Here in Ohio we've been having some issues with adults bringing their "children's rabbits" to the show. They then enter the rabbits in youth without a youth to stick them on the table. When it comes time for the rabbits to be placed on the table the adults then go up to the table and put a youth 'on the stop' by asking them to put their child's rabbits on the table. They give excuses such as "My child's sick and couldn't be here" or "My kids at a baseball game and couldn't make it to the show. It's not just one or two rabbits being asked to put on the table but it's carriers FULL of rabbits and it's a real issue with the Netherland Dwarfs. If the adults can't find a youth to put them on the table they stand at the end of the table and 'slip' their rabbits into the end holes.

So.... a board I'm an assistant manger for has had some hard and heavy discussions on this topic lately. It was a big enoug discussion that some 'well known judges in the area' have joined just to participate in the discusison. Well, one happens to be on the ARBA Show Rules Committee and is now doing a poll on the board asking what people thought if a new rule was implied saying youth must be present for the rabbits to be on the table.

So I'm just wondering if this same issue is occuring in other states. If they are I invite you to take the time and 'voice' the issues on this poll. The more thoughts and if we can get more states represented Cathy Patrick might take it to the Show Rules Committee.

If you'd like to 'voice' your opinion in the poll please private message me and I'll give you the address. I'd rather not post the board name and address on here just cause ya don't know who's viewing this site. But you'll first have to apply to be a member but as a manager I can get you accepted rather quickly. :D

I don't have much time to post, but that was a real problem in Michigan too. Some people will always get away with it but few know, since they do all the breeding/care/feeding of the rabbits and just drag their kids along to put them on the table, but some people flat out cheat by not even HAVING kids and showing in youth. It's really pathetic, actually. I hope someone does something about this, because it's a big problem and seldomly delt with as it should be.

I have run into many people who drag their kids along to a Youth show and make the kids put their rabbits on the table. It's pretty obvious when the parents are doing all of the work and the kids show no intrest at all in showing. It's sad.. it really is. I went to a Youth show a year ago and almost half of the people there were doing this. I however I have not encountered this 'invisable youth' deal.. but then again I haven't been to many shows. I can't believe people would do that though... something needs to be done to stop it, whatever that may be.

what if the they enforce it that the child has to fill out the paperwork for the youth show and put the rabbit on the table as well as stay with the rabbit while it's on the table? would that help any?

The only thing with having the youth 'stay' with their rabbits is the ones that have multiple breeds. We don't have a problem with the kids with multiple rabbits asking other youth to help them. But it's the one's that don't 'show up' at all claiming they are at a baseball game or such. So making the youth 'stay' with the rabbits would put a damper on the kids with a multiple breed intrest.

If ya'll would like to comment on this topic to the Chairman of the ARBA Show Rules Committe please PM for the link. :D

Oh. I see what you mean. why can't people just be honest? :mad:

I have never actually seen this but its a sad sad thing.when my daughter was showing rabbits if she did not attend her rabbits didnt go either.i think its okay to have a rule if youth are not at the show there rabbits cannot be shown.bluebird