On May 2, Alina Camacho Mendoza, a junior at Gustine High School, won a best of breed and reserve in show with her rabbit, then went on to win advanced FFA and small animal master showmanship at the Merced County Spring Fair.
At the Spring Fair, the rabbit competition is one of many opportunities for FFA and 4-H members to show livestock. The rabbit competition consists of several competitions, including showmanship, market and breed shows.
Camacho Mendoza entered the breed show with her two black Himalayan rabbits, a buck and a doe. Himalayans are a long, slender breed of rabbit with dark points on their nose, ears and other extremities.
Camacho Mendoza began raising Himalayan rabbits through FFA.
“I chose to raise rabbits because it’s so hands-on, and it honestly was a rewarding project. I like that I can care for them myself and build a connection with my animals. They’re a small animal, but they can teach big lessons, like responsibility, patience and how to keep calm and confident when presenting them in front of the judge,” said Mendoza Camacho.
In the first competition, rabbits compete within their breed. In this competition, Camacho Mendoza’s buck won best of variety and best of breed, and the doe won opposite of variety and opposite of breed. Winning best of breed qualified her buck for the best in show, where her buck competed against the other breed winners and won reserve in show.
In addition to the breed show, Camacho Mendoza entered the FFA Advanced Showmanship competition.
There were approximately fifteen competitors in the FFA Advanced Showmanship competition, including the winners of the novice and intermediate showmanship competitions, who moved up into advanced.
Ultimately, Camacho Mendoza won Advanced Showmanship, and because no chickens or other small animal species were entered in showmanship, she also won Small Animal Master Showmanship.
To prepare for showmanship, she explained the time she put into caring for her rabbits, practicing her routine and studying her breed standard. Ultimately, she found that the time she put into her project has paid off.
“Winning felt really good. It felt amazing. But not because of the ribbons or the recognition that came with it, but just knowing the amount of time, effort and heart I invested in my project. Behind the moment of me receiving the award were countless early mornings, late nights and hours of preparation, feeding, grooming and practicing showmanship,” said Camacho Mendoza.
Camacho Mendoza credits her rabbit project with becoming more involved in her FFA program, including running for and attaining the position of chapter treasurer.
“In my first year, it opened the door for everything else I would go into in FFA, like running for office and going to conferences. It pushed me to get involved and take on leadership roles, and grow not only personally but professionally,” said Camacho Mendoza.
Camacho Mendoza plans to stick with her rabbit project and hopes to breed her two Himalayans to start her breeding project. She also wants to involve her younger sister in rabbits through 4-H.
“I’m a senior next year, so I plan on showing at every possible show, not just my local county fairs. I plan to take my younger sister along with me because she wants to join 4-H next year, so I want her to get that experience with me while I can still show through FFA,” said Camacho Mendoza.
