DAY ONE
Today, 1st May 2013, four Committee members of the British Mini Rex Club travelled to Michigan, USA to attend the National Mini Rex Club Show/Convention in Midland, Michigan which marks the beginning of a year of celebrations for the 25th Anniversary of the Mini Rex rabbit first bred by Monna and Ken Berryhill.
Chair John Evans & Monica Henley with
Mariann Jakab, our Membership Secretary
outside the Hilton Hotel Detroit
DAY TWO
DAY FOUR
DAY SEVEN
DAY TWO
Today was spent discovering Detroit, relaxing after the long journey from the UK. Garry & Mariann spent the day visiting Garry's relatives in Flint. Tomorrow we drive to Midland for the National Mini Rex Club Show.
(NMRRC http://www.nmrrc.net/index.html)
Garry with his American relatives
DAY THREE
We arrived at Midland for the National Mini Rex Show and were given a wonderful welcome by the Committee and the members that we met, everyone is really welcoming and friendly. The show is really well organised.
We were soon invited to the Club 'Welcome Supper' beautifully organised by the Committee,
all wearing their Club T-Shirts. The Show Hall was open for entries from 9am to 12 midnight, as people had travelled from all States in America and Canada including Nova Scotia. We've spoken to people who have travelled by car for up to 24 hours one way! Below, a typical scene, show rabbits arriving.
The Broken is by far the largest category of Mini Rex at the show.
It is encouraging to see so many enthusiastic Juniors and so many Mini Rex in so many different colours.
Tomorrow promises to be an exciting day!
What a welcome we received!! A very interesting day at the show. The standards were very high, nicely presented rabbits, lovely coat and colour and as for the 'type' - wonderful!
Judging the Havanas or Chocolates as they are called in the US
Judging the Castors...
....the Brokens
The Mini Lynx (U/5s) being brought to the table
Stewards bringing the rabbits to the table
Garry was designated as the driver!
A rodeo was being held near the show hall
The day concluded with the NMRRC Banquet
The presentations of the various winners
DAY FIVE
DAY FIVE
What an experience! Today is the last day of the show. Made many new friends today, we had a wonderful time. It was great to handle some Mini Rex with those lovely dense plush coats.
Doug King checking over a Castor
Beginning to box up those Minis ready for the journey home - many miles for some...
Even the horse riders are hanging up their hats...
We end the day with a meal at our favourite diner...
...and a beer (or two) as we watch the sun go down.
DAY SIX
DAY SIX
Today we travelled from Midland to Mt Pleasant via Clare, an Amish farming district. The countryside is spectacular and the farming techniques quaint! Mt Pleasant will be our base for the next few days as we visit various rabbitries.
A modern steam iron!
Today was a day of recreation! We drove to the North of Michigan, and by ferry, visited the historic Mackinac Island, a beautiful island where we stepped back in time: no vehicles - only working horses are allowed on the island.
DAY EIGHT
The coat and colour of the Mini Rex here in the US is really superb...
It's great to see so many Lynx Mini Rex. It would be good if we had some new members joining the small but dedicated group of Lynx breeders in the UK!
Visited the Anishinabek or Chippewa Centre within the Indian Reservation.
DAY NINE
Today we visited two rabbitries. Our first visit was to Kris Knopp who gave us a wonderful welcome and where we enjoyed some Mini Rex talk together.
The rabbitry
Kris showing John and Mariann her Black Otter doe
Two young breeding bucks
DAY ELEVEN - OUR FINAL DAY
Spent the day looking around Detroit
This blog of the British Mini Rex Club's
visit to Michigan is now complete.
Thank you for following us on our journey!
For more information concerning the British Mini Rex Club
email: info@britishminirexclub.com
or visit our website:
www.britishminirexclub.com
Young Otter nearly four weeks old
Garry looking at a Red
Just look at the feet size!
Another member of Kris's family!
Within the 200 acres there are deer, wolves, raccoons, skunks, muskrats, coyotes.....
Pictured above Mariann, Kris, John and Monica.
Later in the day we drove to Paris, MI, to visit the Hayes family, who made us very welcome as we saw some wonderful examples of Broken Mini Rex.
Mariann made a new friend!
DAY TEN
Up bright and early for the long drive down to Hudson to visit the rabbitry of Doug and Molly Covert.
The rabbitry has a fantastic ventilation system
and automatic watering.
There are six rows giving a total of 250 holes
(that's 250 hutches to us!)
We had a great discussion with Molly and Doug,
a real sharing of ideas and a passion for rabbit breeding.
Molly & Doug Covert are both distinguished ARBA judges. Molly is involved in the training and setting the standard for judges.
Our thanks to Doug and Molly for making us feel so welcome and for the great sharing of ideas.
Thank you!
Spent the day looking around Detroit
Downtown Detroit
Hotel Marriott, where we stayed,
within the complex of General Motors
Looking across the Detroit River to Canada
A Sikh wedding taking place downtown
Charity Runners
At the end of the day we return to the
airport for the overnight flight!
Detroit Airport
visit to Michigan is now complete.
Thank you for following us on our journey!
For more information concerning the British Mini Rex Club
email: info@britishminirexclub.com
or visit our website:
www.britishminirexclub.com
