TRBA Youth Contest Guidelines  

TRBA Youth Contests should provide, for all youth, recognition of what they have learned and an opportunity for new learning, in addition to choosing the most proficient participant on that day for that particular contest. Information for contests will be drawn from the ARBA Official Guidebook to Raising Better Rabbits and Cavies, the ARBA Yearbook, the ARBA Standard of Perfection, the ARBA Domestic Rabbit Guide, current issues of the Domestic Rabbit magazine, the TRBA Yearbook and current issues of the "TRBA News." Guidelines have been established to help clarify the format of each contest. Participants should feel free to ask questions. Adult volunteers/monitors will help whenever possible without giving contest answers. Contests will begin at 7:00 A.M. and participants are to remain available until 3:00 P.M. for tiebreakers unless dismissed earlier by announcement over the intercom.

Contest Age Divisions:

Participant age is determined by the age of the individual on the closing day of the annual TRBA State Show.

15 through 18 years of age: King / Queen Division

12 through 14 years of age: Duke / Duchess Division

9 through 11 years of age: Prince / Princess Division

8 years and under: Lord / Lady Division

Written Knowledge Test - Participants will answer written questions to include, (but not limiting) the following: matching, fill in the blank listing, multiple choice, and true/ false. Every attempt will be made to focus 75% of test questions toward participants entering the age division, 15-20%, toward the most experienced participants of the age division and the last 5-10%, toward challenging questions which might be found in the next age division.

There will be no time limit for this contest.

Participants may request an adult to assist or read for them.

Participants may ask questions of test monitors for clarification.

An age appropriate tie breaker or bonus question has been included in the contest format and will determine placement only in the event a tie. Callbacks will not be necessary.

Breed Identification - Participants will identify rabbit and cavies by breed, showroom color classification (group/variety), 4 or 6 class and Registration Variety.

Ex: Californian - Standard (designates breeds with only one variety) 6 class, Commercial, Standard

Jersey Wooly -  Agouti,  4 Class, Opal

French Lop – Broken, 6 Class, Broken Black

Approximately 20 senior animals, representative of their breed, will be presented.

Each cage will be numbered. Find the number of the cage on your answer sheet and write the breed on the line followed by the showroom classification, 4 or 6 class and registration variety.

Younger participants will identify fewer breeds as designated by the colored numbers. (More age appropriate and will speed up return of animals to the show.)

The full ARBA Standard of Perfection name for the breed and classification must be used or credit will not be given. No abbreviations will be accepted. (Ex: Californian not Cal, Himalayan not Himi)

Spelling should be as accurate as possible, but credit will be given if the answer can be determined.

A participant may not touch or blow on a rabbit, but an adult/monitor may be asked to "get the rabbit up".

Adults/Monitors may answer questions about the contest rules, but may not answer rabbit questions.

The breed must be correct or no credit will be given for the classification.

Breeds, which have no showroom classification, will be recorded as Standard.

There will be no time limit for this contest.

Keep your answers covered at all times. On lookers will be asked to leave immediately.

Hand in your answer sheet and the clipboard before you leave the contest. Do not discuss the rabbits until everyone has finished the contest.

An age appropriate tie breaker or bonus question has been included in the contest format and will determine placement only in the event a tie. Callbacks will not be necessary.

Hands-On Judging – Participants will evaluate and place at least two classes of four animals each. These animals have been previously evaluated and placed by an ARBA Judge. Contestants must participate in the TRBA state show contest in Belton to determine eligibility as a Team Texas member for the ARBA national team competition. Participants who will change age divisions before the ARBA Convention and plan to attend in the fall, must also compete in the higher age division to determine team membership.

A list of breeds will be posted prior to the start of the contest.

Before the contest begins, participants will be notified to prejudge the animals or to regard the animals as sound.

An ARBA Standard of Perfection will be available for contestants to use.

Participants will be allowed seven (7) minutes to judge a class.

Answers will be recorded on a Judging Contest placing card.

Based on the class placement of an ARBA Judge, a standardized Hormel Computing Slide used for scoring judging contests, will determine how close each participant is to the judge’s placement and how many points each participant will earn for the class.

Lord and Lady contestants will participate in a Showmanship contest instead of Hands-On Judging.

Tiebreakers/ callbacks will be provided when necessary to determine the top three placements in any age group.

Royalty – The high point male and female in each of the four age divisions will be designated TRBA Royalty. This title is determined by combining the scores earned on the application, written test, breed identification and hands-on judging/or showmanship for Lord /Lady. These contestants must be current members of TRBA and residents of the state of Texas when entering and competing in the contests.

Royalty Applications are available from the internet (texasrba.com) Youth Advisors, the TRBA Secretary and TRBA chartered clubs (excluding specialty and fairs). Youth competing in Royalty must submit completed applications (same as the ARBA application) to the State Youth Contest Chairperson postmarked on or before the deadline. Forms postmarked after the deadline will have the envelope copied and will be returned by certified mail, unopened.

All contest results will be announced and awards presented at the TRBA State Banquet Saturday night. Trophies and awards not claimed at the banquet may be picked up at the Youth Secretary area after 9:30 A.M. Sunday. Awards will not be mailed.

All tests and contest material will be placed in the contestants’ packets along with their comment cards and show reports. They may be picked up from the Youth Secretary folders at the conclusion of the show. Addresses for those contributing award money and services will be included. Please take a minute to thank those individuals who are interested in supporting your efforts. Please use the suggestion form to help improve our contest development.