Hannah Wisniewski

 This is Hannah Wisniewski, I’m a home schooled senior from Meadville, PA and I’m thrilled to be named this year’s PaSRBA Queen! I will sincerely try to represent the title in a worthy manner.

I currently raise Mini Rex rabbits in the varieties of Black, Blue, Sable, Sable Point, White and Blue Eyed White, and Mini Satins in White. I’m the fourth child out of seven and my family’s herd name is Wiz Kid’s Rabbitry. I’m seventeen and this is my first time attending the Pennsylvania State Convention; my second time competing for a Royalty title.

I’ve been extensively involved in 4-H since I started raising rabbits. I joined the Flying Fur 4-H Club when I was eight and have been a member since then. I also currently belong to the American Rabbit Breeder’s Association, the Pennsylvania State Rabbit Breeder’s Association, the American Satin Rabbit Breeder’s Association, the National Mini Rex Rabbit Club, the Ohio Mini Rex Rabbit Club and the Buckeye Satin Raisers.

In the nine years that I’ve competed in showmanship for my county, I’ve won Champion Showman eight times. I’ve also competed at the Pennsylvania State 4-H Achievement Days competition both as a team member and individually, for four years. Individually I’ve won a third place and three seconds, and my team has won first place the last two times we’ve competed.

When I’m not participating in rabbit related activities I enjoy playing my fiddle. I’ve been trained in classical violin since I was eight, only recently switching my focus to a more country-bluegrass style and joining two bands. “Fiddulac” is the name of my uncle’s folk band. We play at Contra-dances and festivals in Pennsylvania and New York. My sister and I have also set up a band. We call ourselves the “Reel Time Sisters”.

No one can honestly say that they got where they are on their own. There are a lot of people who I’d like to mention. I’d especially like to thank Gerry Vaerewyck for talking my mom, Nancy Wisniewski, into letting me come to State Convention this year and thanks to her for giving in. My 4-H leaders have all contributed in my growth as a rabbit addict, particularly John and Mary Lou McMiIlen, Cheryl Koehler, and Cale Kunick.
A very special thank you has to go to J. Leo Collins for giving me my start in the Mini Satin breed and for being the inspiration behind my dream of one day being an ARBA Judge.

It was certainly challenging, but the contest was worth it. Congratulations to the winners of the Royalty, Breed ID, Judging, and other contests. Rabbits are worth promoting! Keep at it.

Richard Vaerewyck

 I am really proud to be the PASRBA 2008 King My name is Richard Vaerewyck and live in Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania I have a registered caviary. Richards Pigpen. which is one of the few caviaries in Western Pennsylvania.

This was my eleventh time competing for royalty at any level, competed in Idaho this year for the ACBA King and Louisville for ARBA Kind, am very active in 4-H where am the only cavy breeder in my club. I raise Abyssinians and Blanc de Hotots. The Abyssinians have always been my favorite I love the way they jump around, bounce and squeak. have other animals including cats. hamsters. horses. chickens and ducks and a skink, but none of them are as personable or interactive as an Abyssinian.

I’m a junior at St. Joseph’s High School where I usually make the honor roll. It is a small school with only 300 students in ninth thru twelfth grade. It’s a great school and the principal encourages me to do well and allows me to be absent from school to attend rabbit and cavy competitions. won first place in the Pittsburgh Regional Science fair two years ago for my project on Vitamin C Levels in Guinea Pig Feed. I can tell you, if you raise cavies don’t buy your feed at the grocery store, buy it from a good feed store.

I have had to do lots of studying and spent a lot of time to achieve the position of King. I would encourage anyone to try for a royalty position because you meet lots of new people, learn a lot and have fun I have friends in every state now. It also gave me a better understanding of how shows are run and judged, which made them much more enjoyable. I now understand what judges are looking for and why they choose one animal over another.

I like to do a lot of other activities as well I am active in the Boy Scouts and I have my Eagle, I scuba dive and whenever I visit my grandparents in Colorado. I volunteer at the Pueblo Raptor Center. Since I have lots of experience with small furry things. the center usually has me take care of the mice and rats. I love going into the cages and interacting with the raptors, particularly Hurley, a vulture and Libby and Griffin, who are kestrels.

I want to thank my 4-H leaders who have been great leaders arid have helped me. encouraged me and put up with me at every turn. I also want to thank our teen leaders, who over the years were so active with the younger members of our club, teaching us and being patient. We were fortunate to have Jessie Kummer, the Former Pennsylvania State Rabbit Queen in our club. She was a great inspiration.

I received my cavy registrar’s license two years ago and have judged a couple of shows. I just recently received my rabbit registrar’s license. I also have a book coming out soon.,” Cavy registrar’s Study Guide” written with Erin McGrath. I hope to raise rabbits and cavies for many years to come because it’s just so much fun. One piece of advice, always give your piggies a hug every day its good for you and it’s good for them.

