Article Contributed on: 6/19/2009 4:22:49 PM
While Master Gardeners were outside pulling weeds and planting in the demonstration garden, members of the Mountaineers 4-H A Club were inside practicing their rabbitry skills.
Several members of the club, led by Melanie Talbott, held baby rabbits on their backs by holding them between the ears and their hind legs. The position seemed to calm the rabbits in this unusual position.
One rabbit, a Holland Lop,was not participating and sat in its cage.
"It has social issues right now," said Talbott.
Talbott, who became an organizational leader this year, said, "There are 14 kids in my group and I have two boys. Nine are showing rabbits as projects, which consist of two doing a meat pen. Three rabbits will be auctioned off at the fair. They will also do showmnaship, which we're practicing today."
The students compete to express knowledge in front of a judge and must show the rabbit in different ways.
Other topics covered in the 4H group include shooting sports and cake decorating There is also a woodworking group. 4-H is an organization that works with kids as young as 7 and goes through grade 12.
Talbott said youngsters can go on to become mentors for younger children.
The rabbit group assembled also was working on their record books. Talbott said the rabbits were important to the kids because they can show their work and projects at the Jefferson County Fair, to be held Aug. 6 through 8.
4-H which stands for Head, Heart, Health and Hands can be individual, community school-based or presented for homeschool credit. Talbott said a lot of time is put into learning, practicing and demonstrating. Her daughter Marissa is involved in several projects for rabbits, archery, leadership and veterinary science.
"I enjoy working with kids of all ages. It keeps me young and guides the kids in a positive path to being an adult. I see them learn and grow all of time," Talbott said.