Hey all, I'm about to start searching for my first rabbits, and I want to go meet some breeders and their animals at some upcoming shows in Colorado.
How do shows work? What can I expect when I go? Any etiquette details I should know beforehand?
Is there a best/worst time to go during the show to make the most of my time?
Does buying and selling happen at shows? If I find some I love, could I take them home from the show?
Any and all help is immensely appreciated! Thank you
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@RabbitsOfTheCreek says, different show committees do things differently. Often there will be two or three shows on the same day, which allows exhibitors to possibly get 2-3 GC legs on their rabbit to finish its Grand Championship. Most of the shows I've seen run all of the shows simultaneously, with everybody taking a break in the middle of the day for lunch. Sometimes there will be a Youth show at the beginning or end, or sometimes the Youth show will be on one day and the Open show will be on another. Occasionally there will also be Specialty shows (e.g. Rare Breed, Angora, or Single Breed Specialty shows) that may run at the beginning or end of the day, or simultaneously with the Open and/or Youth shows. Usually this information is available in the show catalog, or you can ask the Show Secretary. (The contact information for the Show Secretary will be in the show catalog.) It's a good idea to get and read the show catalog before you go, anyway.
There are two general kinds of shows: cooped shows and non-cooped shows. The cooped shows, like the ARBA National Convention and many fairs, require exhibitors to bring rabbits and house them in cages at the show. These are usually multi-day events. At these shows, sometimes show personnel find the rabbits in coops and bring them up to the judging tables as each breed is judged. At cooped shows there is quite a lot of downtime, though the organizers generally plan other events like classes, meetings, other contests and dinners.
Non-cooped shows are a lot more common and are usually finished in a single day. Exhibitors come with their rabbits in carriers, and when their breed and class is called, they bring the rabbits to the judging table and put them in the judging coops. Exhibitors are busy in fits and starts; they have to be listening for their breeds to be called to the table, because if you don't get your rabbit to its class timely, they can move on without it. A lot of the day is spent sitting and listening for your breed(s) to be called. So, a visitor can wander around the showroom and talk with people waiting for their breed - many of them will be only too happy to talk to you about their rabbits! - but don't be offended if they have to suddenly break away to get their animals to the table.
At both types of shows the rabbits will be judged in groups. Each breed is called separately, further separated by variety (color), sex and age, so the judge can decide the Best and Best Opposite of each variety within the breed. If there are more entries than coop space, the classes will be called in waves. When all the varieties are evaluated and placed, the judge will choose the Best of Breed (BOB) and Best of Opposite Sex (BOS) from among the Best and Best Opposite of Variety winners. Anyone who has a Best of Breed rabbit needs to stick around for the Best in Show (BIS) judging, when all of the BOB rabbits are called back tothe table.
The best time to go will depend on the schedule of the particular show, but I would avoid being there right at check-in, since everybody will be pretty busy while they are checking in and getting settled. Lunchtime can be good, but sometimes the exhibitors will be trying to catch up with old friends or getting to know the judges better, and sometimes people will leave the showroom to get lunch elsewhere. So my preference would be to go sometime mid-morning, or after the lunch break, when you'll have the best chance of catching people during their downtime. If it was me, I'd contact the Show Secretary, who will know the general flow of the day, and ask him or her for a suggestion as to the best time to visit.
For etiquette, the basic rule of, "Don't touch unless you ask permission," is a good one. While some people are happy to let you pet their rabbits (I always encourage visitors to feel how amazing Satin and Mini Rex fur is), others have high-strung animals that might react poorly to strangers reaching for them. Some breeds require pretty intense grooming - the angora breeds! - and having someone's hand run through their wool can undo a lot of effort on the part of the owner/exhibitor. Some shows are very family-friendly and some are less so, but it probably should go without saying that nobody will appreciate kids (or anyone else!) running or yelling.
Judging tables are often set up in a line, with a carpet-lined stretch in front for the judge to examine the rabbits, and show coops (small temporary holding cages) between the judge and spectators. Stay on the spectator side of the tables! It's annoying and sometimes dangerous for visitors to be wandering around behind the judging table while the judges and ramrods are trying to move animals in and out, to keep the show moving smoothly. Asking the judges questions while they're judging is also not a good idea, as most people involved in running the show work hard to keep everything moving so the show doesn't go late. Take a pad and pencil to jot down questions that occur to you, and ask the judge or someone else later. Just watching and listening can be very effective - you might find that a lot of your questions are eventually answered without you having to actually ask them.
Exhibitors all want to hear the judges' comments, and will be lined up along the spectators' side of the judging table, listening. Don't try to talk to exhibitors watching the animals being judged. It will distract them and you probably won't get much of a conversation out of it. Definitely don't poke at the rabbits in the judging coops (see first basic rule). Another note is that the judges are not supposed to know which animal belongs to whom, so don't ask someone, "Is that your rabbit?" about an animal on the table.
When you find some folks who look like they have time to talk, do introduce yourself and let them know you are new and interested in starting to raise and show rabbits. Many breeders will be thrilled to tell you all about the wonderfulness of their chosen breed.
The cooped shows and some of the smaller non-cooped shows may restrict rabbit sales, but many at shows, breeders do a lot of swapping and trading. The show catalog will tell you whether sale animals are allowed in the showroom, but even if they are not, some exhibitors will have sale animals outside. It's best to just talk to the exhibitors about your interests and go from there. To echo
@RabbitsOfTheCreek, if you think you might actually buy some rabbits there, bring along a carrier (or two - most rabbits can't just be tossed in together for a ride).
Have a great time!
