Northern California Angora Guild

Cindy Wickizer Remembered

Sad news came in that Cindy Wickizer passed away on July 13, 2026.

Cindy was definitely a friend of Angoras. See Northern California Angora Guild: Judge Cindy has a Long History with the Angora. She judged Angoras at the ARBA conventions 4 times: 1979, 1991, 2003 and 2008. She judged Angora Nationals 4 times as well: 1986, 1990, 1998 and 2002. Out of the 8 times Cindy judged the major Angora shows, I was present in 7 out of 8 shows, the only one that I missed was 1979 as it was before my time.

Cindy judges Angora at the 1979 ARBA convention. Photo from Candy Haenszel's collection.

I was lucky to have met Cindy in very early years of my English Angora journey. In December 1985, English Angora tort senior doe Chu's Erica won my first ever Best In Show in an ARBA show. At the time, all shows were single shows, there were over 1,800 rabbits in the showroom held at the Cal Expo. And that was the first time I met Cindy, she was the Best In Show judge, and that was one of my most memorable show wins. Wish I had a photo with her but it was not customary to have photos taken with the judge after a win.

In 1986 I ventured out of state to attend the Angora National in Washington state, Cindy judged: Northern California Angora Guild: Remember When: Angora National in 1986

There were only 2 Angora breeds: English Angora and French Angora; Giant Angora and Satin Angora were yet to be recognized. There were 250 English Angoras and 150 French Angoras at the showroom. I was very lucky that my tort junior doe Chu's Vanessa was picked as the Best In Show at the 1986 Angora National.

At the 1990 Angora National in Ventura, CA, Cindy once again judged. By then there were 4 breeds of Angoras but the majority of the numbers were still in the breeds of English Angora and French Angora. My white doe Chu's Jasmine was lucky to have been chosen as the Best In Show. See:
Northern California Angora Guild: Remember When: Angora National 1990

The next year, Cindy judged Angoras at the 1991 ARBA convention at Pomona, CA. My doe Chu's Sweety Pie won BOB and my junior buck won BOSB. There was no photo taken with Cindy but there are some photos of the rabbits and prizes in Northern California Angora Guild: Remember When: 1991 ARBA Convention Show Results and Prizes

1992 was a big year for Cindy who was elected ARBA president in 1989 and was re-elected into her second term. Cindy was the first and only woman to have taken the position of ARBA president. It was also a big year for the English Angora that became the first wool breed rabbit to have won a Best In Show at the ARBA convention. The name of the Best In Show winner was Chu's Sweet Sixteen. At that time, the honor and the trophy was awarded at the ARBA banquet, Cindy awarded me the Best In Show trophy on the stage. It had been reported that Cindy liked to hold on to other's hand when she talked. As you could see, that's what she was doing. You can also see my happy face. Wish that Chu's Sweet Sixteen was in the picture but rabbits were not welcome at the banquet. Northern California Angora Guild: Convention Memories: 1992 ARBA Convention Best In Show

The next two Angora Nationals were held in 1998 at Reno and 2002 in Oregon, Cindy judged both. 1998 Best In Show winner was my blue doe Chu's Julia and 2002 Best In Show winner was my white doe Chu's Charice. No picture was taken in 1998, only 3 pictures taken in 2002: Northern California Angora Guild: Remember When: 2002 Angora National in Oregon

Next two ARBA conventions that Cindy judged were in 2003 and 2008.

Cindy picked my tort buck Chu's Ashton as the BOB at the 2003 ARBA convention and Ashton went on to win the Group. See Northern California Angora Guild: Convention Memories: More about the 2003 ARBA Convention Group Winner

At the 2008 convention in Louisville, KY, Cindy judged Angoras for the last time. My white buck Chu's Nolan was the lucky BOB winner. Unfortunately no photo taken with Cindy.

Cindy also came to CA to judge our local shows quite a bit. It was always a treat to have spent time with her and had her judging Angoras.

This is my last photo taken with Cindy at the 2017 ARBA convention in Indianapolis. More than 30 years I had the privilege of calling Cindy a friend, a fellow teacher, an excellent judge for Angoras and gotten the chance to learn from her. Thank you Cindy Wickizer for the great memories, will miss you.

Meet English Angora Breeders from Colorado

At WCC/Angora National, we got to meet several English Angora breeders from Colorado.

