CHELSEA, MI — How do you judge a rabbit?

“It’s a lot more complex than people realize,” said Lydia Avery, 15, from Chelsea, who brought four rabbits to be judged at the Chelsea Community Fair . “People are very passionate about it.”

At the fair Tuesday, Aug. 19, dozens gathered in a barn with their rabbits in tow, eager to participate in the competition.

The complexity of rabbit judging becomes apparent when examining the various events. Judges assess the animals in four categories: meat, whether a rabbit would make good meat; breed, how well it would create offspring; fur, based on texture and softness of the rabbit’s coat; and showmanship, for which the judge asks owners to have the rabbits do certain maneuvers.

“Rabbits are overlooked a lot because they’re a smaller breed,” said T

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