RabbitCon VIII 2016 Come and discover how the industry s premiere educational symposium can help you run your rabbitry without boundaries.

Transcription

1 RabbitCon VIII 06 Come and discover how the industry s premiere educational symposium can help you run your rabbitry without boundaries. Choose from a wide variety of sessions on health, nutrition, event planning, culling, airline travel, and show software. You ll learn how to break the boundaries to raising and showing the rabbits you ve always wanted. Join hundreds of other rabbit enthusiasts, both beginners and seasoned veterans in San Diego, California and achieve your rabbit education goals. RabbitCon Conference Sessions Rabbit Nutrition Expert Series Feeding Your Rabbits for Breeding: Conception, Litters, and Herd Bucks Designing the Ultimate Club Newsletter, Publication, or Online Hub 5-Holes: Doing More With Less Getting On Track with the Rabbit Reproductive Tract Rabbit Feeds and Feeding Primer Pick Me! 0 Ways to Score Big on Your Royalty Interview Shh! Rabbits Are Trying To Multiply! Ending Enteritis Before it Ends Your Herd. Crossbreeding: Are you a daring enough to venture into the taboo? And Much More!

2 RabbitCon VIII Faculty Come learn from the industry s top experts in their specialties. Many of our presenters are perennial favorites. Dr. Myriam Pasternak, Dr. Scott A. Williamson, Chris Zemny, Josh Humphries, TN Leslie & Courtney Bond, MI Jason & Heather Coin, CO Cole Rupprecht, MN Robert Laughlin, Adam Schuller, OH David Moll, OH Bryan Shirk, MI Don Sheets, VA Bryant Miller, OH Melissa Magee, Jared Smith, TX Don Havliceck, MI Alan Finch-Mortenson, OR What Others are Saying I learned more in Dr. Williamson s hour conference than I have learned in years of raising rabbits. G.M. Spring, TX The Rabbitcon Conference was an inspirational, educational and motivating event that I received valuable expert advice and ideas on making my show stock better, and I enjoy the professional and welcoming environment. I am looking forward to next years event already! L.N. Everything was great! This was without a doubt the best class I have ever taken... I can t wait to go back and try Sandra s tips to make my rabbitry website look more professional T.J. Lakeside, Dr. Hreiz took a complex subject and patiently unraveled it before my eyes. His session alone was worth the price of admission B.L. Port Charlotte, FL Dr. Cheeke s workshop not only met, but exceeded all of my expectations. The amount and quality of information that I gained will irrefutably make us better rabbit raisers. Dr Cheeke obviously has devoted his life to rabbit nutrition. His gentle style really made a difference in my ability to comprehend the material. He was always open to questions and he kept us all on task to gain the most from the workshop as possible. H.R. Olathe, KS What a great event, to be with so many industry leaders and experts who are so generous with their time, talents, and expertise - and who are just plain good teachers! I believe I can now prevent or treat most illness in my rabbitry with confidence. D.L. Jacumba,

3 Rabbitcon Schedule All Rabbitcon Sessions are held at the 93rd ARBA Convention and Show in San Diego,. Friday Sessions Saturday Sessions October 7, 06 October 8, 06 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM A full conference schedule is available online at fibbercupinvitational.com RabbitCon Registration Registration Package What s Included Early Bird Rate* Expires 9/6/6 Advance Rate Expires 0/5/6 Non Member Deluxe Standard refreshments, tote bag, plus thumb drive with conference proceedings refreshments, tote bag. $9 $09 $39 $9 Groups ARBA Youth ARBA Member Deluxe Standard Deluxe Standard refreshments, tote bag, plus thumb drive with conference proceedings refreshments, tote bag. refreshments, tote bag, plus thumb drive with conference proceedings refreshments, tote bag. Prepay for 4 conference registrations and get the 5th registration of equal or lesser value for free. Contact helpdesk@showprogram.com for more information. $99 $79 $55 $45 $9 $99 $65 $55 * Early Bird Rate: To receive Rabbitcon Early Bird rates, registrations must be prepaid and mailed, payable to: California Rabbit and Cavy Shows, Inc ShowPro Entry Department 0708 McHenry Escalon, 9530 Use U.S. Postal Service only Note: Rabbitcon passes are for entrance to educational conferences and are not required to view rabbits exhibits at the ARBA Convention. Onnline entries are subject to a $0 ARBA Registration Fee. Register online at fibbercupinvitational.com (after 9/5/06)

