Tex Thomas is an ARBA Hall of Fame member, former Vice President, longtime Standards Committee Chair, three-time ARBA Convention Best in Show winner, and our most requested guest! In this episode, recorded live from the annual ARBA Homecoming

#44 Rabbit Production 10th Edition Highlights with Dr. Steven Lukefahr, Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Oct 24th, 2022 1h 45m

Dr. Lukefahr is globally recognized as a pioneer in the field of rabbit production science. His work as a professor, author, and humanitarian have earned him many honors. In 2022, he spearheaded the update of the book, Rabbit Production, a 33

#43 Harlequins are No Joke! with Rachel Zarse

Oct 17th, 2022 50m 22s

Ask any rabbit judge or breeder which breed is the most challenging and the Harlequin will likely top the list. Rachel Zarse shares her story of relentless determination, and introduces us to her treasured breed. Also in this breed spotlight

#42 Dwarf Papillon Breed Spotlight with Maddie Pratt

Sep 19th, 2022 56m 54s

ARBA’s 50th recognized breed is all the buzz in the industry these days. Maddie Pratt was part of the successful team of breeders and COD holders who brought the breed from Europe to ARBA recognition. She discusses evaluation, management, han

#41 The Making of the New ARBA Headquarters with Kevin Whaley, Part II

Sep 5th, 2022 1h 21m

Continuing from Episode 40, Briony interviews Kevin Whaley to hear the journey from concept to reality during the design and construction of the new ARBA Headquarters. Kevin unveils "the car," discoveries made while digging through never-seen

#40 - Touring the New ARBA Headquarters with Kevin Whaley

Aug 29th, 2022 1h 10m

You've seen the photos, but the architect of the magic gives us a behind-the-scenes tour! Kevin Whaley has long been a supporter of our hobby, applying his creativity and sense of design and detail to many aspects of the industry, but this may

#39 What is a National Show?

May 9th, 2022 28m 27s

It’s that time of year when breeders take to the highways and skies with their rabbits and cavies to compete in annual breed national shows. What exactly is a breed national show and how does it differ from the ARBA Convention? If you had to c

#38 Breed Spotlight: Mini Lops with Sara Kitsemble

Apr 4th, 2022 1h 35m

Mini Lops became a recognized ARBA rabbit breed in the early 1980s with roots in Germany and California. Today, they remain one of the most popular breeds, especially with youth rabbit breeders. Sara Kitsemble has more than 25 years of experi

#37 Cavies in Canada with Mary Lou Eisel

Mar 30th, 2022 53m 36s

The ARBA spans international borders, including long standing crossover between rabbit and cavy breeders in Canada. But, did you know there are organizations in Canada which are separate from the ARBA which also license rabbit and cavy judges?

#36 Rabbits as a Family Project with Dr. Carol Green and Nate Burbidge

Mar 22nd, 2022 1h 36m

Showing rabbits and cavies is one of the most family friendly activities, with unmatched life lessons and bonding experiences. When sitting down for dinner each night to catch up with the family is a rarity these days, just the drive to an ARB

#35 Your First Show (or 50th)

Mar 14th, 2022 1h 31m

Showing rabbits or cavies for the first time can seem overwhelming. How do you find out about shows in your area? Which of your animals do you enter? What do you pack for the show? Who can you ask for help once you’re at the show? In this

#34 Malaysia visits the USA with Beh and Yo

Feb 28th, 2022 1h 6m

The ARBA spans geographical borders beyond North America. Some of the first rabbit breeders on this frontier were Beh and Yo from Malaysia, who, in 2006, imported some of the first ARBA rabbits to their country. They recently visited the USA

#33 ”Shake and Show,” with Linda Hibbert

Feb 21st, 2022 1h 27m

Mentorship is a defining feature of the fancy. 2019 ARBA Convention Best in Show winner Linda Hibbert talks about her journey from mentee to mentor as she and a special broken American Fuzzy Lop doe danced to the ultimate award. Shortly after

#32 ”I Taste My Own Feed!” with Deb Morrison

Feb 14th, 2022 1h 30m

For nearly forty years, Deb Morrison has been a force in the south central United States as a show secretary, distinguished Master Breeder, and ARBA District Director. Her Palomino passion, relationships with feed companies, and mentorship by

#31 - Introducing Season 2!

