ARBA Convention..and some thinking....

So all the Convention rush is coming to a slow. I want to congratulate the BOB winners, Jenny Poprawski of Camelot Rabbitry and Aislin Hall of Care Hare's Rabbitry (also taking BIS Youth) for their outstanding commitment to the rabbit community and their dedication in perfecting the breed.

I didn't get a whole lot into the whole ordeal mainly because I wasn't going..and God knows we ALL wanted to go. But after hearing the results, I am just in awe of these magnificent creatures and their owners. I can only begin imagine the breeder's response to hearing their rabbit called for a top placement.

To think it all started by walking out to the barn one night and deciding to put a buck with a doe and hoping for the best. These parents were carefully picked out in hopes to improve the herd and were greatly anticipated as to their arrival. Four weeks later, there's a nest full of plump, wriggly, helpless babies that you've created. You would watch these rabbits grow and pick your favorite as they mature. As the hype of Convention rolls around, you begin to chose your few select rabbits to join you on your mission in placing at *least* in the top 10..we can't get our hopes up too high now can we? These rabbits were put in their usual carriers with their usual crocks and bottles and off they went...by car or plane to their final destination. Everyone unloads the rabbits into their coop...all hoping to take the one spot...all hoping that their ONE rabbit sweeps the tables and goes down in history... While your rabbit sits patiently in its coop not knowing a darn about what's happening, you are in a frenzy over the weeks happenings. *Finally* your little one goes up to the table against some of the best rabbits out there. Rabbits that have been plastered over the internet and raved about at shows with their multiple legs and such. Anticipating the final judgment. You get a feeling in your gut as the judge slowly moves your rabbit to the first hole of the coop. Your heart is pounding...pulse rushing...stomach turning. Just to think...each and every other person standing next to you feels JUST the same way. Before you know it the agonizing pain is over and your rabbit...YOUR rabbit...takes that one spot. The only spot reserved in the nation for the best rabbit of that breed. The only single spot available for the *best* rabbit in the nation. That single number alone...sends chills down anyone's back. No one else can feel the way you do..no one else will know how you feel... or can imagine how you feel. In unison the crowd goes wild and you come back down to earth (which is now spinning again) and you are lifted by the words of praise by fellows friends to a high that is inexplicable. YOU did it. You actually did it. You walked out there that one night and put that one buck, with that one doe. And the rest, they say, is history.

*Sigh* I can only begin to imagine.

Back to reality...this makes me want to completely start over with my herd and go out there and buy the best I can buy and in 3 years walk right up to those tables and win. That's right. I, Laura Freeman of Locket Lops Rabbitry, want to WIN. Okay, I know, I'm sounding selfish, immature, and self absorbed. Let me ask you....do you want to win? Thought so. I've thought about dong it. Starting over that is. I mean..it'd only consist of me putting up for sale all the rabbits I worked hard to buy and raise and feed and what in the world am I thinking? I have jrs I want to keep, I have bucks I would never sell, and I just bought that rabbit! Good Lord, what was I thinking. I've been doing this too long to even think about selling out. Who would buy my stuff anyways? Okay, I'm getting carried away. So I guess I'll just stay put...hoping that by 2011 ARBA Convention I'll have something worth while to show. After all...it only starts with one buck, and one doe.