Maine State Rabbit Breeders Assoc. (MSRBA) is having their annual meeting, election and awards banquet March 31st. This State club is basically an umbrella over the local clubs. Each local club pays dues and their portion of the insurance policy. So each show or display a club has is covered by insurance. Member clubs are York County RBA, Cumberland County RBA, Eastern Maine County RBA, New England Holland Lop Club, Aroostook County RBA.
Each local club submits a show report from which points are recorded for the sweepstakes contest. A $.15 per rabbit fee is paid MSRBA which in turn provides awards for the exhibitors. Awards are given out to the Top 5 Open Sweeps (adult) and Top 3 Youth. Historically these Top Sweeps awards have been 3 hole carriers that sure come in handy. If you are "up there" in points then you are showing a fair number of rabbits so an extra carrier helps. Top in Breed awards are also given out. Last year's were certificates and tapestry embroidered rabbit pillows. MSRBA also gives out an award for High Point Out of State exhibitor in Open and Youth. There are door prizes, each attendee gets a free ticket.
Each club also donates a Theme Basket for which raffle tickets are sold. We've had wonderful theme baskets, most times the "baskets" being a 3 hole rabbit carrier filled with lots of nice items. New England Holland Lop Club has had a good track record with their theme baskets. One year we had a "Bunny HMO" basket filled with medical and general care items. This year is a "Let Them Eat Cake" tote with bunny cake tins, bunny cookie cutters, cake mixes, frostings, decorating supplies, bunny confectionspoons, spatulas, bunny cookie pops and more. I'll get a photo up later this month.