Holly Tracy with her English Angora colored senior buck.

Graham Thomas with his English Angora colored senior doe.

Linda Hibbert with her English Angora colored junior doe. Linda also has American Fuzzy Lop.

Andrea Evan and Kathy Thomas with their roaring English Angora white senior doe.
Andrea has taken over the NARBC president's job after the Angora National.

Rachel and Her Angora National Best In Show Rabbit

We have a few more photos from the Angora National during the WCC in May that have not been shared. Here are some more photos of Rachel with her French Angora that won the Angora National Best In Show and also the Open Show A Best In Show and Open Show B Reserve In Show. Enjoy.

Concluding the Angora Demo at the Alameda Fair

The small animal managers are Dolores Morris and Ray Stacy. Dolores opens the building in the morning, directs the staffs and volunteers to clean the building, to feed the animls and to clean the cages. Ray comes in the early afternoon, coordinates with Dolores. Dolores gets off before dinner and Ray stays all the way until the fair closes, then closes off the building and makes sure all the staffs and volunteers get their job done and leave safely. It's a long day, before 8 am to after 11 pm. Two of them coordinate and work well together.

Ray enjoys seeing Carol and Betty and their Angora display. If you notice that Benji is kinda naked. He received a haircut during the demo. He is ready to enjoy his summer cut and maybe he will be lucky enough to meet a girlfriend. When the heavy coat is off, it's time to be sexy!

Meet one of the young staff members Nathan. Nathan is very interested in crafty things, he asks a lot of questions and gets two skeins of Angora yarns from Betty. Maybe we'll get an Angora exhbitor and/or spinner/knitter in the future?

It has been a fun day. It's late in the afternoon, Carol and Betty are ready to go home. The red shirt is a fair staff and the blue shirt is a fair volunteer, they help to pull Carol and Betty's demo material back to the parking lot. Betty is following them to make sure nothing falls off the carts, and taking this photo.
Until next year, rabbit show and demo!

Farm Equipment Exhibit at Alameda Fair

Next to the model train exhibits, there are farm equipment exhibit. Some new, some old.

Model Train Exhibit at Alameda Fair

During the demo, Carol and Betty take turns to have a bit of break to use the restroom and get food and drink. Next to the small animal barn is the a model train exhibit. These look real and look like pictures taken at real train stations. Nope, these are very small model trains and make believe tracks and landscape. The trains actually move by remote control.

Demo at the Alameda Fair

As soon as the fair opens to the general public at noon, there are people coming into the small animal building.

Carol gets things in order to accept questions.

Benji is getting ready to meet his admirers.

Benji is a hit.

Benji is the center of attention.

Kids specially like Benji.

Carol puts in two shawls that she made. The one on the left is made of sheep wool and the other is made of English Angora wool from Betty. People can touch and feel the difference.

The feel of two shawls give the fairgoers a good idea of how Angora compares to sheep wool.

Carol answers questions.

Ray comes by to visit.

Back to the Alameda Fair to do Demostration

Carol and Betty are back to the Alameda Fair in July to do an Angora demo.

We arrived early, before the fair opens to the public. The stuff are caring for the rabbits that are available for adoption.

There are a few fairgoers who arrive early and able to get in.

Carol brought her spinning wheel to show spinning. Dolores sits with us.

Carol also brought French Angora buck Benji along. Benji is very sociable, loves attention. Demo will be a fun thing for him. There are photo albums on the table for people to flip through, and the big boards showing the Angora rabbits. On the right side of the table, Betty displays some of her yarns and hats. It does not seem crowded in these photos, just wait......

Casey and Isaura Receive Satin Angora Babies

In early May, Betty's doe Raeberta had a litter of two babies. A week later, Casey's Satin Angora doe also had a litter of two babies. The Satin Angora mom did not have enough milk to feed her two babies so the two Satin Angora babies joined Raeberta's nest. The two bigger ones are the English Angora babies and the two younger ones are the Satin Angora babies.

The chocolate Satin Angora bunny's eyes are open, nice and clean. She is the only girl in the nest of 4.

Even though they have to compete with the older English Angora bunnies, both Satin Angora babies grow well.

They are stand up comedians.

They are future Best In Show winners.

On June 20 when the Alameda Fair open show date arrives, Casey and Isaura are ready to receive the two babies. Though they are a bit younger than desired but that's the only time we'd see each other during the summer.