Friday, May 26, 2006
Share The Feeling
I had visitors to my barn yesterday. Linda and Larry Strahler came by on their way home from visiting their son in Cary, NC. I had first met Linda at Holland Lop Nationals 2005 and invited them to come by should they ever visit him. I'm so glad that they did.
Of course, I made Linda and Larry look at every single rabbit in the barn (with the exception of four kits still in the nest box!!) Linda is the Holland breeder in the family. She was very gracious, ooohing and aaaahing at appropriate intervals. While we were looking, she mentioned that there are few Holland breeders in her area. That means that there are few opportunities for her to feel other people's Hollands.
That is such a shame. One of the biggest learning tools we have is to feel other Hollands. One of the biggest ways to get useful feedback is to get other breeders to feels ours.
I have a friend who made a visit to the western portion of the country. He had hoped to visit the rabbitry of a prominent rabbit breeder while he was there. Unfortunately, the breeder was not able to receive him. What a shame it was that he lost that rare opportunity. He could have learned so much.
I would encourage every breeder to open their rabbitries for visits. I know that it is time consuming. But be honest: how tired is your family of your rabbit talk? Your rabbit barn visitors will talk rabbits with you the entire time and never look at their watch!
I find that I look at my rabbits better when I am showing them to someone else. So I always learn something about my rabbits or at least get to know my juniors a bit better.
If you are a prominent breeder with less to learn than a beginner, then consider the opportunity you are providing to promote your breed. And if you are a beginner, don't think that you have nothing to contribute. There's always someone newer than you. And your visitors may have some insight into your rabbitry or rabbits that may help you.
Consider this your official invitation to visit my rabbitry if you are ever in the area. If I am in town, I would be pleased to have you come by. Be warned: it is required that you oooh and aaah over my rabbits, though. But no purchase is required.
We learn when we share, we learn when we teach, we learn when others share with us, and we learn when others teach us. Any time we get the chance to "share the feeling," we increase the total fund of rabbit knowledge available to our breed. And that has to have a positive impact on our hobby.
So go ahead and share the feeling - feeling rabbits, that is!
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design
¶ 8:38 AM
Of course, I made Linda and Larry look at every single rabbit in the barn (with the exception of four kits still in the nest box!!) Linda is the Holland breeder in the family. She was very gracious, ooohing and aaaahing at appropriate intervals. While we were looking, she mentioned that there are few Holland breeders in her area. That means that there are few opportunities for her to feel other people's Hollands.
That is such a shame. One of the biggest learning tools we have is to feel other Hollands. One of the biggest ways to get useful feedback is to get other breeders to feels ours.
I have a friend who made a visit to the western portion of the country. He had hoped to visit the rabbitry of a prominent rabbit breeder while he was there. Unfortunately, the breeder was not able to receive him. What a shame it was that he lost that rare opportunity. He could have learned so much.
I would encourage every breeder to open their rabbitries for visits. I know that it is time consuming. But be honest: how tired is your family of your rabbit talk? Your rabbit barn visitors will talk rabbits with you the entire time and never look at their watch!
I find that I look at my rabbits better when I am showing them to someone else. So I always learn something about my rabbits or at least get to know my juniors a bit better.
If you are a prominent breeder with less to learn than a beginner, then consider the opportunity you are providing to promote your breed. And if you are a beginner, don't think that you have nothing to contribute. There's always someone newer than you. And your visitors may have some insight into your rabbitry or rabbits that may help you.
Consider this your official invitation to visit my rabbitry if you are ever in the area. If I am in town, I would be pleased to have you come by. Be warned: it is required that you oooh and aaah over my rabbits, though. But no purchase is required.
We learn when we share, we learn when we teach, we learn when others share with us, and we learn when others teach us. Any time we get the chance to "share the feeling," we increase the total fund of rabbit knowledge available to our breed. And that has to have a positive impact on our hobby.
So go ahead and share the feeling - feeling rabbits, that is!
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design
¶ 8:38 AM
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Laurie, My daughter Jessica and I went to the Ohio Mini Convention this year and we recognized 2 very well known breeders cooping their rabbits. Both Jessica and I are not very outgoing but I told her will we ever have another chance to talk to these breeders and feel their GC rabbits? Probley not for awhile. So we approached them and they were very helpful and kind. We learned so much about Hollands that weekend. And we have read a ton of stuff about Hollands but to have the hands on experience is amazing! Thank you for your awesome blog! Our whole family reads it regularly. And if we ever come down that way we are going to stop in for a visit to the Nature Trail!
Cathie
Three Little Ladies Rabbitry
Cathie
Three Little Ladies Rabbitry
My friend Laura and I stayed at Laurie's house on our way home from HL Nationals this year, we have never been so impressed with the quality of the environment, her family, her rabbits, and the entire "southern atmosphere" of hospitality we felt. I highly reccomend visiting The Nature Trail, reading Laurie's blog makes you feel like your right in the rabbitry with her, but there is nothing like actually visiting it!
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