Feb 8th, 2022 41m 30s

Briony and Allen kick off Season 2 by catching up since the 2021 ARBA Convention, including the 411 on a new advent to the process of accepting new varieties by the ARBA Standards Committee, and some fun trivia about ARBA Convention Best In Sho

#30 RHDV2 Vaccine Developer, MedGene Labs

Oct 21st, 2021 44m 17s

Briony and Allen speak to representatives from MedGene Labs of South Dakota, including Ashley Peterson, a senior scientist and Dr. Amanda Jones, a veterinarian and rabbit breeder. MedGene Labs is the developer of the first U.S. manufactured va

#29 Chris Zemny, from Holland Lop Icon to Kicking Cancer

Oct 18th, 2021 1h 49m

Chris Zemny has been an ARBA member for nearly 40 years, and paved the way for women in the rabbit industry. She has traveled extensively around the United States and been invited to judge countless ARBA Conventions, breed national shows, and

#28 Eric Stewart: Career by Passion with the ARBA Executive Director

Oct 13th, 2021 1h 13m

There are many faces which comprise the ARBA which we all know and love, but few come close to the daily work of our Executive Director. While showing rabbits and cavies are linked to our weekends, Eric Stewart’s full-time job is in serving th

#27 Convention Countdown! 2021 ARBA Convention Details and Updates

Sep 20th, 2021 53m 50s

It's been a long wait, but the final weeks before the 2021 ARBA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky are upon us! Briony and Allen share some ARBA Convention trivia, facts and updates from the 2021 Louisville team, as well as volunteer opportuni

#26 Beginner‘s Guide to Attending the ARBA Convention

Sep 13th, 2021 1h 42m

Whether you're attending your first or 40th, the ARBA Convention is the most anticipated event for all rabbit and cavy breeders. With that said, there's a lot to prepare for, and discover as you walk through the doors. In this episode, Briony

#25 A Pole by Any Other Name with Phil Gould

Sep 6th, 2021 1h 40m

American breeders have increasingly turned an eye to our roots across the Atlantic. While many breeds are different, the UK Polish (Britannia Petite to the ARBA) breed is remarkably similar. On the eve of his national specialty show, Phil Gou

#24 ARBA Masters Program with Johnny Haussener

Sep 1st, 2021 1h 26m

Johnny Haussener joins us to outline how rabbit and cavy breeders can earn their elevated status as an ARBA Master Exhibitor or ARBA Master Breeder. With rabbit and cavy shows back in gear and the 2021 ARBA Convention on the horizon, there’s n

#23 Breeder Integrity through the ARBA Registration System with Johnny Haussener

Aug 25th, 2021 1h 22m

ARBA District 9 Director, Johnny Haussener, shares insight from his personal research of over 100 years of history behind the ARBA Registration system. Did the registration process begin during the “Belgian Hare Boom” to give a sense of qualit

#22 Americana: Rural Fairs and Volunteerism with Karlee Wigton

Aug 9th, 2021 1h 39m

While agriculture is part of daily life for many in Kansas, fairs still serve an important purpose in introducing youth to animal projects, 4-H, and ultimately the ARBA. Registrar Karlee Wigton talks about her journey from a beginning 4-Her in

#21 From Tiaras to Toddlers to Royalty Parent, with Chelsea Landzettel

Aug 2nd, 2021 1h 45m

For many of us, rabbits are a multigenerational hobby. 2008 ARBA Queen Chelsea (Tucker) Landzettel describes the impact that the ARBA youth program made on her life and shares her excitement at introducing her sons to the hobby, including the