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The Rural Voice, 1979-04, Page 50The bunny business! The Young Farmer Rabbit clubs are new 4-H trend BY DEBBIE RANNEY The raising of rabbits has become increasingly popular with Huron County 4-H members during the past few years. Currently, Huron has a 15 member club in Blyth and and a club in Seaforth which hovers between 22 to 25 members. 4-H co-ordinator, Len McGregor said the Blyth Club which was formed in 1972 or 1973 got it's start when local 4-H leader Ray Hanna come to him and said he thought there was enough interest in the Blyth area for a rabbit club. He thought a rabbit club would do something for the personal development of the kids as well. The Seaforth club (the Central Huron Rabbit Club) was started in 1977 after Mr. McGregor had been talking to some 4-H members and told them if they were interested in starting some new kind of club to let him know. A couple of members told him they wanted to start a rabbit club and he told them to go to it if they could find a leader and 10 members. They did, and according to Mr. McGregor "It's been very successful." Most of the Huron kids raise their Michelle and Timmy Machan of Brussels know what spring brings - bunnies! PG. 48 THE RURAL VOICE/APRIL 1979 rabbits for meat although some do raise them just for show, he said. "The price has been good. I think it's a good thing for them to get into. They learn a little about the basics of business," the 4-H co-ordinator added. Ray Hanna of Auburn buys rabbits, a lot of them from the young people in 4-H. He also raises a few rabbits himself. He says the popularity of raising rabbits has been "a progressive thing!" "It is getting more noticeable these last few years. The influx of people from other countries who are used to eating rabbit has had a big influence. This contributes to the interest other people have taken in the last few years," he said. It's not that rabbit meat retails any cheaper than any other kind of meat. But as Mr. Hanna says, "It's a very nice meat and a lot of people use it for a gourmet meal or treat." One of the advantages of raising rabbits is that people tan have their own meat rather than buying it. They can do this very easily if they can have these animals in the garage or somewhere at their own home. "It must be attractive to a lot of people at present when meat is so dear," Mr. Hanna. Although the raising of rabbits remains fairly steady in Huron, it has not really caught on in either Bruce or Perth Counties. In fact, Bruce seems to be interested in another animal altogether. 4-H members there seem to be into raising goats, according to 4-H secretary Helen Gutscher. There are no 4-H rabbit clubs in Bruce County although the agricultur al office has had one or two calls on where rabbits can be slaughtered. Bruce young farmers are starting a 4-H goat club. In Perth County, Mrs. Dorothy Lowe, OMAF's 4-H secretary, reports a lot of people coming into the office asking for bulletins on raising rabbits. Pe'h has had a 4-H rabbit club in Atwood for about four or five years and one is low being organized in Mitchell. Thea. are 16 members enrolled in the Atwood club but at the time of the interview only four people had enrolled in the Mitchell club so that one may not materialize, Mrs. Lowe said.