4 RabbitCon Schedule Friday Evening Session October 7, 06 Presenter Course Description Room Time Don Havlicek MI An Introduction to Czech Frosties Their massive heads, thick and furry ears, and one-of-a-kind color make them irresistible no wonder the Czech Frosty has ARBA by storm! Hear about their history, current path to ARBA recognition, temperament, breeding, and just how you too could raise this trendy rabbit with judge and COD holder, Don Havlicek. 5:00 PM Adam Schuller OH Youth Tract: Pick Me! Pick Me! 0 Ways to Score Big on Your Royalty Contest Interview The early buzz at every ARBA royalty competition centers around just one make question, Did you get called back for an interview?! Former ARBA King, Adam Schuller, shares his tips on showing yourself off with professionalism, positivity, a goalseeking attitude, and of course, modesty. This course is not to miss for 06 ARBA royalty contestants! 5:00 PM Cole Rupercht ND Demystifying Rabbit Reproductive Biology The reproductive system in rabbits is quite unique and unlike other livestock species. Learn the core basics of rabbit reproduction to increase efficiency in your barn by graduate student and rabbit breeder, Cole Rupprecht. 6:00 PM Alan Finch- Mortenson OR David Moll OH Bryant Miller OH Designing the Ultimate Club Newsletter, Publication, or Online Hub You know you re a rabbit or cavy nerd when you rush to the mailbox in hopes of finding the latest club newsletter or guidebook. Learn how to easily create a readers choice publication and contribute to your breed, local, or regional club. Youth Tract: Youth Clubs, 4-H, FFA: How to do it all and still have time to breathe. There are so many options for youth to be involved in rabbits or cavies. Unfortunately, the major organizations sometime seem overwhelming in their demands. Learn how kids, parents, and leaders can maximize their time and make them all work together! Crossbreeding: Are you a daring enough to venture into the taboo? We ve heard the rumors, but can a rabbit or cavy with more than one breed on its pedigree actually show, or even win Best of Breed at a Convention? Some call it taboo while others call it ingenious. It s time to hear just how an ARBA judge and breeder has practiced this method in his own barn. 6:00 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM

