Local Youth Compete at the American Rabbit Breeders Association's National Convention

Did you know that Mendocino County will be represented on a National level this year?  Three very competent local youth have set a goal to compete at the American Rabbit Breeders Association's National Convention in San Diego November 1 – 5th, 2009.  You can be proud of Alicia Welling, Jessica Crowhurst and Colton Pinson.  They have set their goals and standards high.  They have already been studying, working and practicing for months.  Each of them have taken tests, gone through interviews and competed at multiple events in an effort to represent California on a team for the National Competition.

The teams have now been announced.  Colton Pinson was the number one junior in the State!  However, since he had his 12th birthday this summer, Colton now has to move up to compete in the Intermediate division for 12-14 year olds.  He has been named to the California State Intermediate Judging team for the National competition.  He was also named to an Intermediate Breed Identification (Breed ID)  team.

Jessica Crowhurst who is 15 years old,  was sixth in the State in the highly competitive senior division for 15 – 18 year olds.  She has been named to the California District 2 Senior Judging team.  She also is on a Senior Breed ID team for the National competition.

Alicia Welling is also on a Senior Judging Team and will be competing with the Hawaii team.  She was named to a Senior Breed ID team as well.  Alicia is 18 years old, graduated from Willits High in June and was accepted at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in their engineering program.  She had been raising Holland Lops, and recently added Californians.  Her rabbits have done well in shows, winning Best of Breeds and a Reserve in Show. 

Alica points out that many valuable lessons can and have been learned, including responsibility, budget management, ethics, marketing, study skills, and “a million other little life lessons.” Over the years, she has not only improved her stock, but her own rabbit knowledge and skills.   Her hard work has paid off as she has held the title of Best Overall Senior Competitor at the State Rabbit Field day for two consecutive years now.  She has also won rabbit showmanship many times.

Alicia shared,  “Overall, my rabbit experience has been not only fun, but tremendously educational. I hope to someday attain the goal of becoming a licensed judge, but in the meantime, I have one other goal to accomplish. I have competed both locally and state-wide, but this November I have the chance to compete nationally at the ARBA National Convention in San Diego. I will be applying for both the California Judging and Breed Identification teams and will be taking my very best stock to show. Having the National Convention come to our state the very last year I have to be a youth competitor turns this exciting trip into an opportunity of a lifetime.”

Jessica Crowhurst  of Redwood Valley is a sophomore at Potter Valley High School.  She got her first rabbit when she was a youngster, but when she was 10 years old, she decided to specialize in Dutch rabbits.  She has been working to improve her stock ever since.  Her Dutch have won numerous Best of Breeds, three Reserve Best in Shows, as well as multiple Best in Show awards;   the most recent being Best of Show at the 2009 Redwood Empire Fair.  A young doe she bred and raised was awarded Best of Breed at the 2009 California State Fair, and went on to win Reserve of all Lightweight Breeds. She will be showing over a dozen of her top show rabbits at the National Convention.

Jessica too, has focused on improving her knowledge and skills.  All that studying and practicing has not gone unnoticed, as she was the Best Overall Intermediate competitor at the State Rabbit Field Day two different years.  Last year when she moved up to the senior division, she was second only to Alicia for the overall high point award.  Over the years in rabbit showmanship, Jessica has been in the top three 40 out of the 45 times she has competed.  She has led multiple Rabbit Bowl teams to victory.  In 2007, Jessica, Colton and a friend from Sonoma County teamed up and won the California State Fair Novice Rabbit Bowl competition (an intense test of knowledge) moved up and went on to win the Open Junior Rabbit Bowl competition as well.  This year at the State Fair, Jessica earned the highest score of all the kids who took the Champion Challenge written rabbit test. 

Colton Pinson is in the 7th grade at Willits Charter School.  He has been in the 4-H rabbit project for 7 years already.  He has been raising Netherland Dwarf rabbits the entire time, but he too added Californian rabbits in recent years, working closely with Alicia.  His rabbits have won multiple Best of Breeds, a Reserve Best in Show and a Best in Show. 

Colton has consistently had top placings at the State Rabbit Field Day in the junior division the last 3 years. He won rabbit showmanship as a junior and continues to win now that he is in the Intermediate division.   Additionally, Colton was on the winning team in the California State Fair Junior Rabbit Bowl competitions in 2007 and 2008.

This year, the kids  stepped up to a higher level, competing in “Royalty” contests for the first time ever.    A Royalty contest includes an extensive written application, an interview, judging rabbit and cavy (guinea pig) classes, breed identification of rabbit and cavies, and an in-depth written test. 

Jessica entered the competitions at the top level, the senior division (15-18 year olds)  for Queen.  She was  first runner up Queen at the West Coast Classic in April and tied for first runner up Queen at the Cal State Royalty competition in May.

At the West Coast Classic, Colton won the Prince title (9 – 11 year olds.)  He was 1st runner up in the Achievement contest, as well as 2nd runner up in Management.  He also won Prince at the Cal State Royalty competition.  He had the highest score in the judging competition of any contestant, all ages!  He also won the Achievement contest and was 1st runner up in Management at Cal State.

Although these three youth are top competitors, who strive to do their very best in every event, this goes way beyond competition.  As Alicia pointed out, their rabbit raising hobby has taught them many important life skills such as;   responsibility, ethics, how to set goals and work hard to achieve them, study skills, how to be a gracious winner as well as a gracious looser,  and the joy of helping others, just to name a few.  Each of them are straight A students at their schools, officers in their 4-H clubs,  active in sports, and community service projects. They are very excited about showing their rabbits, competing on the teams and competing in the Royalty contest at the National level for the first time ever!

If you would like to encourage and support these youth, a fund has been set up to help with their expenses for the National competitions in San Diego in November through the Savings Bank at 462-6613 please ask for Cindi Holt.  The kids are in need of sponsors and donations of any kind and welcome your help and support.  The Crowhursts can be reached at 485-8058.  The Pinsons can be reached at 459-6575.  Thank you!