There’s less than two weeks left until the Angelina County Fair. Will Stafford is busy raising rabbits in his first year at the Fair.
Will is a 7th grade student that is busy in the National Jr. Honor Society, Jr High Football, the MVP Volunteer group, and is a Lone Star Leader at his school. He is also raising four Californian rabbits that are eight weeks old.
He is the son of Brook and Melisha Stafford. Will has one younger brother, Grant.
The rabbit show this year is sponsored by PID Services, Inc, and will be held on Wednesday, April 18 starting at 10 am. There are two parts of the rabbit competition: a breeding show and a market show.
Breeding livestock competitions are to evaluate livestock based upon their breed traits and, ultimately, their ability to be productive and bear offspring. The market competitions are evaluating livestock, on the hoof, for their expected carcass traits.
Will’s rabbits will be a part of the market competition. There are 72 total competitors registered in the market show. Each entrant will submit a pen of three for evaluation. Will’s job is to select the best three rabbits that he has for a complete pen.
Will says his favorite part of raising rabbits for the Fair is taking care of the rabbits and seeing how fast they grow. His hardest part is making time to work with them. Although, he and his parents agree that it hasn’t been that bad.
Of the 70 plus exhibitors that are getting ready for the market rabbit show, only 30 will make the auction on that is held Saturday, April 21. I asked Will if he made the sale, what he would do with his money. He and his parents replied, “Putting it towards college!”
To see Will’s rabbit project competing with hundreds of other students, come to the Angelina County Fair mid day on Wednesday, April 18 at the George H. Henderson Expo Arena in Lufkin.
To support Will and others who do make the auction, come to the sale on Saturday, April 21 at 4 pm.
