JACBA V11i1_Spring_2007 pages 3-50.pub

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY PARENTS
around the barn.
There were trips to Conventions
and regular shows all the time when we
I’m going to try and write a little bit about
were growing up. One in particular was in
my parents. It sounds easy but right now I
1971 to the ARBA Convention in New
feel like it’s all a jumble. They have done
Mexico. Dad and Jack Wireman chartered
so many things and gone all over the Unita Greyhound bus and forty-one people
ed States that it’s hard to figure out where
took the “Bunny Bus” to convention. A
to start.
nonstop trip with very little sleep and a lot
When we moved into our house,
of fun. We met Scott Williamson, Bruce
the back building had pony stalls in it. We
Ormsby, and Chris Hayhow as teenagers.
tried for that since the three of us were city
Look at them now! This was also one of
kids. Guess what - we got rabbits instead!!
the first times there was snow in AlbuIt started out as pets for us, but soon Mom
querque! Everyone got off the bus in
and Dad got into the act also. They loved
shorts and started throwing snowballs!
it! They started the first all rabbit 4-H club
Mom and Dad conned
in Stark County to help the other kids
me into a tram ride up
learn about rabbits. Then the fun began.
the mountain, saying I
They took us all over the place showing
really shouldn’t notice
our rabbits. We all had the breeds we
the height (I stand on a
wanted. Then Mom and Dad got Dutch
chair and get dizzy).
because they liked them. Somewhere
They were wrong! I still
around 1973, Mom got the idea she wanted to get guinea pigs. So
remember my white
that started that. Dad got his judging license for rabbits in 1977
knuckles and the moveand Mom two years later. They have now been in forty-six states
ment every time the
including Alaska to judge. After thirty years, they are retiring this
wind blew! But I wouldyear. They tell me they are getting too old to keep driving everyn’t change a thing now.
where. I can’t imagine why - they’ve only worn out three Dodge
Some of the
Caravans and one Dodge Mini Van!!
offices Mom and Dad
Mom and Dad do clinics for rabbit and cavy groups just
have held over the years
about every chance they get. They have always loved working
are as follows in no parwith the kids. I remember a few trips when they have told me the
ticular order: Stark
kids didn’t always like them, though. Mom and Dad tell it like it
County – Mom: Secreis. If the animal wasn’t good, they told them so. They always entary, Director, Show
couraged them to get good stock and not mixed breeds. They have
Secretary; Dad: Presibeen known to hand someone an animal just to help him or her
dent, Director and
out. That attitude is coming back to them now.
Treasurer. OSRBA I have watched my parents come home after a trip and
Dad was president for a
tell me
while. Mom was an ACabout
BA Director. Both
someone
worked as Dutch memthat had
bership services for seventeen years. They have worked with the
shown a
rabbit or pig ARBA Youth Department when it first started the Youth program.
They were 4-H advisors for a total of twenty-nine years.
that won
This is a not-so-brief history of my parents. They lost a
Best of
part of their lives when the fire took all the animals, but there is still
Breed or
a lot of life in both of them. They have Hares to start over with
Best in
(even if they are bucks) and will probably get some pigs soon. They
Show and
Barb’s first cavies from Charlie Haaf
then come are down but definitely not out yet. I have watched my parents do so
much over the years. I’m just amazed and a little bit envious of all
up to them and say, “You sold (or gave) me that animal.” They
they have done and the people they can call their friends. I hope in
were glad to do it.
some small way this tells them just how proud of them I really am.
Mom and Dad have raised three kids, Dutch, Belgian
Hares, Silver Martens, New Zealands, Satins, Champagnes, English
Spots, a couple Hotots, Mini Lops, and probably a couple more I’m
Debbie Knight
forgetting. At one time there was close to 200 rabbits running
JACBA V11—I2
Spring - 2007 Page 34
it on her shirt where her heart is and tells her he can fix her heart
and make her feel better. There are tears in her eyes when she tells
him it will help. Jon stands beside her and holds her hand and gives
her a hug and says he will help her.
It has been a week now since Jon gave her that Band-Aid.
She has put it on every shirt she wears and tells anyone that asks
about it that Jon is making her feel better. I told her the tape on that
band aid must me made of super glue because it's STILL sticking to
her shirts!
Debbie
GRANDMA AND GRANDPA’S LITTLE GIRL
When Grandma and I went to the Hamburg, New York show, we
went out to dinner afterwards with a few Canadian friends. Well I
ended up riding with someone else and Grandma followed. When
we got there, we made the turn but Grandma missed it. The whole
DUNKING FOR CHARITY
group of us ran out to the curb waiting for her to come back. When
ten minutes went by, I started telling them I can’t go home and tell
When Mom was helping with 4-H, they were having anyone from
each of the barns volunteer to be in the dunk tank for one hour or so. my parents I lost my grandmother in New York! It turns out the
sneaky woman went around the block with no one even seeing her.
