Shows mean more to us than just gathering up ribbons. It is also a time to pay close attention to the judges and listen to some feedback. It helps us see where we may be evaluating correctly and where we may need some improvement. At our last show, a buck we entered just for fun so Quinne had someone to show, actually got really high reviews from the judges. So it was neat to get some new insight on him. We were educated on a few things that we hadn't been aware of which now helps us improve in that area.
I think the shows also help put things into perspective. I feel we get biased when we are amongst our own rabbits all the time. We are influenced by personality sometimes. Or while posing or working with them we think they look amazing. Then we get to the shows and see how incredible some other rabbits are and we realize we still have a ways to go. For any new breeder I think shows are definitely good to invest in. They can make for long days but I have found each show gives my girls a little boost of encouragement and we can never wait until the next one.
It is also a competitive time amongst us. I know many families that show as a group. Well, we chose to do ours differently. Each of our girls has their own rabbits. They make their own choices in who they are showing, breeding and keeping. This means they are often showing against one another. Quinne doesn't quite have her own to show so lucky for her, her competitive sister hooked her up. Hopefully by Fall Quinne will have one of her own to compete with.