 Don Retcher, Northwest Director
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.
In 2005 I started selling A.D.M.
products which includes Pen Pal rabbit
feed. In 2010 Clark and I started
building small animal cages and carriers
and inventorying small animal products.We
had the opportunity to due a couple of
shows and clinics this past year. 2011
Clark built turkey pens for the Defiance
County Fair which gave the new
business addition, a lot of exposure.
My other passion is Basketball. I am
a class 1 Ohio High School Athletic Association
Basketball Official. 2011, I had five College
games offered to me during the 2011/2012 season.In
2011 I was involved with starting a youth basketball league for the Defiance Six County area called The Kingdom Basketball Association.
Approximately 2008 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 am on the
Defiance County Jr. Fair Livestock Committee.Also, I have
been a volunteer speaker at several rabbit clinics.
Don Retcher
Northwest Director
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