Introducing Our Latest Grand Champion!

I am pleased to announce our latest official Grand Champion, Blossom Acres' Ice Storm!

Ice Storm was super cute as a baby with a ton of personality.  Unfortunately, he broke a toenail at a young age which appeared to have ended the promising show career that he had ahead of him.  Thankfully, it grew back, and he and his brother, Grand Champion Blossom Acres' Arcturus, were hard to beat.  The judges loved the two matching brothers and it was always a guess which one would place higher.  

Watch him grow!

Ice Storm's sire is Grand Champion Blossom Acres' Midnight Blizzard and his dam is Blossom Acres' Milky Way.  I am excited to add him to the family line of Grand Champions and can't wait to see the next winners that he produces.

Have a great week everybody!

Barbara

www.blossomacresrabbitry.webs.com

First Grand Champion Lionhead!

I am very happy to announce that Blossom Acres' Arcturus, my Ruby Eyed White Sr. Lionhead buck, is now a Grand Champion!  He has 5 GC legs and counting!

In previous years, Lionheads were not been able to be registered, earn GC legs, or become Grand Champions, until February of this year when they became an official ARBA recognized breed.  So although they could show and win BOB, no matter how large the class was or the number of exhibitors, they could not work towards their Grand Championships until breed recognition.  

Arcturus was born on the 7th of February, so while the rabbit show season was just picking up and Lionheads all over the country were hitting the show tables, Arcturus was busy growing with his brother and two sisters at home.  His parents are both from my own lines: Blossom Acres' Midnight Blizzard and Blossom Acres' Milky Way, and he has grandparents from my lines including Blossom Acres' Royal Blue who was the first buck that I ever retained from my own breeding. 

Arcturus always stands out on the show table with his massive mane and natural stance.  He never needs to be posed because he is always posing on his own.  The judges love him and I am very excited to start incorporating this buck in my Lionhead breeding program. 

 

GC Blossom Acres' Arcturus

Grand Champion Certificate 

Arcturus as a Baby

A Fresh Start

Today we attended the State 4H Rabbit and Cavy Show in East Lansing Michigan.  This show was the mark of a fresh start for us:   not only was it the first show of the season but it also was the very first show of the year where Lionheads could be exhibited and compete on the Best 4 Class table for the very first time.  This time around we only entered two rabbits - Edgar, a black tort buck and Midnight Blizzard a Ruby Eyed White buck.  Both rabbits placed well with Midnight Blizzard taking Best of Variety and Edgar taking not only the Best of Variety win but also Best of Breed.  He then went on to the Best 4 Class table as all the BOB winners do in their breeds.  I was very pleased with the quality of the 4-class rabbits on the table.  While Edgar didn't end up taking 4 Class, he came home with great comments and certainly has the potential to succeed later on. 

I was very excited to see that there were more youth getting involved in the French Angoras.  There has been definite growth in this breed over the years and I look forward to watching the owners become breeders and catch the bug as I did. 

I did come home with a gorgeous New Zealand White doe.  Yes, I decided I must get myself involved in the New Zealands once again.  I miss the breed and want to have the opportunity to work with them again.  I plan on staying small with only a breeding pair so when I do have kits it will be limited to my pair.  This doe is very typey - super big, wide, and deep.  I am hoping I will be able to find a nice New Zealand White buck to compliment her for a breeding pair at the next show.  If I am successful I will likely be breeding her and Galaxy, my REW French Angora doe, in March for babies available in mid May-June. 

Hope everyone and their rabbits are staying warm!  I am looking forward to the weather warming up so I can get some nice kits on the ground!  This weather is certainly suitable for angora attire from my French! 

Have a good weekend!