For some unknown reason Mom volunteered. Now you have to
Everyone reminds me of almost losing her in New York.
understand that Mom is deathly afraid of the water. She doesn't
Another time was in Minnesota at a cavy show. We were
swim or even wade out over her knees. So her going in and going
underwater was something very out-of-character. She says she did killing time in the hotel room before dinner, when Grandma and I
were nagging at each other and she just looked at me and said,
it to raise money for the 4-H clubs. Well she did! In the time she
"What you wanna do?" Well needless to say we ended up playing
was in the tank, she made more money than any other person that
day! This included all the young 4-H girls!! She had fun, but the Queen of the Bed, and I ended up getting my butt kicked by her.
Repeatedly, I might add.
first time under was and experience to say the least. Mom just
As we all know, the Canadian tradition at a big show was
doesn't cut it in the wet T-shirt contest!
Bruce Eisel giving out goofy little items to different people for different things. Well somehow he took pity and chose me for one.
Debbie
He ended up finding a HUGE stuffed duck. Sure enough it rode
home with us. His reasoning for it was that I needed someone to
A HEALING BAND-AID
talk to other then Grandma all the time, seeing as Grandpa slept
three-fourths of the trip. He thought it would give her something
else to talk about other then how much grandpa was sleeping, or
Debbie and Jon
This is about Mom and Jon, her three-year-old great grandson.
Easter Sunday after dinner, Mom is holding her new great
granddaughter when she starts to feel bad. She said her chest was
hurting. We had been talking about some of the things they lost in
the fire and the stress of the past day was probably catching up with
her. We get the baby from her and help her to sit down. While we
are doing this, Jon wants to help her and get some medicine. He
comes back with a Band-Aid. He wants to put it where it hurts.
Mom tells him her heart is hurting. Jon takes the Band-Aid and puts
JACBA V11—I2
Tera with fiancé Terry
Spring - 2007 Page 35
how loud my headphones were. Also so I had a comfy pillow.
Traveling with my grandparents has been one heck of an
experience. I can’t remember a birthday within the past six years I
haven’t spent at a show. And trust me, I wouldn’t trade it for the
world. I remember many shows during school where I would plead
my case to my mom about how I’d learn more at a show then I EVER would at school. My mom would always reply, "Well if you
pay half the attention in school that you do to your animals, then
maybe I’d let you go to the show." With that being said, I brought
in the big guns....GRANDPA! All he'd have to do was just tell her
that she got to do it and then she’d crumble. Some how I’ve always
been Grandpa’s little girl. Maybe for the fact that I traveled with
them so much or I loved fishing with my Grandpa, or wait...I think
it’s the fact that I’m the granddaughter who goes deer hunting with
him! All I know is that I love my grandparents to death and thank
them for all the experiences I’ve been able to share with them.
handwritten note. The note simply stated how proud she was of me
to see me judging at the National Specialty show and how nice I
looked. It was something that Barb certainty did not have to do and
is a kind hearted gesture that typifies what Barb and Al are all
about. That moment stays with me when I judge, especially during
a class of Broken Color Teddies. But the truth be known, it is I,
Barb, who are so proud to know you and Al for all of these years
and to share all the wonderful things you have taught and shared
with me. Thank you so much!
Don Petersen
NEVER MISSES A DQ
I’ve known Al and Barb Butler since the early 1970’s and we have
become great friends. We traveled together to many Ontario Cavy
Club and ACBA specialty shows and always had a great time. As
Tera Knight
those of you who have traveled with Barb know, she travels with
everything, including the kitchen sink. Before each trip she always
asks what I want for lunches; and, of course, I always request the
THE PROFESSIONAL BEHIND THE JUDGE’S TABLE
ham salad they get from a butcher shop in Canton as it is the best
I’ve ever had. One of my fondest trips was when Barb, Tera (her
Al and Barb Butler are
Granddaughter) and I traveled together to the ACBA Specialty in
truly wonderful fantastic
Hastings, Minnesota. We had allowed plenty of time so we were
people in every sense of
able to take back roads for part of the trip and stop to sightsee whenthe word. The cavy fanever we saw something interesting. It was just a super relaxing trip
cy is very lucky to have
with great conversation all the way.
such great people as amAl and Barb have been very active in several clubs over the
bassadors. And I am
years, including The American Dutch Club, The American Belgian
very fortunate to know
Hare Club, The Ohio State Rabbit Breeders, Stark County R &
them for so many years.
CBA (one of the oldest clubs in Ohio), The Ohio Cavy Club, The
In fact, I cannot think of
Ontario Cavy Club, as well as ARBA and ACBA. They’ve held
one person in the ACBA
many positions in a lot of these clubs and have done newsletters,
that I have known longer
guidebooks, etc. as well as serving in various offices. Barb was
than Barb. I first met
chairperson of the ACBA specialty in Ohio back in the 1990’s as
Barb back in the early
well as in charge of the cavies at the 2000 ARBA convention in
1980’s when she was the
Ohio. She’s also stepped in to help at a couple conventions where
ARBA District 8 Directhe local people didn’t show up to do the job. Plus, she and Al have
tor. At that time, the ARBA also had youth directors that reported
to the District Director. Well I became a youth District Director for gone out early to a couple specialties to help set up. They have been
tireless workers for the rabbit and cavy fancies. Both Al and Barb
Barb while growing up in Indiana. We communicated often and
met at shows. I gained tremendous respect for
her and how professional she was behind the
judge’s table, but she would be the first to have a
good laugh and share in a story afterwards. It
seemed like I could spend hours talking cavies
and rabbits with her and Al and never grow tired.
