Texas County mother and daughter compete in big rabbit shows

To some people, rabbits are much more than cute, furry mammals that almost automatically cause smiles.

To certain folks, bunnies are a major hobby, or even a means of income. To a select group, they’re even a source of serious competition.

Two members of that group live in northeast Texas County: Traci Enfield and her daughter Alex. They call their operation “Lazy E Rabbitry” and have been showing rabbits on a regular basis for about two years.

“It’s not as easy as people think,” Traci said. “It’s not like you just go out and buy a rabbit and throw it on the show table and win. It takes some hard work and dedication.”

The Enfields have been rabbit fans for a long time, and began dealing with them as residents of Maryland before moving to Texas County about 11 years ago. Now they care for more than 50 rabbits at their property and travel many times each year to large rabbit shows in several states.

“We’ve always had the rabbit bug,” Traci said, “but we were always concerned with how far we had to go to get to shows. We got over that and just said, ‘if we’re going to do this, we’re going to have to travel to do it.”

Traci has been rabbit superintendent for the Texas County Fair board for seven years. Her favorite breed to show is the huge Flemish Giant, while Alex gravitates toward the more petite Mini Rex. Both women said a winning rabbit has certain traits.

“What they look for is a rabbit’s ‘confirmation,’ or how it’s put together,” Traci said. “Each breed of rabbit has its own ‘standard of perfection,’ and you breed your rabbits to get as close to that standard as you can.”

“For my breed, their coat has to be dense and soft, their ears have to be short and they have to be compact,” Alex said. “Mini Rex is one of the most competitive breeds, and there are some big and popular breeders out there and some tough competition.”

Like any competition that involves judging, results in rabbit shows can be somewhat subjective.

“Each judge has something in particular that grabs their attention,” Traci said. “When someone becomes a judge, they have to know all of what goes into it, but when they’re actually judging, there are some things some judges look for more than others.

“Like with the Flemish, some judges are shoulder people and others look less at the shoulders and want to see a good hind end. So knowing you have so many judges with different opinions, you strive to get a rabbit that is strong in all those areas.”

Traci’s favorite Flemish to show is a two-year-old Sandy Senior doe named Hosanna, who has won seven grand champion awards at shows sanctioned by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA), including a sweep at a three-show event in Aug. 17 at Paragould, Ark.

Three judges at the show each looked at the same group of rabbits, and Hosanna pleased all three.

“She took best-of-breed at every table,” Traci said. “She had the parts all three people were looking for.”

ARBA show wins earn a rabbit a “leg.” At Paragould, Lazy E Rabbitry earned six legs. Traci was unable to attend, but Alex did the showing.

“That was very rewarding,” Traci said.

In recent weeks, the Enfields have shown rabbits at big shows in Sedalia and Harrisonville. In October, they’ll be showing in Rockford, Ill., and possibly at the Arkansas State Fair, and their rabbit year will culminate in December with the Missouri State Rabbit Producers Association (MSRPA) convention, also in Sedalia.

In addition to showing some of their rabbits, the Enfields sell others, mostly to other people involved in showmanship. Their main “rabbit barn” is a converted car garage that’s now filled with cages, and several “rabbit condos” are found outside the barn that were built by either Traci’s husband, Robert, or their son, Tanner.

Rabbit showmanship has been going on for more than a century, and ARBA (the governing body in the U.S.) was founded in 1923 under a different name and assumed its current name in 1952. ARBA annually stages a huge national convention and show, which this year is set for Oct. 20-23 in Reno, Nev.

{{tncms-inline alignment=”right” content=”<p>More information about rabbit showing in the U.S. can be found online at the American Rabbit Breeders Association website, <a href="http://www.arba.net">www.arba.net</a>. The Missouri State Rabbit Producers Association web address is www. msrpa2011.weebly.com.</p> <p>Texas County’s Lazy E Rabbitry can be found on Facebook.</p>” id=”8e31381d-f219-48e8-8a97-b7cec066161a” style-type=”bio” title=”RABBITRY INFORMATION” type=”relcontent”}}

While Traci and Alex would show rabbits for no reason other than their love for the species, one of their favorite things about doing it is the human aspect.

“We’re often running into the same people,” Traci said. “It’s like a big family; we gain so much knowledge and make so many friendships through this – it’s like you can always reach out to the other breeders for advice and they’re right there to give it to you.”

Traci said rabbits offer an opportunity to raise and show animals to young people in varying situations.

“Sometimes, rabbits might be all they can afford to do,” she said. “And if a kid lives in the city limits of Houston, for example, they can’t have a cow or a goat in their backyard, so this might be the only thing they can do. And there’s so much they can learn with the rabbits, and these kids deserve just as much recognition as the ones who show a steer or a lamb.”

As accomplished rabbit showmanship people, the Enfields have a bit of advice to anyone considering getting into the field.

“Don’t get discouraged when you start out,” Traci said. “And if you ever have a question, don’t hesitate to find someone who will be a mentor and be willing to lend a helping hand.”

“It’s about doing the research about the breed you want to do,” Alex said, “and then finding the support to help you get going. In the end, it’s a fun hobby and something to really enjoy.”

Many fans of rabbit showmanship would say it’s a bit addicting.

“Once you get into it, it’s hard to not do it,” Alex said.

More information about rabbit showing in the U.S. can be found online at the American Rabbit Breeders Association website, www.arba.net. The Missouri State Rabbit Producers Association web address is www. msrpa2011.weebly.com.

Texas County’s Lazy E Rabbitry can be found on Facebook.