5 RabbitCon Schedule Saturday Morning Session October 8, 06 Presenter Course Description Room Time Chris Zemny Bryan Shirk MI Dr. Scott Williamson Disease Prevention and Treatment Secrets from a Breeder s Experience Going to the feed store to buy medicine just for rabbits is an impossible task. After thirty years as a rabbit breeder and a professional in pharmaceuticals, Chris Zemny has amassed information on how to read labels, calculate dosages, and treat a wide range of problems such as digestive, respiratory, reproductive, and parasitic with drugs meant for other species, including humans. A must-see course for any rabbit breeder! Tiny Rabbitries: Doing More With Less Who has room for 00 rabbits or cavies? As more and more breeders raise rabbits and cavies in their garage or backyard shed, the task to be successful seems impossible compared to breeders with unlimited space. Top breeder and judge Bryan Shirk says, It can be done! Learn how to remain focused yet prolific and successful with just 5 holes or less. Why Do We Stay In This Hobby? Drama, gossip, and now Facebook: who hasn t had those days when you ask yourself, Why the heck am I still doing this? Lifetime ARBA judge and professor of Animal Sciences shares his family and professional story and brings a philosophical and inspiring lecture to help reenergize you from the core. There s no better way to start your convention! 9:00 AM 9:00 AM 0:00 AM Jared Smith TX Shh! Rabbits Are Trying To Multiply! Rabbit Productivity in Relation to Environmental Factors. This course is based on his cutting edge study conducted at the rabbit research lab at Texas A&M University. Feed, climate, ventilation, stress and even noise can greatly affect a rabbit s productivity. Listen to graduate student Jared s lecture and identify what you can change in your barn to increase output. :5 AM Josh Humprhies TN Don Sheets VA Dr. Myriam Pasternak I ve Always Thought of Raising Picking Your Second Breed You know you re a rabbit or cavy breeder when you find yourself doodling exaggerated toplines and perfectly crowned heads of one-day breeds on the backs of napkins while you wait for an appointment or daydream through algebra class. Face it, we ve all thought about or even tried a second or third breed. Listen to what our ARBA President and top judges have to say about picking and successfully taking on another breed. Ending Enteritis Before it Ends Your Herd Jelly poop, potty bellies, lethargy, and death: if you re a rabbit breeder, you know the signs in young rabbits. Worse, you fear the typical fatal outcome for the sick young rabbit. Commercial rabbitry manager and veterinarian Dr. Pasternak shares how she has ended enteritis in her barn and ultimately increased productivity. :00 AM :45 PM

6 RabbitCon Schedule Saturday Afternoon Session October 8, 06 Presenter Course Description Room Time Robert Laughlin Leslie & Courtney Bond MI Jason & Heather Coin CO Bon Appetite! Cooking Homegrown Rabbit Like A Chef. Rabbitcon Chef, Robert, will demonstrate healthy basics in cooking rabbit meat with plenty of hands-on learning. He will share some favorite recipes and make you a diehard connoisseur of rabbit meat. Bring your appetite because fresh samples will be served. His demonstration will change your way of cooking! Feeding Your Rabbits for Breeding: Conception, Litters, and Herd Bucks Breeding feed formulas, show feed formulas, water additives, apple cider vinegar, and magic potions what does it really take to feed your rabbits for optimum production? Find out from the feeding and breeding masters how to properly feed your does, litters, and even your fossilized, rather lazy but very valuable herd bucks! I Want to Win Best In Show: How to Plan Your Winning Strategy Rome wasn t built in a day and certainly not without a blueprint. Top breeders Jason and Heather Coin agree that planning is the crucial step in making your mark on the show table. Learn how to set goals, measure your strengths and weaknesses, and finally propel yourself to the Best In Show league! :00 PM :45 PM :5 PM Melissa Magee How to Judge Rabbit and Cavy Showmanship There has long been courses on how to judge showmanship. Whether you are an ARBA judge, 4-H leader, FFA teacher, parent, or former participant yourself, you ve probably been asked to judge showmanship at a fair or show. You know it s not an easy task! Melissa takes the edge off and shares her tips for consistently and accurately judging these tough and brilliant kids! :5 PM Leslie & Courtney Bond MI Feeding Your Way to the Top: Show Rabbit Nutrition You ve invested in the best breeding stock, have a good eye for quality, and are pretty good at keeping the nestboxes full. The next step is nutrition and understanding the essential components to feeding a show rabbit. The Bonds, the highly respected and successful show family, share their secrets. 3:5PM Dr. Myriam Pasternak Rabbits in Haiti are Changing Lives Even Yours! Rabbits are often underestimated in their potential impact on some of the biggest crises in the world, such as hunger. As one of the most prolific food animal species, rabbits have been farmed throughout the developing world. Dr. Myriam Pasternak serves as a pioneer in Haiti, teaching through the USAID funded Farmer-to-Farmer program. Learn how you too can become involved in changing lives through our amazing specie. 3:5 PM

