CASSOPOLIS — Rabbits filled the show tent as youth handlers held on tightly to their furry companions, which were an array of different colors, sizes and breeds.

On the far left of the tent stood Paul Thomas with his spotted white and black rabbit Alex, as he competed in the Havana junior buck class at the 2019 Cass County youth rabbit show. His rabbit was competing against several other bunnies, four to be exact — all belonging to Dowagiac’s Timothy King.

Thomas’ Havana rabbit was announced as the champion of the Havana breed at the end of the judging, while King took home the reserve champion Havana breed title with one of his Havana rabbits.

“I like Alex because he is easy, lightweight and not too big to show,” Thomas said as he held his rabbit, the champion trophy and ribbon in his hands.

While his rabbit was being judged, Thomas had to be prepared to answer a number of questions regarding his showmanship.

“[The judge] asks you what breed the rabbit is,” Thomas said. “What the color is and you go through an exam of what you’re looking for from head to the back.”

Next the judge picked up the rabbits, ran through the rabbits’ body measurements using their hands and lastly, picked a champion and reserve champion.

Thomas, who is 13 years old and from Niles had never competed in the rabbit youth show prior to his championship title and did not expect to win, he said. At the fair, Thomas stays busy showing goats and chickens, but occasionally takes Alex out of his cage, he said.

“Every once in awhile I will take Alex out and play with him,” Thomas said. “I just hang out with everybody and see all the other rabbits.”

King, who is also 13, was named the reserve champion for his Havana rabbit. King showed eight Havana rabbits in the youth rabbit show and one New Zealand breed.

King’s obsession with the Havana breed of rabbits started last year, when his first rabbit, named Max, took home a champion title in the senior buck class.

“That senior buck just sparked a whole love of Havana rabbits,” said King’s mom Debbie.

Debbie said the breed is known to be calm to stay small, making them optimal for showing.

“They just love to be loved,” she said. “Some rabbits want to be held and cuddled. That’s all they want to do.”

King said he has had Max for more than a year. After Max performed well, his family decided to buy more rabbits of the Havana breed. Later, the family decided to sell a few and bought a New Zealand, another breed of rabbit with a class at the youth rabbit show.

King said he has four more rabbits at home, in addition to the nine he is showing during the youth rabbit show. His process on deciding which to bring to the fair depends on past judges’ feedback, he said.

“It depends on the show quality,” King said. “I will take them to national shows and then depending on what the judges say about them, I will either leave them at home or bring them here.”

King also recruits the help of his 4-H friends to help show his rabbits when he has multiple competing in the same class, like he did on Wednesday. 

After hearing the judge’s feedback, King said he needs his rabbits to have a bit more meat in their shoulders and in their lower hind corners.

“There is breeding that you can do to try to overcome little flaws like that,” Debbie said. “You are always looking to breed in your herd. It’s really something we are learning. We have great mentors to help us through this.”

Debbie said the Havana breed is not as popular to show because they are not able to compete as market rabbits.

To King it makes no difference as he looks out over his eight Havana rabbits resting in their cages after their previous show performances. He introduces Max as his favorite rabbit.

“It’s a lot of work,” King said. “But, he is the one who started it all.”