WA Youth Make Impressive Showing in ARBA Royalty Contests
2009 ARBA Convention in San Diego saw the WA State Youth Royalty once again achieve greatness. The Washington teams combined with youth from Idaho, Oregon and Wyoming, with supporting adults to make a group of over 50 participants from District 1! Click here to view complete results for WA in the ARBA Royalty Contests. Washington took home two titles: 2009 ARBA Duchess (Autumn Dennistoun) and 2009 ARBA Lord (Austin Collar). In addition, our youth garnered 7 Runner-up places in the Royalty contest and placed in every age category in the team contests: WA Junior Team won 3rd place in Judging , Washington Intermediate Team placed 1st in the Breed ID, and Washington Seniors grabbed the winning title in the Judging Contest.
Congratulations to all our youth for these PHENOMINAL accomplishments!
Austin Collar 2009 ARBA Lord Winner

Hi, my name is Austin Collar. I am 7 years old and excited to start 1st grade at South Worth Elementary. I live with my dad, mom and sister on a large farm in Yelm, Washington. I raise black and blue Checkered Giants with my mom. My favorite thing about raising rabbits is playing with all the kits and seeing my friends at the shows. My other 4H/open animal projects included chickens, turkeys and muscovy ducks.
I enjoy wrestling for the Yelm Twisters JR wrestling team and riding my dirt bike. I love school but I don?t want summer to end. I will miss going to the sand dunes to ride quads and fair season. I would like to thank my family for all that they do for me and the Evergreen Rabbit Breeders Association for all encouragement and rabbit/cavy knowledge programs they offer for the youth.
My family bought our first checkered giant when I was a year old. Some of the people that have helped me are my mom, Cindy Wickizer, the youth program for the Evergreen rabbit breeder?s Association and Donna Williams. Cindy explains what I should look for and teaches me how to be a better handler. My mom has been teaching me how to raise my rabbits properly by taking good care of them. Donna Williams gave me my first Holland Lop for my fitting & showing animal. The ERBA club that gives different demonstration every meeting on rabbit and cavy knowledge.