Niles girl shows champion rabbits at fair
Published 9:11 am Wednesday, August 13, 2014
BERRIEN SPRINGS — When it comes to showing rabbits, 10-year-old Grace Bachman does everything short of putting clothes on them to get them prettied up for the Berrien County Youth Fair.
She clips their nails.
Checks their teeth.
Keeps them on a good diet.
She even applies a little bit of what she calls “show shine” to give their fur a nice luster to impress the judges.
“I do most of it myself, but my mom (Heather) and dad (Mark) help me out,” said the Niles girl. “My favorite part is getting them ready because I get to put all kinds of stuff on them.”
Grace’s dedication was rewarded with a first place finish in Monday’s rabbit show. Her Pen of Market Rabbits (two market rabbits) were named Grand Champions.
“It surprised me because I haven’t had many trophies in rabbits,” said Grace, who has been showing animals at the fair since she was five.
Grace’s sister, Sophie, also had good luck at the fair Monday.
The seven year old had the grand champion Boer Market Goat.
Grace will be attending the fifth grade at Buchanan Community Schools in the fall.