Want to get involved in a quick, easy way of helping at shows? Being a writer is a great way to get involved with your local rabbit club, get a good view of the rabbits being judged, and learn more about other breeds if you feel so inclined!
First, you will grab a piece of paper called the 'control sheet,' which should hopefully come with a pen and clipboard. The control sheet has all the classes of rabbits within a breed listed in the order they will come to the table. It also shows all the rabbits that are entered. For example, the Holland Lop Solid Sr. Buck class might list 3 rabbits. It will show their tattoo and their exhibitor's name.
Exhibitors will bring up their Solid Sr. Bucks and place them in adjacent coops for the judge to evaluate. As the judge places the rabbits and reads off their tattoos, your job is to check the control sheet for the matching tattoo and write down the rabbit's placement (1-3 in this case). Depending on the judge's preference, they may or may not retain the class winners on the table, or they might just send them back until they are ready to judge Best of Breed.
You will also want to ask the judge for their stamp. There should be a place at the top of the control sheet for you to stamp it. The stamp has the judge's name and license number. If they don't have a stamp, just ask for their name and license number and write it in by hand.
Some shows may have comment cards as well, which are little slips of paper that the exhibitor gets to take home with them. The important thing is to write down the placement on the comment cards as well, but once you have been a writer for a few shows and feel like you know what you're doing, exhibitors appreciate if you can write down one or two of the judge's comments on the card. For example, you might check off 'Excellent ears,' or write 'Slipped crown' - either a fault or a positive trait - if the judge makes that remark.
As you get more comfortable after having written for a few shows, it really helps if writers can call up the next classes as cages empty on the table. This will prevent unnecessary delays and get everyone home sooner.
The judge might also make small requests, like to move rabbits to other coops, verify ear numbers, or other minor tasks. Also, make sure that you have someone run your rabbits for you - don't expect you will have time to both write and bring your own rabbits up.
Writing can be a little bit of a learning curve at first, but it's a really good skill to have! A good writer is invaluable and much appreciated by judges and exhibitors alike, and it's a quick, easy way to do your part and be an active participant at the show. Happy writing!
First, you will grab a piece of paper called the 'control sheet,' which should hopefully come with a pen and clipboard. The control sheet has all the classes of rabbits within a breed listed in the order they will come to the table. It also shows all the rabbits that are entered. For example, the Holland Lop Solid Sr. Buck class might list 3 rabbits. It will show their tattoo and their exhibitor's name.
Exhibitors will bring up their Solid Sr. Bucks and place them in adjacent coops for the judge to evaluate. As the judge places the rabbits and reads off their tattoos, your job is to check the control sheet for the matching tattoo and write down the rabbit's placement (1-3 in this case). Depending on the judge's preference, they may or may not retain the class winners on the table, or they might just send them back until they are ready to judge Best of Breed.
You will also want to ask the judge for their stamp. There should be a place at the top of the control sheet for you to stamp it. The stamp has the judge's name and license number. If they don't have a stamp, just ask for their name and license number and write it in by hand.
Some shows may have comment cards as well, which are little slips of paper that the exhibitor gets to take home with them. The important thing is to write down the placement on the comment cards as well, but once you have been a writer for a few shows and feel like you know what you're doing, exhibitors appreciate if you can write down one or two of the judge's comments on the card. For example, you might check off 'Excellent ears,' or write 'Slipped crown' - either a fault or a positive trait - if the judge makes that remark.
As you get more comfortable after having written for a few shows, it really helps if writers can call up the next classes as cages empty on the table. This will prevent unnecessary delays and get everyone home sooner.
The judge might also make small requests, like to move rabbits to other coops, verify ear numbers, or other minor tasks. Also, make sure that you have someone run your rabbits for you - don't expect you will have time to both write and bring your own rabbits up.
Writing can be a little bit of a learning curve at first, but it's a really good skill to have! A good writer is invaluable and much appreciated by judges and exhibitors alike, and it's a quick, easy way to do your part and be an active participant at the show. Happy writing!