84-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 19, 2002
Pennsylvania Rabbit and Cavy Queen Jenna Carnibe
holds her Jersey Woolie named Gus, which won best of
variety at the Farm Show.
Although chick
ens were banned
from the Farm
Show this year be
cause of the risk of
avian influenza,
some Chinese
roosters were
sneaked in the back
door. David Nolt ex
amines two of the
Chinese roosters
that attracted the
attention of collec
tors.
Rabbits Hop To Show Fame
LOU ANN GOOD
Food And Family
Features Editor
HARRISBURG (Dauphin
Co.) Talk to Jenna Carnibe a
few minutes, and you’ll quickly
discover that being a rabbit and
cavy queen is no hippity-hop job.
The 17-year-old is well versed
in rabbit and cavy breeds and the
characteristics required to gamer
points in each category. Put 20
different breeds in front of her
and she can identify and specify
the idiosyncrasies of each variety.
“I want to be a vet, and this
(showing rabbits) has given me a
head start,” Jenna said. “I al
ready know a lot more about rab
bits than many vets do.”
Jenna’s statement is not boast
ful. Instead, it’s meant to reveal
the astounding amount of in
formation that many breeders ac
cumulate in caring for rabbits.
Feed and health care are im
portant proponents in raising
champion breeds. Jenna, who
lives in Butler, raises about 70
head and enters about 20 shows
annually. About nine years ago,
Jenna started with a pet rabbit, a
Dutch breed. She and her brother
soon added Mini-Lops and later,
Jersey Woolies.
Since then, her 15-year-old
brother has relinquished his rab
bits to pursue other interests, but
Jenna continues to add to the
stock kept on the small farmette
owned by parents Ken and Con
nie Carnibe.
To become queen, candidates
must be a member of the state
Rabbit and Cavy Association and
fill out an application detailing
their experience with the indus
try. At the state convention con
ducted each February, candidates
are interviewed by judges, and
must judge four classes and iden
tify 20 different breeds. Prospec
tive queens must present a 3-5
minute promotional talk about
the industry.
In addition to being selected
queen, Jenna was also named
Pennsylvania youth breeder of
the year. This is dependent on
the running total of points accu
mulated from showing and plac
ings for rabbits. She also won
first place in senior division
judging and breed identification.
At the national level, Jenna
rates second in overall judging.
“This experience really ties
into my future plans to become a
vet, helps me with public speak
ing, and teaches me responsibility
and record keeping,” Jenna said.
Jenna said that she enters her
rabbits mostly in Ohio competi
tions since that state is only about
one hour from home, closer
than most of the competi
tions in the eastern part of
her home state.
As queen, Jenna has at
tended many county fairs to
promote the industry. To at
tract attention, she accom
panies an association mem
ber who is dressed in a
rabbit costume. Fairgoers
are quick to ask questions
and eager to accept litera
ture about rabbits and the
association.
In addition to caring and
showing rabbits, Jenna, a junior
at Butler Senior High School, is a
member of the marching band,
which played at the Citrus Bowl
Parade, and of the French Chib.
Jenna is a member of the Pitts
burgh Pride fast-pitch softball
traveling team and the recreation
center team. She is president of
her county’s 4-H club.
More than 800 entries were en
tered in the rabbit and cavy divi
sions at Farm Show. Jenna gar
nered ribbons for best of breed in
mini-lop division and two best
varieties in Jersey Woolies.
“Rabbits get stressed easily, es-
“Geronimo” is Best of the Show out of 700 entries in
rabbit and cavy competition. The Champagne d’ Argent
rabbit is owned by Ed Hildebrand, Bigierville dairy herds
man. The breed is born colored coal black, the fur be
comes silver-colored by 4-5 weeks, and lightens after
each molt, becoming almost white in maturity. The breed
originated from France and arrived in the U.S. between
1922-1925. Hildebrand and his wife Ellen owned about 50
Champagne d’ Argents that they breed and sell. Outstand
ing breed characteristics are condition (firmness of flesh),
quality of fur coat, color, conformation, and meat quality.
As a youth, Hildebrand showed heifers at the Farm Show.
About nine years ago, Hildebrand begin raising rabbits as
a hobby.
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pecially lops,” Jenna said. “The
rabbits spook easily and run into
the sides of the cage, which can
break the rabbits’ back.”
The Lops long ears also break
easily if bumped.
“It seems I lose my best ones,”
she said.
During Farm Show week,
Jenna helped care for the 800
rabbit entries from 9:30 a.m. to
9:30 p.m. During judging, she re
mained until 1 a.m.
These hours alone show that
raising rabbits is much more than
a hobby. It’s a job, and one that
points to a prospective career for
Jenna.