No matter how much coaxing is put in, this rabbit chooses not to jump over one of the obstacles during the Rabbit Agility Contest on Wednesday at the Southwest Washington Fair.
Peter, a rabbit belonging to Josey Rosbach, 11, Chehalis, looks to escape instead of wearing a hot dog costume during the Rabbit Costume contest at the Southwest Washington Fair on Wednesday.
Josey Rosbach, 11, Chehalis, shows off a hot dog outfit her rabbit, Peter, was going to wear during the Rabbit Costume contest on Wednesday at the Southwest Washington Fair. Rosbach earned a blue ribbon, as well as Judge's Choice.
Madelin McCarty, 7, Doty, tries to encourage Oreo to compete in the Rabbit Agility contest on Wednesday at the Southwest Washington Fair.
Josey Rosbach, 11, Chehalis, grabs her rabbit, Peter, and puts him back into his display prior to the judging of the Rabbit Costume contest at the Southwest Washington Fair on Wednesday morning.
Rabbits took center stage in the small animal barn Wednesday morning at the fair when they had the opportunity to participate in both a costume contest and agility races.
Peter, a rabbit dressed as a hot dog — complete with condiments — won the costume contest.
His owner, Josey Rosbach, 11, of Chehalis, said the costume made her think of people eating hot dogs at the fair.
“I just thought it would be cute,” she said. “I saw it and I just had to get it.”
Next were the rabbit agility races, during which five participants coaxed and prodded their rabbits to encourage them to move through an obstacle course — the course consisted of handmade impediments, including a wire box, a “teeter totter” and a bar jump.
Each duo of rabbit and owner had five minutes to complete the course. The only rules are that the participant has to be a member of 4-H and that the rabbit must wear an appropriate harness.
For the most part, the participants didn’t cooperate and instead knocked over individual obstacles or hopped in the wrong direction.
Karen Sanchez, the 4-H superintendent for rabbits at the fair, said the races aren’t a contest, but actually an exhibition, held just for fun.
Alli Engle, 7 of Pe Ell, participated with her rabbit, Blackberry. She said she wasn’t sure if the rabbit has fun in the obstacle course, but she does.
Getting him through the course was admittedly difficult.
“Sometimes I just wiggle the leash, or push him with my foot,” she said.
There will be another rabbit agility show on Friday at 1 p.m. in the small animal barn.
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