A Registration event was hosted by President Gail Smith in Silverton November 14. Margie B. registered her stunning doe Raspberry Farms Temperence. She passed with a score of 97 points and 1472 grams. Standards of care and proper feed were the major topics of conversation.
Congratulations to IAGARB member Lindsay Logan who won Best of Breed and Best Opposite Sex in the Giant Angora Class at the ARBA National Convention in San Diego! Judge Ray poses with a joyful Lindsay and her gorgeous rabbits – Bungalow Farm’s Gilda BOB and Bungalow Farm’s Sundance BOS.
IAGARB member Cathy Lenker also placed well in the Giant Angora Intermediate class with Bungalow Farms Koln and Bungalow Farms Marquee.
We are very proud of you both and your spectacular German Angoras! Quality shows! Lindsay and Cathy, we hope to see you both in the spring for registration.
Thanks to Betty Chu for allowing us to use your photograph.
The Grand Journey began when Leslie and three German angora rabbits headed out from Ontario, Canada on September 30th to begin a 2,500 mile solo drive across the US to Dixon, California for the Lambtown Wool Festival.
For Leslie this was an emotional trip. This was a road she had taken many times with her father, Bob. To travel it without him was like driving through memories of past journeys. Friday evening she called Erin from the California/ Nevada state line – “Hey, I did it! Your new rabbits and I will be at your house very soon.”
The Lambtown Fair was held on Saturday, October 3rd. It was a gorgeous California day – bright, breezy and clear. The show was well attended. Leslie’s classes went well. The IAGARB display was mobbed most of the day. Sandy H. answered questions from the crowd.
We enjoyed the fall colors for the next few days before it was time to fly home again to Sacramento.
On October 7, Leslie Samson and I left Sacramento for Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival in NY. We traveled by car following a successful registration and series of workshops at Lambtown. Along for the ride were a few German Angoras, including Bungalow Farm’s Ouija who was up the Adventure! Here are a few shots of Ouija along the way enjoying the sites of America along Interstate 80 (just in case anyone is wondering, Bungalow Farm’s Klaus sneaked in there too–not be left out!):
WHERE IS OUIJA? CAN ANYONE GUESS?
Sue Wiley and Leslie Samson met in Frankenmuth, Michigan at Zeilingers Mill to drop off wool for another yarn run. After all of the wool was checked for grading and lot weights, they enjoyed lunch across the river from a waterfall and a waiting tour boat.
Frankenmuth is a beautiful town located just north of Flint, Michigan. It has tons of shopping, great restaurants and all sorts of fun activities.
We are planning to hold our 2010 IAGARB AGM in May at the Bavarian Inn located in the center of Frankenmuth. There will be classes, registration, a special speaker, a rabbit sale day and off course, our meeting. Final details will be announced in January.
Sue Wiley and Kathy Zeilinger were surrounded by a cloud of soft angora while they weighed in the wool for our next 80 pound run. What a joy it is to see so much gorgeous, silky, prime German fiber. No wonder they look so happy!
IAGARB is planning a big presence at Lambtown in Dixon, California this year. Usually held in July, it has been moved to October 3, 2009, a much more hospitable time of year for both humans and livestock. Its a fun event with lots of fiber vendors, a wool show, lamb cookoff, sheep dog trials, a Sheep to Shawl contest, and lots of other fun things to keep the entire family busy.
IAGARB is pleased to be invited to demonstrate shearing angoras, showcase angora products, and have registration testing.
Leslie Samson will be teaching classes and workshops. On Saturday, she will teach “Introduction to Felted Tapestry Effects”. Leslie will also teach “All About Angora” during the weekend.
On Sunday, workshops will be held at a nearby location. Leslie will hold a workshop on “Botanical Felt”. This is an all day class. To register for classes, check back with the Lambtown website as the registration information should be up soon.
We will need lots of help from the membership to demonstrate shearing, answer questions, and man the booth. Please contact Erin for more information: registration@iagarb.com
Hope to see you all there!
The AGM started off with Alexis’ “Rabbit Medicine Chest” workshop Saturday morning. It was well attended, even by four legged folks like Nicki, who was on the lookout.
Rosalie and Cindy go shopping!
Spinning and chatting while registration was going on
Margie helping clip Carrie's doe
IAGARB President Gail Smith and Vice President Sheri Cormier admiring the table decorations sent by Leslie.
The meeting gets in to full swing with Treasurer and Newsletter Editor Nancy Ferron opening a door prize.
Alexis gets bunny ears! She is such a good sport!
Margie and Al
Molly and Carrie
Sheri showing off her newly knitted socks to Alexis
Carrie's socks made with the IAGARB Sock Yarn
Carrie and Rosalie (and those socks again!)
Greta with a door prize
On Friday, before the Saturday registration and Sunday Meeting and Guest Speaker, Erin did a workshop on dyeing self striping socks. It was lots of fun!
Warping the Sock board for dyeing
Dr. Mark Burgess was the guest speaker at the IAGARB Annual General Meeting 2009 in Silverton, Oregon. Dr. Burgess is a small animal vet who specializes in exotic pets. He owns the Southwest Animal Hospital in Beaverton, Oregon. A large part of his practice is rabbits. His talk at our meeting focused on rabbit gut issues. It was very enlightening!
Dr. Burgess spoke about various gut problems in rabbits, treatment, and the issues regarding treatment. He also spoke about feed–both beneficial and things to avoid. Dr. Burgess provided a lot of information. It is rare to find a vet who knows so much about rabbits. He offers consultations to other vets as part of his practice.
At the IAGARB Annual General Meeting registration held April 4, 2009 in Silverton, Oregon, the North American Wool Production record was broken. Carrie’s fabulous doe, Harvest Moon’s Esperanza produced a total of 571 grams in a certified 90-day clip. This is an annual total of 2284 grams! The previous record was held by Bungalow Farm’s Furrari (2054 grams). In addition, Carrie brought three other German does (littermates) that each produced over 2,000 grams. Way to go Carrie!
Joyce, on the right, is holding an enormous shorn black doe. Susan smiles from the middle and Jane cradles a black German in full coat on the left.
The Fine Line Art Center sent out only one email to its members about the angora rabbits that would be shorn March 21. We were swamped with interested onlookers all day. People asked about the rabbits and were happy to know that the animals were not harmed for their wool. We handed out several membership forms.
Some people brought their children in Easter outfits to take photos with the bunnies. It was a mild, bright day. Frogs trilled their spring songs nearby. What an enjoyable day!
Rosalie tried Aesculap clippers for the first time. She did a beautiful job of cleaning off her rabbit's coat.
Rosalie smiled over a selection of her hand-dyed and handspun yarns. It is almost unfair to call some of her work "yarn" as several of the skeins has a precious jewelry quality to them!
Mary Stough prepared her next 5 pound bag of prime German Angora fiber for a sock run. Her daughter, Kate and Amy from Illinois gave her encouragement.
