4-H Shows…A Back Breaker

Don’t get me wrong.  I LOVE 4-H.  Some might even say, I bleed green. But…4-H rabbit shows are a back breaker.  I know I’m not the only one who feels this way.  Why, oh why are we as judges asked to conduct conformation classes bent over like the “Hunchback of Notre Dame”.  OUCH!

Now I fully understand the format that is required for showmanship.  Afterall, the member is as much or more so under scrutiny as is the rabbit.  So, in this case, the table height is appropriate.  But when it comes to conformation classes, why must I be prepared to visit my chiropractor after a day’s judging?   We recently had a bit of a debate at a recent 4-H Leader’s meeting where a compassionate leader wanted to explore the possibility of purchasing judging coops and a table for the conformation end of the rabbit show.  The dissention that came as a result was a bit surprising, but the reasoning was even more so…

• “We have ALWAYS done it this way.” (OK…)
• “It prepares the members for showmanship.”  (Huh?  What about preparing kids for ARBA shows?)
• “Kids won’t hear judge’s comments if coops are used.”  (Darn those pesky sound-proof coops!)

4-H Showmanship and Conformation have two different purposes.  As I see it, 4-H Showmanship has 3 main objectives:

1. To give youth the opportunity to show what they have accomplished.
2. To teach and encourage the importance of courtesy, self-presentation, poise and confidence.
3. To teach youth how to train and handle animals.

Scoring, in showmanship, is based on:

1. The Club Member – Self Presentation, Confidence and Consideration…
2. The Animal – Cleanliness, Breeding/Marketability and Grooming Condition…
3. The Show – Movement of Animal, Knowledge of Species and Directional Response

In contrast, the purpose of conformation classes is to:

1. evaluate breeding stock; i.e., how the animal measures up to its breed standard (if applicable;
2. evaluate the animal’s flesh and fur condition;
3. evaluate the animal for defects – either permanent or temporary.

There is really no purpose, therefore, in a 4-H small animal show to require that members bring forth their animals in conformation classes in the same manner prescribed for showmanship.  Following are the benefits of using coops (in my humble opinion):

• Confusion and crowding is minimized.  Often, a member will have several animals in one class.  A buddy (or “Mom”) must be called upon to man each animal or the member tries to keep his or her entries corraled for evaluation by the judge.  Where I come from, learning is best conducted in an atmosphere of control, where the member can devote attention to the judge’s comments, rather than having attention diverted elsewhere. 
• Cooping makes it easier for the judge to organize his or her class for placings.
• And, last, but certainly not least…(drum roll please)  judging coops, set on a table of appropriate height, are much kinder on the judge’s back!

Remember…4-H members do showmanship ONCE. The judge is asked to judge multiple animals over a space of several hours. BE KIND TO YOUR JUDGES.  GET US SOME COOPS!  (Please???)