Adams County 4-H sets rabbit tattooing date, updates 2026 fair rules

Rabbit exhibitors who want animals entered in the 2026 Adams County Junior Fair need to be at Shade Tree Park behind the beef barn on the fairgrounds on Thursday, June 18, from 7 to 9 p.m. for tattooing. Adams County 4-H said members may tattoo up to two single fryers this year, making the appointment a key step for families already working toward fair week.

The rabbit schedule is also shifting to fit the size of the class. The market rabbit show has been moved to Monday, July 13, at 8:30 a.m. in the Junior Fair Show Arena because the number of rabbit exhibitors is large enough to require a different schedule. Breeding Rabbit Show and Rabbit Showmanship are set for Tuesday, July 14, at 9 a.m. in the Small Animal Barn.

Weigh-in will come first, on Sunday, July 12, from 9 a.m. to noon in the Small Animal Barn. Market rabbits must weigh between 3 pounds 8 ounces and 5 pounds 8 ounces at fair weigh-in. Rabbits that are underweight or overweight will not be allowed in the market class in 2026, but they may still be shown in showmanship.

If a rabbit does not make weight and the exhibitor does not plan to show in showmanship, the animal will be excused from the grounds and taken home after weigh-in. That leaves little margin for guessing on feed, growth, or timing. Families with concerns about care or condition can contact Donnie Swayne at 937-779-2936, and breeders can also help.

The rabbit deadlines come inside a busy county-fair calendar. The 2026 Adams County Fair runs July 12 through July 18 and is billed as the 135th Adams County Fair. FairEntry lists registration for the 2026 fair as open through July 24, giving exhibitors a clear window, but the rabbit-specific dates are fixed first: tattooing on June 18, weigh-in on July 12, and show dates on July 13 and 14.