Last week we attended the Colorado State Fair and entered our French Lops in the Premium and Point Shows.  We are very happy that Grumpy, Edens' 4FW2 won Best of Breed on Saturday and his daughter Penelope, Willowbrook's GM4, won Best of Opposite Sex that day as well.  

We were also able to talk to lots of people about French Lops and rabbits in general.  Folks had lots of questions about these big Buddha bunnies.  I do have to say that it was a joy to help some of the 4-H'rs rehearse for their showmanship presentations and we particularly enjoyed watching the "Dress a Bunny" Contest that the youth participated in.  As always I am so impressed at how all the kids handle themselves and their rabbits at the shows.  

Here is a picture of Bristol, Willowbrook's GM11, that now lives with Tina and Richard L. as she was waiting to be judged in the Dress A Bunny Contest:

 

Well we have been long overdue on posting and hope this doesn't become a habit! 

June 2010-We got to watch those two litters of babies grow.  All 11 of them weaned at the end of the month.  A buck and a doe went to Tina and Richard L. for 4-H and showing in Youth.  They are excited to have their first French Lops.  A little sable chinchilla colored French Lop went to Carey M. to possibly show or possibly be bonded to her Flemish Giant doe after being neutered.  Yet to be determined.  The rest will remain here for show and/or breeding stock.  

In July there was so much going on.  Maria got to help out at the Pueblo County Fair with the 4-H Rabbit Show.  She assisted the Judge with filling out comment cards during the meat pen and breed rabbit showing.  Also got to watch the kids do their showmanship presentations.  All the kids did a great job with their rabbits and the meat pens were exceptional.  

On July 31st we attended the Platte River Rabbit Fanciers Show at the Adams Co. Fairgrounds.  As always we got to socialize with some great folks!  It was a double show that day.  Grumpy won Best of Breed to get his 3rd leg.  In the other show Miss Sassy won Best of Breed, and her and Grumpy's son, Seven, won Best of Opposite Sex.  

On August 1st we were in Kiowa for the Elbert Co. Fair  and competed in a very small double rabbit show but were very happy to have our first Best In Show with Seven!

 

 

Yesterday our beloved breed doe, Willow (DVR's VC200) was found dead in her cage.  This is a sad loss for us as Willow had such a great personality and was one of our favorites as well as having beautiful body type.  Found her laying upright next to her nestbox with no signs of distress.  She never went off her feed or showed signs of illness.  This is a mystery.  Her sole baby is now being fostered by MIss Sassy.  If we are lucky this baby will grow up to take Momma's place.  Hop on at the rainbow bridge little girl!

Well there is a lot that happened in April.  Maria was able to attend the 4-H Adult Volunteer Training in Pueblo County and is exploring how she can serve this wonderful organization.  We helped with and attended the Colorado Rabbit Round Up at the Colorado State Fairgrounds.  Rascal (Edens' 1MP1) earned his first leg at the specialty that weekend.  And finally, we have had the arrival of 3 new litters of French Lops.  It appears that rabbits like the spring for having babies!

We had a great weekend at the 2010 RMHS State Convention held at the Adams Co. Fairgrounds.  Congratulations to Laurie Hauska & Matthew Stevenson for winning Best of Breed in Show A and for Walter & Shirley Sloan for winning Best of Breed in Show B.  We are proud of our Grumpy, Edens' 4WF2, for winning Best of Opposite Sex in Show B!  Grumpy got rewarded for winning by getting to breed three does.  I suspect he is in the rabbitry right now smoking a cigarette!  We also got to meet a lot of great rabbit lovers and purchased a nice little promising doe from some outstanding young ladies who are youth members who collaborated on an excellent litter of french lops.  Maria was honored to be asked to help Judge the youth projects.  The youth did some great projects!  

All of Miss Sassy's Babies are now weaned and separated from Mum.  It has been a joy to watch them grow! Three of the babies will be remaining here at Willowbrook Rabbitry and 4 will be going to new homes.  

 

Babies are now a month old and growing fast!  They lined up like this recently all by themselves for the photo op!

Miss Sassy and Grumpy's Babies continue to grow and we are enjoying watching all their antics.  They are little hopping bundles of cuteness!  Here is a recent picture with Momma Bunny and her babies.

Yesterday we attended a double show held by the Long Peaks Rabbit Breeder's Association in Loveland, CO.  This was our first show since relocating to Colorado.  We met a lot of fellow French Lop lovers and local rabbit breeders.  We entered 6 French Lops.  King won Best of Breed in Show B earning his second leg toward his title.  Grumpy won Best of Opposite Sex in Show A and the judge called him "Mister Manners".  He is called Grumpy for a reason!  So Grumpy earned his first leg.  And Darlin also earned her first leg for winning Best of Opposite Sex in her variety.  All in all it was a good day and we had fun!  Looking forward to the next show in March.