Over the years I went off to college and eventually moved away from Indiana and was not able to
see Barb and Al as often. However when I received my judges license, I would see them at
shows and it would be just like old times. We
would talk cavies and rabbits and have such a
good time.
There was one moment, however, in my days of
judging that will always stay with me. It was at
the Lancaster Specialty in 2005. I was in the
middle of judging Broken Color Teddies and was
dressed in a shirt and tie as I normally do at these
big shows. Barb came up to me and passed me a
Bruce Eisel, Barb Butler, Chuck Steel, and Waldemar Perez
JACBA V11—I2
Spring - 2007 Page 36
are in the Ohio State Rabbit Breeders’ Hall of Fame and Barb is in
the ACBA Hall of Fame.
They are also great promoters for the youth and always
helped any youth to get cavies. Barb has kept several hundred cavies most of the time I’ve know her, so she always had something
available for any youth. I enjoyed going through her animals whenever I stayed at her house and always would find something special.
Barb and I have spent a lot of time discussing the genetics while
I’ve sorted through her cavies.
Al and Barb have judged in many states all over the country. Barb is a much respected cavy judge and NEVER misses a DQ.
I know she’s caught several over the years that I missed. And, be
sure that your Americans have a short coat when showing under her.
I am truly blessed to have such great friends as Al and
Barb. It’s always been a pleasure to travel with them, work with
them, or just visit with them. All of us in the ACBA have benefited
from their involvement in the cavies.
Barbara is the Grand Dame of the Cavy Fancy and Al her Knight in
Armor. What a wonderful couple they make. Who hasn't met them
and not find them such down-to-earth, good and nice people?
I met her a few years ago during one of my judging assignments and liked her instantly. There is such wisdom oozing from
her and not because of age but because her enhanced common
sense. We as cavy people need to learn from this common sense.
Last year I judged a show in Canton and they were my host
family. Could not have asked for a better team. Touring the sights of
the countryside was the highlight of the trip. They could not have
been better. They opened their hearts and home to me and I could
not feel but at home. Jim McCorpin told me a few years ago about
his experience with them, and I found out myself how true he was.
I raise toast to these two wonderful people who have done
so much for the fancy, both rabbits and cavies. How great have they
been to the youth of the area. Long live to this couple in shining
armor!!!!
Chuck Steel
Waldemar Perez
DOWN TO EARTH
I have known Barb and
Al Butler for over
twenty years now. My
husband, Bruce, knew
them for a lot longer
and they were always
among his (mine too)
favorite people. They
epitomize to me what
the fancy is all about serious about their
breeding programs and
husbandry and never
out solely for the glory
of winning. They are
down-to-earth, family
and youth oriented.
One of my
favorite moments with
Barb and Al is when
Mary Lou and Barb
they were going to be
at a show here in Ontario on their 38th anniversary. Their daughters called us and had us
get a cake for all to share at the banquet - a great example of the
caring, sharing Butler family.
I know that Bruce was honoured to welcome Barb into the
ACBA Hall of Fame - another favorite memory.
Their home is always welcoming to everyone, their hospitality unsurpassed. They have worked tirelessly for various national
and local cavy and rabbit clubs including specialty and convention
shows in Ohio and neighboring states.
Barb has a great passion for the cavies and Al, while not
disliking them, has never gotten into judging them. I do remember
a number of years ago that he did promise to get his ARBA cavy
license when the breeders came up with one that was pictured in an
OCC publication (courtesy of Sally Winkler) - the Texas Long Horn
Cavy. Needless to say, Al has never gotten that cavy license.
Mary Lou Eisel
JACBA V11—I2
Barb , Pat Hogan, and Waldemar acting like “complete children” at the 2004
ACBA Specialty Show Last Supper. Note the Marshmallow shooter and
Waldemar’s super-inflated cheeks, and Barb laughing uncontrollably....
A THANK-YOU NOTE
minded them of all the times over
the past years that they gave
We got most of the cleanup done someone an animal, helped someyesterday. We had about twenty one with there animals. It’s the
old saying, “What goes around
people there to help. It made
comes around," only this time it’s
things go really well. Mom and
in a nice way.
Dad are planning the new buildThank you for the notes
ing. Both have different ideas, so
this will be fun watching what the and calls to Mom and Dad. The
compromise will look like! They thoughts and prayers really helped
have been so surprised at the peo- them get through the past week or
so. It is appreciated by the whole
ple who have called, sent notes,
family.
emails or brought things to the
house and even offered animals
when the building is done. I reDebbie
Sprang - 2007 Page 37