XENIA — Samantha Thomas wore out a path to the awards table after the breeding rabbit show July 31.
The 13-year-old Country Rebels 4-H member from Beavercreek heard her name called seven times at the Greene County Fair. You name it. She won it.
Best 6-8 commercial buck? Check.
Best 6-8 commercial doe? Yup.
Best commercial doe and litter? Affirmative.
Best in show — commercial? Of course.
Best in show? Done.
And she first places for rabbit judging and rabbit showmanship as well.
“I’m really happy, excited,” she said, trying to contain her ear-to-ear smile. “I honestly didn’t think I’d go that far because I’d never gotten this far. I thought my rabbits were good. I actually thought there would be someone better.”
While the rabbits’ condition, make and build were the determining factor in most of the classes, the skill-a-thon was an interesting twist.
“It’s like, if you know your rabbit or not,” Thomas said.
Success in the Thomas family wasn’t limited to just Samantha. Younger sister, Jeannette, 9, won her skill-a-thon as well.
“I’m really proud of her. She was so excited,” Samantha Thomas said.
Anna Kowal, who was voted rabbit royalty, was best in show in the fancy class. She’s in the Creative Christian Clovers.
Lyriq Stollings, from Back 40, had the best market pen, which typically comes with a four-figure pay day during the sales. Elyse Waggoner of Goal Getters had the runner-up market pen.
