RULES: Read pages 21-24 regarding General Animal/Exhibition Rules, Grooming Policy and the Indiana 4-H Quality Assurance policy. The 4honline animal enrollment is due May 15 annually and FairEntry July 6, 2026.

   Notice Extension staff and volunteers will not change FairEntry info after this date so make sure your rabbits are sexed and entered correctly.

1. All Rabbits, except meat pens, and single fryers, must be owned by the 4-H member, be in their care, and records started by May 15th.  4-H exhibitors must enroll by May 15th those breed class rabbits, except pre-juniors, that are intended for exhibit at the fair. The Putnam Meat Pen Entry Form may be obtained at your rabbit club meetings or in the 4-H Program & Project Handbook.

2. 4-H rabbits sold, purchased privately or offered for sale at public auction after May 15th and prior to the Indiana State Fair, shall not be eligible to show.
3. All meat pen rabbits, and single fryers must be owned by the 4-H member, be in their care, and records started by July 1st.  4-H exhibitors must enroll by July 1st those meat pen rabbits and single fryers that are intended for exhibit at the county fair. Therefore, no rabbit will be allowed to be exhibited at the fair unless it is enrolled by May 15th (breed classes) or July 1st (meat pen and single fryer). .

4. Any 4-H rabbit project member may enter three ARBA recognized breeds of rabbits, but exhibit only one rabbit per class. An exhibitor may exhibit only one meat pen and one single fryer. These are not considered a breed class. A 4-H member must exhibit at least one rabbit in a breed class to be eligible to exhibit a meat pen.
5. A 4-H’er may EXHIBIT a MAXIMUM OF 10 ENTRIES with only ONE RABBIT PER CLASS PLUS ONE MEAT PEN AND ONE SINGLE FRYER.
6. A meat pen consists of three rabbits of the same breed and variety weighing up to 5 1/2 pounds each and not be over ten weeks of age.  A single fryer rabbit may be taken and shown from the exhibitor’s meat pen.

7. All exhibits must arrive during posted check-in time on Friday, July 17th or Saturday, July 18th, and remain on grounds until early Friday morning, July 24th from 12:01 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.  Final release time will be early Saturday morning, July 25th from 12:01 a.m - 8 a.m.   All livestock and tack must be gone by 8 a.m. Saturday.  Pen request forms must be submitted by June 29th to the Extension Office or at any 4-H Rabbit Club meeting prior to that date. These forms can be obtained at the 4-H Rabbit Club meetings or in the back of this 4-H Program & Project Handbook.

   Due to space limitations, the Superintendent may limit the number of rabbits penned by an exhibitor, and  those not submitting the pen request form by June 29th will pen their rabbits only if pens are available.

8. 4-H exhibits must remain on exhibit at the Putnam County Fair until established release time, unless approved by the Superintendent and the 4-H Youth Educator.  For any exhibit removed from display prior to the official release time, placings and prizes (ribbons, medals, trophies, etc) will be forfeited.  The current year Achievement Program recognition for that project will be forfeited.
9. All rabbits must be checked in and out by the Rabbit Superintendents or an official committee member.
10. Before being checked in, all rabbits must be permanently marked with a legible tattoo in the left ear consisting of a letter, number, or both. Rabbits without a tattoo or with a fresh tattoo will not be permitted to check in and will be ineligible to show. This procedure helps the exhibitor to keep record of the rabbit breeding; helps straighten out mix-ups which might occur in the County or State Fair show and exhibit; helps to identify any stock that may be stolen.
11. Meat pen rabbits (three (3) rabbits) will be housed in only one (1) cage.
12. Any rabbits showing signs of disease will be barred from the fair. Exhibitors should be aware that animals showing signs of sickness or communicable disease will be asked to leave the building. Please refer to general health requirements stated in this Putnam County 4-H Program & Project Handbook.
13. All classes will be judged according to the breed ages, weights, varieties, and sex as established by the Indiana State Fair rules. These rules are in turn established by the American Rabbit Breeders Association, Inc.; best of breed and best opposite sex accordingly.
14. All 4-H members are responsible on the day of judging for carrying their 4-H rabbits to and from the judging table. Only 4-H members may show rabbits at the judging table, no adults.
15. Animals shown in the fryer, and meat pen classes cannot be shown as breed animals.
16. 4-H rabbits exhibited at other shows after May 15th by other than the 4-H exhibitor will not be eligible to show at the County or State Fair.
17. 4-H rabbit exhibitors may wear their show coats as a safety precaution.  Their coat may or may not bear their name and/or the rabbit‘s name.
18. It is the 4-H member’s responsibility to make sure their animals are fed and have fresh water throughout each day of the fair.  Failure to provide proper care for your animal may result in a forfeit of any awards received during the fair. 
19. Exhibitors will be personally responsible to maintain clean pens and keep an attractive exhibit throughout the fair.
20. No rabbit will be offered for sale until after the show.
21. Only one meat pen of rabbits may be sold at the livestock sale by a 4-H member. The meat pen presented for sale must be in good condition, must weigh a minimum of 10.5 pounds, and must be presented for sale by the 4-H member. No 4 class meat pen will be allowed to sell in the auction.