7 06 Faculty Learn from our industry experts! Presenter Dr. Scott Williamson, is a Professor of Animal Science at California State University, Fresno. Dr. Williamson earned a B.S. in Animal Science from Purdue University, and went on to gain a Ph.D. in Meat Sciences from the University of Illinois. For over twenty years he has been a professor of Animal Science at Fresno State University. As one of the leading experts on rabbit husbandry, one step into his classroom and his inspirational power as an educator is certain. He s been winning for over forty years ever since showing rabbits as a boy with his dad. Josh Humphries, TN Josh currently sits on the esteemed ARBA Standards Committee. Whether it s across the 50 states, Canada, Japan, or Thailand, Josh judges rabbits almost every weekend, making him one of the most contemporary and popular judges in the hobby. Josh has had the honor of picking Best of Group for Best In Show at four ARBA Conventions. On a professional level, he is the hospital manager at a small animal veterinary practice in Tennessee. Chris Zemny, There is no surprise why Chris Zemny has been hailed the Holland Lop Diva. Since the natal years of the Holland Lop in the United States, Chris Zemny has helped make it the powerhouse breed that it is today. During her thirty years in the rabbit industry, Chris has made her mark and is one of the most respected judges at home and throughout Asia. She is the current editor of the Hollander magazine and just completed the recent guidebook for the Holland Lop Rabbit Specialty Club. On a professional level, Chris worked in the pharmaceutical and medical industry. Cole Rupprecht, ND County livestock extension agent in Fargo, North Dakota, Cole has a lifetime of experience raising, promoting, and studying animals. He holds an undergraduate degree in Animal Science from North Dakota State University and is pursuing graduate studies with a focus on ruminant reproduction. His family owns a dairy and he personally has a herd of beef show cattle. Additionally, he is an ARBA registrar and raises and shows Netherland Dwarfs and Mini Rex. Dr. Myriam Pasternak, In the 980s, Dr. Pasternak served as a Peace Corps volunteer and began her lifelong commitment to helping others. After graduating vet school at UC Davis and starting a rabbitry, she became devoted to a program known as Farmer-to- Farmer, teaching Haitians how to raise, process, and market rabbit meat. In 00, she experienced the major earthquake there. She says, Farming is not easy but it can put the power of development back into the hands of the village people. Robert Laughlin, Louisiana-born, the kitchen has been a focal point in Robert s life since he was a child. Having moved around the country, he s acquired and melded his tastes into some unmatched dishes. Ask anyone who has been to Robert and his wife s home and they will remember the eating delight. An avid rabbit breeder, Robert loves to combine rabbit meat in his favorite creations. Heather & Jason Coin, CO For most of their lives, Jason and Heather have been devoted to rabbits. Their undying passion for breeding top show rabbits, in a multitude of breeds, is unmatched. Their success is a tribute to their planning and hard work including an unprecedented number of major wins with Netherland Dwarfs. In fact, Jason has twice won a Best Group for Best In Show at an ARBA Convention. Aside from rabbits, they raise and manage an acclaimed Boer Goat farm..

