Taming that rascally rabbit

The Easter season has come and gone, but bunnies can still be found hopping around Cheyenne County as several 4-H students attended a rabbit workshop held Thursday evening at the county fairgrounds.

"(Rabbits are) a great introduction to livestock," Cheyenne County UNL Extension Educator Cynthia Gill said. "It teaches kids how to care for an animal, it teaches them responsibility and it doesn't take a lot of space or financial commitment compared to other projects."

The workshop was led by Cassi Barry, a sixth grade teacher at West Elementary School in Sidney who has 20 years experience raising and breeding rabbits.

"I started as a 4-H'er and have bred and showed rabbits all across the country ever since," Barry said. "This is what I love to do. This is my passion."

While this is Barry's first year living in Sidney, she has judged rabbit projects at the Cheyenne County Fair and Rodeo in the past.

"I've judged county fairs for about 10 years," she said.

For this year's fair, Barry will be the superintendent for the rabbit projects.

"I came from Colorado, and this fair has a pretty small show compared to some other ones that I've done," she said. "But we're hoping to grow some interest with kids here and get them going."

"I think she just has a natural enthusiasm for it," Gill said of Barry. "And I think that will be contagious."

Barry said the key is to get the students into not just raising a rabbit, but breeding them as well. She said raising rabbits might seem easy from the outside, but there is a lot of work to it.

"There's a ton of work," she said. "I think people see it as an easy-care project, but as a breeder for so many years, I kind of disagree with that. It's a lot of work."

Barry said the workshop covers many of the basics in raising a rabbit, as well as tips for preparing to show the animal at the county fair.

"We're just kind of getting them acquainted with rabbits and what they need to do for care," she said. "Since this is our first this year, this is the basic, nitty gritty stuff."

Topics during the hour-long workshop including feeding, grooming, sheltering, summer care, as well as equipment they might need in raising their animal project.

Thirteen-year-old Leigha Wachtel brought her rabbit, "Oreo," with her to the workshop. She said it is her first rabbit.

"I just got her a while ago," Wachtel said. "I want to learn how to show her and take good care of her."

Wachtel said she is still learning about her one-year-old rabbit, whom she said she has had for about three months, even what type of breed it was.

"It looks to me like she has some Lionhead in her," Barry said, looking over "Oreo."

Wachtel said she has enjoyed taking care of "Oreo," who she said has been getting along with all of her family, even their pet cat.

"Her and the cat are buddies," she said. "He gives her baths, and they eat the same piece of lettuce. It's so cute."

Wachtel said she does not know what to expect to come out of showing for the first time at this year's county fair, but she's looking at it as a learning experience.

Felicity Beyer, 13, has been showing rabbits at the county fair since she started the 4-H program five years ago. The Sidney seventh grader has since gone on to raise several grand champions, nearly sweeping the rabbit show during last year's fair.

"I got grand in everything except for fancy breed," she said. "I got reserve there, and I think maybe blue on one of my fryers."

Beyer said she enjoys showing rabbits because it is an animal with which she can maintain a close relationship.

"They're just like a pet," she said. "And they can be your best friend."

In her first year, Beyer said she joined 4-H to be like her older siblings, and chose the rabbit project because it she wanted a pet. In the years since, Beyer now manages several animal projects, including pigs, goats and cattle, and goes in looking to sell.

"When you're not attached to them, it's very easy to sell them," she said.

Even so, Beyer said she kept her first rabbit, "Marshmallow," until the animal passed away from old age last year at eight years old.

"I had it since before 4-H," she said. "I didn't show it, but I got very attached to it. I showed it in showmanship, so it was never for sale."

As a veteran to the rabbit project, Beyer said she learned many lessons through the years, some of them the hard way.

"Like you don't want a wooden pen for rabbits," she said. "I learned that right away. They will eat through it, no matter what."

With the county fair just a few months away, Beyer said she will participate in all of the categories in the rabbit show as she has done in the past.

"I'm hoping that I can get another fancy breed rabbit, and do showmanship with that rabbit," she said. "Show two pens of three, probably, and then roasters and fryers. I'll probably have about 10 to 15 rabbits to show."

Cheyenne County Fair and Rodeo will be held July 17 to 23 at the county fairgrounds in Sidney.