Sarah Gregory

     Hello, I am Sarah Gregory. I am happy to be your 2008 PaSRBA Duchess. I live on 10 V2 acres next to a farm in a small town called Wrightstown. I am in 9th grade and go to Council Rock North High School.
I have two rabbit breeds, Holland Lops and Dwarf Hotots.

My favorite breed is the Holland Lops because I love their little faces and their personalities. I currently have 24 rabbits and my herd is growing.

I belong to Little Rascal 4-H Rabbit and Cavy Club and Fuzzy Critters 4-H Rabbit and Cavy Club where I am the Secretary. I have been in both clubs for 5 years now. I am also a member of American Rabbit Breeders Association, Pennsylvania State Rabbit Breeders Association and Bucks County Rabbit and Cavy Breeders Association. I am also in my breed’s specialty club, including: the American Dwarf Hotot Rabbit Club, the Mid-Atlantic Dwarf Hotot Rabbit Club and the Holland Lop Specialty Club.

I am very active in 4-H in my county. Along with the two rabbit clubs, I am a member of the Swine Club and Teen Council. I participated in the State Teen Leadership Conference in February and Pennsylvania State Achievement Days in the summer in the rabbit bowl.

I want to thank my mom, Debbie Gregory, for driving me to shows at four in the morning and for helping me get into rabbits. Without my mom and dad, I would not have had a chance to do what I am doing today and I love them. I would also like to thank my 4-H leaders Dan and Mary Ann Ancharski, Andy Stutler and Denise Ancharski-Stutler, and Julia and Becky Krout. Without their help I never would have gotten this involved with rabbits. I would also like to thank Cass Kinear and Joyce and Paige Holton. They have taught me so much about how to improve my herd.

Thanks to everyone who has helped me get where I am now. Thank you PaSRBA for giving me this opportunity to run for Duchess. It has been a lot of fun and I hope to see you at shows in the future.

 

Duke

Matt Bishop

      My name is Matt Bishop and I am 14 years old. I am a student at Eastern Lebanon County Middle School in Myerstown, Pennsylvania. At ELCO, I am a member of the National Junior Honor Society, the Envirothon club and a trumpet player in the band.
In addition to my school activities I am very active with 4-H. I am a member of the Extra Special Puppy Club where I am raising a German Shepherd puppy for The Seeing Eye. For the Extra Special Puppy Club I have been Vice President and Treasurer.

The second club I am involved in is the Mountain Riders 4-H Horse Club where I show my quarter horse mare in Western Pleasure events. In the Mountain Riders 4-H Horse Club I am the current President and have been Vice President twice. The third club is the Lebanon Livestock Club where I raise pigs for the Lebanon Area Fair. The last club is the Lebanon County Rabbit and Cavy 4-H Club where I raise Dutch, Satin and Lilac rabbits.

I got started raising rabbits after seeing them at the Lebanon Area Fair. I wanted to raise an animal project for the fair that I could take home with me at the end of the week, unlike my market pigs project that get sold at the livestock auction. I asked my mom if I could get a rabbit and she said yes. In December of 2006 I got my first Dutch Tortoise rabbit for a Christmas present. Since then I have expanded my rabbitry to include Dutch (Tortoise and Chocolate), Satins (Blue and Broken) and Lilacs.

When I’m not in school or working on 4-H projects I’m probably practicing karate, fishing or going snowmobiling. I am a member of the Lebanon Isshinryu Karate School and currently hold the rank of a blue belt. My Dad and I love to go fishing together and always go trout fishing the first day of trout season. We also go to Seeley’s Bay Ontario, Canada where we compete in the Cole Brewer Classic bass fishing tournament. In the winter I love to go snowmobiling in upstate Pennsylvania and New York State.

I have always really liked being around and working with all kinds of animals. Later in life I would like to attend Delaware Valley University to become a Veterinarian.

Hailey Wolfe

 Hi ! My name is Hailey Wolfe and I live in Myerstown, Pennsylvania. I am proud to represent the Pennsylvania State Rabbit Breeders Association as the 2009 Princess. I joined PaSRBA in 2004 along with my family. I am eleven years old and in fifth grade. I live with my parents Russell and Robin Wolfe and my older brother Kyle Allen who is currently attending our local community college. We live on a small farm and raise rabbits, goats, chickens and hogs. I also have a pony named Princess. The name of our farm and rabbitry is Hop-N-Hoof Farm. The breeds of rabbits that we raise are Jersey Wooly, White New Zealand’s, Angoras and I also own 9 goats in our herd and several chickens in our small flock.

