Northern California Angora Guild: 5/22/22

Show A French Angora Judging at the Santa Clara Fair Stampede

After judging the English Angora, judge Chris decides to take off her mask. On the table are the French Angora.

Carol helps at the French Angora table.

Dark chestnut agouti junior buck.

Colored senior doe.

Opal junior doe.

Chocolate agouti junior doe.

The white senior buck wins the BOB from judge Chris.

For a list of winners, go to:

NCAG Show Results: May 21, 2022 Angora Showing at Santa Clara County Fair Stampede (angorashowresults.blogspot.com)

Show A English Angora Judging at Santa Clara Fair Stampede

Show A judge is Chris Zemny who had not judged for 2-1/2 years due to health concerns. We are happy to see her back on the judges' list.

Pattee helps at the table. Judge Chris wears a mask to be careful. The white doe is the BOV of the white variety.

After the white, the colored are being judged.

The colored BOV is the senior doe.

The BOSB is the colored senior buck.

The BOV white and BOV colored are compared to determine the BOB. The white doe goes over the colored doe to be crowned BOB. Later she goes on to win the Best In Show.

The other class winners.

For a list of winners, go to:

NCAG Show Results: May 21, 2022 Angora Showing at Santa Clara County Fair Stampede (angorashowresults.blogspot.com)

Open Top Winners at Santa Clara Fair Stampede

Show A Best In Show judge is Doug King on the right. Best In Show rabbit is Betty's English Angora, Reserve In Show rabbit is Emma's Netherland Dwarf. On the left are show secretary Griffin Harrah and fair manager and superintendent Salene Durate.

Show B Best In Show judge is Chris Zemny in the middle, The Best In Show rabbit is Griffin's Mini Rex, the Reserve In Show is Deb's Holland Lop.

Show C Best In Show judge is Kathi Groves in the middle. Best In Show rabbit is Betty's English Angora, Reserve In Show rabbit is Carol's American Fuzzy Lop.

Santa Clara Fair Facebook posted many photos and videos. If interested, go to:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=SantaClaraCountyFairgrounds&set=a.374236674743641

Cindy Lou Wins Reserve In Show at the Santa Clara Fair Stampede

Carol's American Fuzzy Lop Green-Burb Cindy Lou is the Reserve In Show winner in show C, awarded by judge Kathi Groves. The wool breed rabbits have been doing very well in shows. In April at Reno during the WCC show weekend, show A Best In Show went to Carol's French Angora, show C Best In Show went to Casey's Satin Angora and the War of Wools show Best In Show went to Carol's Fuzzy Lop. At the Big Valley RA show on May 7, Carol's Fuzzy Lop won a Best In Show in show B and Betty's English Angora won a Reserve In Show in show A. Then at this Santa Clara Fair Stampede, Betty's English Angora won Best In Show in A and C, Carol's Fuzzy Lop won Reserve In Show in show C.

Cindy Lou is no stranger to winning the top prize.
In December 2019 while still a junior, Cindy Lou won Reserve In Show at Hollister: Northern California Angora Guild: Carol's American Fuzzy Lop Wins Reserve In Show at Hollister (ncag.blogspot.com)
In January 2020, Cindy Lou won double Best In Show at Dixon: Northern California Angora Guild: Carol's American Fuzzy Lop Wins Double Best In Show at Dixon (ncag.blogspot.com)

Cindy Lou is over two years old, has had litters but she keeps herself in good shape, still winning top prizes. American Fuzzy Lop has a long show life, Cindy Lou is a good example.

Alba Wins Double Best In Show at Santa Clara Fair Stampede

Alba has been doing well in the shows since she was a junior.

Alba is well behaved, easy to groom, it is a delight to take her to the show.

In show A at the Santa Clara County Stampede show, judge Doug King awarded the Best In Show to Alba. Alba has received a Reserve In Show from judge Doug two weeks prior.

In show C judge Kathi Groves awards the Best In Show to Alba. This is the first time Betty's English Angora to have received a Best In Show from judge Kathi, very happy and very appreciated.

Nice prizes from Alba's double Best In Show.

Santa Clara County Fairgrounds Welcome Open Rabbits after 20+ years

When I started raising rabbits, the first fairgrounds that I experienced was the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds. Albert and I went there to visit a show in 1981 but could not find the correct gate, went home disappointed. As we all know today, fairgrounds usually have so many gates that unless one knows the correct gate to enter, it's very hard to find where the show is held. When I started showing, the first show that I attended was also at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds as this location is the closest to my home, 20 miles from Morgan Hill to San Jose. During my early years, driving hours to shows was not something that my mind could comprehend. In the 80s, the venue used for all the shows was a semi-open barn with squeaky wooden floors. Then there was the two-week long fair in August that the rabbits had to stay cooped for over 10 days in another open barn. Around late 1990s or early 2000s, these barns were shut down then a few years later all torn down. No more open rabbit shows at that fairgrounds.

It was a big surprise that a triple show date was on schedule at the Santa Clara County fairgrounds on May 21. We old timers could not believe that this fairgrounds is opening up for rabbit shows again, wondered what kind of facility would be used as we knew there was no livestock barns left. We were so pleasantly surprised that the show was held at the Fiesta Hall. This is one of the patio areas that we could use for grooming. There are plenty of electrical outlets, benches and trash cans. Absolutely perfect.

This is Alba and I outside the Fiesta Hall at the patio grooming area. The scenery is beautiful, has early morning sun but starts to become shady and cool in the late morning.

The building has smooth floor and high ceiling, very comfortable. The show is not huge but still have over 400 rabbits and cavies that are to be judged 3 times, thus over 1000 entries. There were five judges each has give and take 200 animals on their judging list.

Here are my rabbits and miscellaneous stuff.

The cavies are stationed on the upper right corner. Pattee and Carolyn both have Angoras and cavies, they stationed their animals in between the wool area and the cavy corner.

Since it is the first show for the Santa Clara County Fair, there are people wanting to take photos and videos. Here is one of the photos of me with Alba that gives a glance of the showroom. Outside the rollup door in the background is the parking lot. There is an attendant directing the vehicles to the appropriate spots.

Each judging table has a number. #3 is the first table that Angoras are being judged. Judge Chris Zemny had not judged for 2-1/2 year due to health issues, this is the first time she is back judging. Chris is one of the few who started showing around the same time as I did. She went on to become a judge and a top Holland Lop breeder and won a Best In Show at the ARBA convention. I did the same with English Angora and also won a Best In Show at the ARBA convention but I did not go for a judge's license.

Not only this is the first time the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds welcome back the rabbit shows in 20+ years, it is also the first ever regular ARBA show sponsored by the fair management that is given the name of "Santa Clara Fair Stampede". Guess who won the first Best In Show? My white doe Chu's Alba. I am so thrilled; from attending my first show in 1982 as a total newbie to winning the first open show sponsored by the fair, a 40 year journey. From left to right are: show secretary Griffin Harrah, Fair manager Salene Durate who is responsible for bringing rabbits back to the fair, my English Angora and I, Emma's mom holding Emma's Netherland Dwarf that won Reserve In Show and our handsome judge Doug King.