Bunny raising started as way for my parents to teach me responsibility in the year 1966. My first rabbit was a white mixed breed rabbit.That is when the rabbit habit began. A few years later I was invited to my first 4-H meeting and later joined an all rabbit 4-H club, called the Busy Bunny 4-H club. My first encounter with a licensed judge was Mr. Lowell Trausch. Mr. Trausch was one of the three advisors of the club along with the late Dallas Stoller and the late Doyle McCoy. The three advisors introduced me to Californians, Havana's, Dutch, and Silver Martens. My Freshmen year in high school I won Grand Champion meat pen at our County fair. When I sold the rabbits at the fair auction for whooping $42.00, I though I was rich. That was the last County 4-H fair show that I participated in. The rabbits left my barn to their new home in my brothers barn.

In the year 1998 a friend looked me up and informed me that his kids were raising and showing rabbits and informed me that my two boy's should do the same. I said no, however, some how a trio of Dutch with one of them bred due to deliver soon ended up in my garage. Well as they say the Rabbit Habit struck again. Since the trio of Dutch, we raised New Zealand Whites, Havana's, Silver Martens, and Californians. My son Clark has done very well on the show circuit with his Silver Martens. I show Californians, between the two breeds we keep about thirty five does busy. At a given time we keep around 150-175 rabbits in our barn.

Three years ago I took over for Chuck Hendersons Northwest Directors position and since then been elected to my current term. I have been a past 4-H advisor and currently holding an elected position on the Defiance County Fair Board. I have been a volunteer speaker at several rabbit clinics.

Don Retcher
Northwest Director