearers. Judging took place at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 18, 2015. There are more than 48 breeds, and the most popular are offered at this fair.
Rabbits compete in one-of-three classes which are subdivided by age:
- Four Class are smaller breeds, divided as Junior–under six months–and Senior–over six months.
- Six Class breeds are divided as Juniors, Intermediates–six to eight months–and Seniors–over eight months.
- AOC–any other color.
Jacklyn Hanson, photographed here with a three-pound, Senior, adult Polish rabbit, is from Morrison. Her parents, L. Dale and Evelyn Hanson, are Superintendents of the Rabbit show. She assists her family in the Rabbit Barn and entered some of her own pets. Hanson shared information about these silky mammals and offered her entries for petting.
I asked to see the largest breed and was directed to this buff, AOC Flemish Giant, a Senior Buck owned by Donna Mae Wood, from Camanche, IA. I wondered if this big fellow was a meat rabbit, a pet, or breeding stock. Jackie suggested another possibility. He could be a competitor at sanctioned shows–like the Whiteside County Fair–earning points and recognition as a superior genetic specimen. She estimated his weight between 19 and 21 pounds–700% the weight of the speckled Polish Rabbit.
The smallest breed entered is the Netherland Dwarf. There were several colors of them, including the white-with-pink-eyes albino. The one pictured is a Junior, under six months of age.
An Exhibition Breed was here to complete only with others of its species. Donna Wood brought six Argente Brun rabbits, which are looking to become a recognized breed in the United States. The Argente rabbit is one of the oldest breeds of French show rabbits. It makes an excellent pet, due to its good nature. For the Bruns, a brown undertone, as deep as possible, is desired. Body color should be brownish white, evenly and moderately interspersed with longer dark brown hairs, to give a distinct brownish effect when viewed from a distance. Eyes are bold and brown, and toenails are colored. Their muzzle is more pronounced than the three breeds above.
Hanson is particularly fond of the Mini Rex breed and has three entered. This is the first year in some time that it has been part of the Whiteside County Fair show, she said. “They used to have them in the past. They are good with kids and have velvety fur,” she added. This Mini Rex Otter is a Senior Buck aged 1.5 years. He came with an ear tattoo naming him “Stone Cold.” Some rabbits are tattooed with a number instead of a name. His name was in complete contrast to the warm, thick, luxurious fur that covered his tiny body. Stone Cold was impossible not to pet, even when she cuddled him on his back!