I really love to raise animals. I have had my own rabbits since I was five years old. My first rabbit was a Jersey Wooly named Buddy. He still lives with us here on the farm. Jersey Woolys are the main breed I raise and show. I currently have 33 of them. This past year I have also added Angoras and four cavies to my rabbitry. Our rabbit barn has 65 cages. My family and I also belong to the American Rabbit Breeders Association, National Jersey Wooly Rabbit Club, Lebanon County 4-H Rabbit and Cavy Club and Lebanon Valley Rabbit Breeders Association. Since the spring of 2004 I have attended Rabbit shows in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, New Jersey and West Virginia. I’ve had a lot of fun and enjoy going to the shows with my family. I have met a lot of great people! I look forward to attending more shows and having fun!

In October of 2005, my Parents and I attended the ARBA National Convention in Indiana where I placed 2nd runner-up Lady. This was my first national convention and I had a great time. I had fun in the contests and I was on the PA Judging and Breed ID team. I also attended the 2007 convention in Michigan and the 2008 convention in Kentucky. If you ever have the opportunity to attend a national convention, I recommend that you go.

During the past five years I have participated in many judging and showmanship contests. I have attended the Pennsylvania State Rabbit Breeders Association Convention since 2004. I also attend our local fair every year to show my rabbits and the PA State Farm Show.

I would like to say “Thank You” to the Pennsylvania Rabbit Breeders Association for allowing me to represent the organization as the 2005 & 2006 Lady, 2007, 2008 & 2009 Princess and for giving us the opportunities to learn about rabbits and cavies.

 Prince

Matthew James Nock

 My name is Matthew James Nock. I am 9 years old, in fourth grade and home schooled. I live in Jamestown, Pennsylvania.

I raise Dwarf Hotots and have many other breeds. Belgian Hares are one of my favorite breeds.
I am a member of many rabbit clubs including ARBA, PaSRBA, Lake/Geauga Rabbit & Cavy Club, American Dwarf Hotot Rabbit Club, Mid-Atlantic Dwarf Hotot Club, and am a member of the Bodacious Bunnies 4-H Club.

I would like to get a registrar’s license and want to be a rabbit judge when I get older. I would also like to learn more about cavies and all their colors.
I like fishing, bike riding and attending camp. I also like swimming in the summer and taking arts and crafts classes. I also have a lot of fun at my Church activities. I am in my third year of Cub Scouts.

I like being involved in rabbits and having fun with my friends at the shows.

Lady

Madison Shaw

Hello, my name is Madison Shaw and I am proud to have been chosen as the 2009 PaSRBA Lady. I am seven years old and I home-school. I live in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with my parents, twelve year old brother Tyler and my sixteen year old sister Ashley.

My family raises angora rabbits, polish rabbits, buff orpington poultry, silkie variety of poultry, white call ducks, runner ducks, royal palm turkeys, two miniature horses, a miniature dexter heifer, pot-bellied pig, several cats, and a bichon dog. I am still a too young to be considered a “clover” in 4-H, but I really enjoy being a cloverbud in our 4-H Friendship Community Club. I have made a lot of friends there and can’t wait until I can start showing my bunnies and chickens as a for-real 4-H’er.

Lord

Jonah Day

Hello, to all rabbit and cavy breeders, my name is Jonah Day. I am eight years old. I am in the third grade. I raise Netherland Dwarfs, and help my sister with her Flemish Giants. I am a member of the Rags to Rabbits 4-H club. I am the games leader this year.

 My journey showing rabbits began in December of 2007. My sister, Hannah Day, bought me a Sable Martin, Netherland Dwarf for Christmas. I got to show it at the PaSRBA show in 2008. She won two first place ribbons and two Best of Variety there. I fell in love with showing. I started going to 4-H in January of 2008. I was too young to join but I sat there with my sister, to learn about rabbits. I went to all the 4-H events, and helped out. I took my rabbit to most of the meetings, and started demonstrating how to flip a bunny, how to hold a bunny, and how to do showmanship. I got to do my first showmanship, and fitting, at the Denver Fair. I practiced everyday with my sister. When I did my showmanship, I was very nervous. I did not know how I did. When it came time to announce the awards I was very nervous. I won Best novice Showman, and Fitter. I also won Reserve Champion Fitter. I was so happy. My rabbit won a first place there. I then went to the Ephrata Fair. I had to keep my rabbit there all week. I entered in Good House Keeping, and Showmanship. I had to go everyday to take care of my rabbit. My Dad, sister, and I went everyday at 5:30 in the morning to feed and clean. I showed my rabbit at the show, and she won a first place. I won second in showmanship, and a first in good house keeping. I was so glad. I continued to join the 4-H on many of their get-togethers. We went to the Calvary Church Harvest Fest. I brought my rabbit and let people pet her. I talk to them and answer their questions. In November of 2008, our club had elections. I ran for games leader, and won. I still love rabbits and plan on getting a Netherland Dwarf buck at the PaSRBA show in February. I want to have at least five rabbits to this coming year. Well that’s my story, I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks, and I hope you have lots more champions.