8 06 Faculty Learn from our industry experts! Presenter Adam Schuller, OH Former ARBA King Adam Schuller raises Lilacs, English and Giant Angoras in his home state of Ohio. A college sophomore at the University of Akron, he is studying Biochemistry with aspirations to one day become a research pharmacist. His successes in youth royalty span from local to national, including his 04 title as ARBA King. Adam accredits the ARBA and OSRBA youth programs for teaching him lifelong skills. He is a newly licensed ARBA registrar. David Moll, OH For over 0 years, David has devoted himself to the rabbit and cavy hobby. He is the creator and author of the acclaimed Rabbit Tutor, a computer based program which helps to educate breeders young and old on the subjects of breeding, ARBA breed study, management skills, and science. He currently chairs the ARBA Continuing Education Committee and moderates judge and registrar Facebook page. He s judged all over the United States and in Australia. Bryan Shirk, MI For more than years, Judge Bryan Shirk has successfully taken on breeds such as Mini Lop, Palomino, Florida White, American Fuzzy Lop, Tan, Californian, and Checkered Giant. Despite having a small rabbitry, his attention to detail and success never faltered. His successes include winning BIS at the PaSRBA and Michigan State Conventions and winning BOV Solid at the 0 Mini Lop Nationals in Reno. Bryan is also an ARBA cavy registrar and professionally works as an American Sign Language Interpreter in the Special Education setting. Don Sheets, VA Three decades of breeding and more than a dozen breeds raised, there are few who are as passionate about rabbits as ARBA judge Don Sheets. He s won BOBs at ARBA Conventions and national shows, and voluntarily served rabbit clubs on many committees. Most recently, Don was the successful presenter of one of ARBA s newest varieties, the Broken Mini Satin. His latest project includes the Dwarf Papillon, a breed he s imported from continental Europe. Melissa Magee, Growing up in the Bay Area of California, Melissa got an early start with rabbits through 4-H and her county fair. She went on to earn an undergraduate in agriculture at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Melissa raises Satins, Mini Satins and Himalayans, and is responsible for the recognition of the Copper Mini Satin variety. She shares her hobby with her husband and kids, and enjoys judging around the country. Their family farm grows and markets delicious peaches and nectarines. Leslie and Courtney Bond, MI Little argument is made when considering the Bond family on the top of the ARBA show scene. They ve been stamping out national and convention winners for years, beginning with daughter, Courtney, in youth. The family team most recently won a Group for Best In Show at the 05 Portland ARBA Convention with a Netherland Dwarf. Consistent genetics and the ability to present a properly fed, show-stopping animal anytime, anywhere is at the center of their reverence. Jared Smith, TX Jared got his start in rabbits during his younger years attracted to the inquisitive nature of the Holland Lop and fascinated by the rarer varieties of the breed. His rabbitry was known for chestnut, tri, lynx, and other less than popular colors. Jared decided to fulfill a lifelong dream of pursuing graduate work with a focus on rabbits under the guidance of world renown rabbit professor, Dr. Lukefahr, at Texas A&M, with a focus on the genetics and preservation of heritage breeds.

9 06 Faculty Learn from our industry experts! Presenter Don Havlicek, MI Don became an ARBA judge in 996 after many years as a rabbit breeder. To date, he has judged in 37 US states and prides himself on judging a total of state fairs! With over 40 years as an educator in both mathematics and computer sciences, Don is now retired. His latest devotion is the development and anticipated recognition of the Czech Frosty breed in the ARBA. He was the first to import the Czech Frosty breed to the Western Hemisphere and has worked tirelessly to spread the genetics throughout North America. Alan Finch-Mortenson, OR Alan fondly remembers first seeing Rex rabbits while on a trip to Europe, and being drawn to their luxurious and exotic fur. He quickly learned how to acquire his own Rex once he returned to the United States. Today he not only raises Rex, but is also the editor of Rex World. Alan, an architect who lives outside of Portland, Oregon, works not only on documenting the breeed s fascinating and influential history in the the bimonthly publication but also in the club s guidebook too. Bryant Miller, OH Bryant Miller got his start in rabbits as a youth and quickly became one of the top youth in ARBA history. He is a former ARBA Duke and is the winner of over 00 Best In Shows with his rabbits since 04 alone, primarily with his New Zealands. Commercial rabbits take up a lot of his interest, but he also enjoys the challenge of improving heritage breeds. 06 Rabbitcon Staff Allen Mesick... Rabbitcon Superintendent Kevin Whaley... Rabbitcon Event Coordinator Louis Potter... Registration Assistant Kellyjo Younggreen... Registration Assistant All classes, schedules, faculty and course descriptions were current at press time but are subject to change. Any changes to the courses will be posted at the Rabbitcon entrance. Rabbitcon is a project of the non-profit CRCS. Register online at fibbercupinvitational.com