4-H experiences are beneficial for kids, inspiring them to work toward goals and become responsible, progressive adults.

“There’s not enough of that kind of stimulation for kids anymore, and this is why 4-H, FFA, etc. is so good for kids,” says Heather Strupp of University of Idaho Extension, Bingham County. “It teaches responsibility, a work ethic, and independence, which is often lost in today’s generation,” she says.

For kids who love animals but don’t live on a farm or ranch, 4-H fills that gap. They learn to be responsible for their animal.  “In our county we expanded our poultry and rabbit clubs so kids in town can have that experience—to raise an animal that will be sold for meat,” says Strupp. 

Ideal for young members

Rabbit and poultry projects are ideal for young members, or town kids. Selecting a rabbit breed can be a challenge for first-time rabbit owners; there are about 50 breeds recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association. 4-H kids should research several breeds to determine which ones might best suit their own project. There are three categories for 4-H rabbits—meat rabbits, breeding rabbits, or companion pets. The goals for the project help determine the choice of breed.

Most 4-H rabbit clubs utilize a publication called Standard of Perfection, which describes the ideal rabbit for each recognized breed, and the standard by which judges compare rabbits of the same breed. 

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Market rabbits (for meat) should be a commercial breed and fall into three categories: Fryers: 3½–5½ pounds (8–10 weeks of age), Roasters: 5½–9 pounds (not over 5 months) and Stewers: over 8 pounds (over 5 months). The child needs to understand the requirements of the Fair for exhibiting a market rabbit project.  Some require one to three rabbits as part of the project. If the exhibit requires more than one market rabbit, they should be identical in type and size. Keeping records and weighing rabbits is important to make sure the feeding program is on track to obtain the desired weight at the end of the project.

Ron Patterson, University of Idaho Extension Education in Bonneville County, says the Eastern Idaho State Fair recently started a 4-H market rabbit project. “Before that it was just breeding animals and pet rabbits. For market rabbits, kids bring a pen of two, and they are judged on quality and uniformity. Each rabbit has to make minimum weight of 4 pounds, for a standard market rabbit.  If one of the rabbits is below that weight, the pen is disqualified,” he says.

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The fair in Blackfoot opens Friday, Aug. 30, and runs through Sept. 7.

“These rabbits are about 14 weeks old, to be ready for market. That’s the age they need to be by Fair time.  They need to be born about the end of May—depending on when the Fair will be,” says Patterson.

“At this point our Livestock Committee at the State Fair has limited the rabbit division to 5 pens of rabbits for the livestock sale.  The top 5 pens can be sold at the market sale—when all the other livestock are sold (pigs, sheep, beef, goats). If the rabbit show gains popularity we’ll probably increase that number, to be more equivalent with the other livestock species,” Patterson says.

A project for any kid

Rabbits are a project any kid can do. “Kids who want to be involved in livestock showing but don’t have facilities for larger animals can do rabbits or chickens,” he says.

Twelve-year-old Zac Mueller has been raising chickens as 4-H projects at his parent’s home on the outskirts of Salmon, Idaho.  “I started 4 years ago in 4-H but actually started projects before that, when I was still just a Cloverbud,” he says. Younger kids can participate for 3 years as a Cloverbud until they are officially old enough to be in 4-H, so Zac started when he was 5.

He chose chickens because the family had chickens and he really liked them. After he started his first projects and taking care of them, he compared different kinds and breeds. In recent years the ones he’s raised to show, and took to the Eastern Idaho State Fair last year, are Sicilian Buttercup. This is a rare heritage poultry breed. These chickens originated on the Island of Sicily, near Italy in the Mediterranean Sea.

“This is my favorite breed. Five years ago, my last year in Cloverbuds, my mom was looking online and saw these really cool-looking birds and ordered some. Ever since then, they are the ones I raise for 4-H. I’ve learned a lot about them,” he says.

“Some people think they actually originated in Jerusalem. They are very royal-looking. Their comb is unique and looks like King David’s crown,” Zac says. It’s called a buttercup comb, and this is the only bird that has this type of comb. 

“It comes around in a circle like a crown, with shorter points on the front and longer ones toward the back. It connects in the front but is open at the back; it’s two combs in the back,” he says.

Last year at the State Fair, the judge was impressed with his chickens. One of their unique features is green legs.  “Most chickens have yellow, tan or black legs, but these have willow-green legs. Their feathers also make them look royal. Hens are creamy yellow with black spots and a tail that points straight up. Roosters have a big buttercup cone and their body coloring is reddish-orange with black spots—and iridescent green tail-feathers,” Zac says.

“This year for the State Fair I’ll take the chicks, with their moms and their dad, for my breeding project. At the County Fair I exhibited my Americana show bird.”

A Grand Champion

The Sicilian Buttercups have done well for him. “Three years ago I was a first-year junior and got Grand Champion at our County Fair for my age, and third place overall. I took those chickens to the State Fair and in Showmanship got third overall and in quality got 6^th place, and 7^th in my group, and beat the senior exhibitors.”

There are two different ways to show a chicken, so the judge can look at the bird. “Normally there is a table in front of you, and many people just show a chicken standing on the table. Or, you can hold the chicken up above your shoulder for the judge to examine,” he says.  He enters his chickens in the Breeding/Pet category. They also are good egg-layers and have cream-brownish eggs that are a little smaller than average size.

This year Zac’s sisters are doing breeding rabbit projects. They love the rabbits just like Zac loves his chickens.