Rabbit Day 2025

Date: June 14, 2025
Location: Animal Science Research Center - University of Missouri
Registration: This contest is open to all 4-H’ers. Registration is $25 per youth – no registration fee for coaches. Youth and coaches should register in 4-H Online between April 26 and May 25, 2025. Late registration ($40) runs from May 26 to June 2. No registration will be accepted after June 2, 2025. This event is run in connection with State Poultry Day – only one registration form required.

2025 Rabbit Day graphicT-shirts (optional): Available only through advanced ordering. You may order these with your registration. Sizes available are adult only and will be $10.

Activities for the day include:

  • Rabbit Judging Contest
    • Age divisions: Junior (ages 8-13) and Senior (ages 14-18)
    • Youth can compete as individuals or as a team.
      • A team is defined as not more than four, but not less than three members.
      • Contest will include up to four classes and one set of reasons (seniors only). Classes can include rabbits (including meat) and cavies.
  • Education Sessions
    • Showmanship – Fine tune your skills in an educational session on showmanship. Gain experience learning from past exhibitors on how to put your best foot forward at those upcoming summer shows.
    • Meat Pens – Ever wonder how the champion meat pen at your county or state fair is selected? Spend some time learning about the selection, raising and presenting of high-quality meat pens.
    • Rabbits 101: Beginners Guide to Rabbits
  • Breed ID (optional)
    • Age divisions: Junior (ages 8-13) and Senior (ages 14-18)
    • Contest will identify animals, both rabbits and cavies, listing the complete breed name as printed in the ARBA Standard of Perfection, the showroom variety, whether a 4-class or 6-class breed, and the registration variety.
  • Knowledge Test (optional)
    • Contestants will participate in various knowledge stations
  • Photo Contest
    • Submit one (1) photo you took, printed to size 8x10 mounted, single photo of poultry to be judged on quality, clarity, and composition. Altering and enhancing (editing to change the contents or improving the quality of) a photo is not permitted. Examples include cropping the photo, eliminating redeye and changing levels of saturation, brightness, contrast, etc. Include name, address and county on the back of your entry.

Approximate schedule for the day:

  • 7:30 a.m. – Check in
  • 8:30 a.m. – Welcome and Educational Session 1
  • 9:30 a.m. – Educational Session 2
  • 10:15 a.m. – Educational Session 3
  • 11:00 a.m. – Judging Contest, Breed ID, and Knowledge Test
  • 12:00 p.m. – Lunch
  • 4:00 p.m. – Awards

*Educational Sessions will repeat in the afternoon starting at 1:30 p.m.

*Lunch will be provided to youth and adults who registered through 4-H Online. Additional guests will be charged $10 to help cover the cost of lunch.