Staff photo / R. Michael Semple ... A playful Archer Howes, 9 months, of Canfield, right, reaches out for his grandfather, Joe Bouch of Canfield, while attending the opening day of the 179th annual Trumbull County Fair in Bazetta on Tuesday. Bouch is retired from Foxconn in Lordstown. Today’s major grandstand attraction at the fair will be a demolition derby at 7 p.m.

BAZETTA — While many 4-H youth spend time raising cows, goats, sheep and pigs, others, especially those who live in the city, dedicate their time to raising and showcasing smaller animals such as rabbits.

On Tuesday’s opening day of the 179th annual Trumbull County Fair, many youth had a chance to shine by showing off their knowledge of rabbits.

Chelsea Mealy, a 4-H adviser, said taking care of a rabbit does involve commitment because the owner has to make sure the rabbit has fresh water and food every day.

“Children raise rabbits for showmanship, which is a full health check of the rabbit just like a veterinarian would do. They have to learn all the diseases a rabbit can get and how to treat them. The judges ask the children general questions about the rabbits. Showmanship is 100% their knowledge and care of their rabbit,” Mealy said.

She said when she has been a judge, she looks for confidence from the 4-H members, noting rabbits will flip over and often get spooked so she wants the child to not become frustrated.

She said while many youth take their rabbits home after the fair, others go to the market after being auctioned on Saturday. A rabbit show is set for 10:30 a.m. today.

Mealy said for new 4-H members and those who live in a city, it is easier to raise a rabbit.

“The city kids get to keep their rabbits at their house or in their backyard. They would not be allowed to raise a cow, horse or pig in a city,” Mealy said.

She said the children breed the mother rabbit and then take care of and raise the baby rabbit from its birth.

4-H PARTICIPANTS

One of the city 4-H members is Arya Duncan, 16, of Niles, who originally was in 4-H shooting sports when she decided she wanted to switch to raising rabbits.

She has been raising Percy, who weighs 2.5 pounds. He will not get any bigger.

“It has been a lot of fun. When raising a rabbit you have to have a lot of patience. They can be rude at times. I have had my rabbit since he was six months old,” Arya said.

Sophia Duncan, 10, of Bristol, said she likes rabbits for their fluffiness and is marking her first year of raising a rabbit for the fair. She said she prepares for the judges by practicing what she knows about rabbits.

Sebastian Bauer, 12, of Leavittsburg, has raised his rabbit, Wheat, at the fair. The rabbit got its name from its color.

Bauer said he has shown other animals such as pigs at the fair, but rabbits are a little easier to take care of because they are small.

He said he prepares for posing his rabbit for the showmanship event and then checks the rabbit in front of the judge.

Abigail Totten, 12, of Warren, and a member of the 4-H Trumbull County Wild Clovers, said it is important to give rabbits lots of water because they will stop eating if they do not have enough water.

She said she is prepared to show the judges the different parts of the rabbit and discuss them.

Abigail said the 4-H group she is with also raises guinea pigs, cats and chickens.

“The funnest part of raising a rabbit is getting to show them and letting the judges know what you know about rabbits,” Totten said.

Rows of rabbits were inside small cages in the rabbit area.

Jolyn O’Dell of Howland brought her children, Bryn, 9 and Brayden, 12, to the fair and was walking with them as they looked at rabbits,

She said her father, Bob Cleland of Fowler, raised and bred hundreds of rabbits on his farm.

“I wanted them to see rabbits so they could see what their grandfather raised. I grew up around rabbits,'” Jolyn said.

David and Bonnie Moore of Niles said when they come to the fair they always visit the rabbits and other small animals.

“We love the smaller animals. We come here every year to see the animals. What is nice is children who live in a city can also raise animals such as rabbits,” Bonnie Moore said.

FAIR QUEEN

Walking through the fair was newly named 2025 Junior Fair Queen Katie Viets, 17, of Fowler, who said she was really excited to have been named queen.

She said she looks forward to visiting people at the fair and also at other fairs while representing Trumbull County. Viets will be a senior at Mathews High School.

The 2025 Junior Fair King is XXX.. MARLY WILL GET THIS IN A FEW…