 

The following classes will be offered according to the breed ages, weights, varieties, and sex as established by the ARBA. Any Rabbit of a recognized ARBA breed will be accepted.

 

The following classes will be offered according to the breed ages, weight, varieties, and sex as established by the ARBA

Class

Senior Buck

Senior Doe

6-8 Buck (6 to 8 months)

6-8 Doe (6 to 8 months)

Junior Buck

Junior Doe

Fur Class: Wool, Normal, Satin, or Angora                      (one entry per member)

Meat Pen -- 3 rabbits of same breed, variety, minimum of three (3 1/2) lbs. up to five (5 1/2) lbs. each and not over ten (10) weeks of age on the day of show. * If selling in the Putnam Co. livestock auction the meat pen must weigh a minimum of 10.5 lbs.

Single Fryer 1 rabbit not over 70 days old (3 1/2 to   5 1/2 lbs.)

SCRAMBLE CLASS Open to any 4-H member who is in the 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade and is a first year member in the 4-H Rabbit project.  ALL SCRAMBLE RABBITS MUST GO THROUGH THE 4-H AUCTION.  Each 4-H Rabbit Scramble member will show only the one (1) market rabbit in the 4-H rabbit project (rabbit may be entered in any open show). The market rabbit will be donated to the 4-H member.  Deadline for sign-up will be March 1st of the current year.  Please contact the superintendent to sign up.  4-H SCRAMBLE MEMBERS MAY ENTER AND SHOW ONLY THEIR SCRAMBLE RABBIT.  Scramble rabbits will be shown in their own separate class.  One MAY NOT have any other species scramble animals.  WINNERS WILL NOT MOVE ON TO COMPETE IN BEST OF SHOW.

Rabbit Ambassador Contest

(previously known as Rabbit Royalty)

Novice-4-H member in the 3rd or 4th grade on January 1st current year

Junior-4-H member in the 5th or 6th grade on January 1st of the current year

Intermediate-4-H member in the 7th or 8th grade on January 1st of the current year

Senior-4-H member in the 9th or 10th grade on January 1st of the current year

Master-4-H member in the 11th or 12th grade on January 1st of the current year

General information and requirements:

1. Category winners are not eligible to compete in the same category again if they win at the State Fair Level. They may, however, compete in the next higher category.
2. No resource or reference material may be used during the contest by the participants.
3. Contestants must provide a #2 pencil for writing purposes.
4. Questions for the contest will be taken from the publications,   

Procedures:

    1.) Test

2.) Breed Identification - 60 points

1. Identify ten (10) rabbits according to showroom classification and class.
2. Showroom classification refers to the term used to enter the rabbit in a show thereby indicating how it is shown.  Specifically, the Netherland Dwarf rabbit is shown by variety and should be identified by variety only. The Jersey Wooly breed is shown by groups and should be identified by group only.

3.) Showmanship-100 points

1. Each contestant must furnish his/her own rabbit and bring the rabbit to the judge in a carrier. All rabbits must be tattooed.
2. The rabbit should be in a solid bottom carrier.
3. Showmanship contestants must use a rabbit they have listed on their rabbit enrollment form. However, this rabbit does not have to be exhibited at the current year’s 4-H fair.
4. Contestants should refer to the 4-H Ambassador Contest Showmanship Score Sheet as a resource. This form is available from the County Extension Office or on the Purdue University 4-H website.