Department 9: Rabbits
| Event | Day and Date |
|---|---|
| Judging | Monday, August 17 at 9:00am |
| Deadline for all entries | August 1 |
| Drop Off | Sunday, August 16 by 4:00pm |
| Pick-Up | Sunday, August 23 from 8:00am until 1:00pm |
| Contact | Name | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superintendent | Jennifer Sartell | 570-557-9308 | [email protected] |
Department Rules
Exhibitors must adhere to the General Rules for the Harford Fair listed here.
Exhibitors must adhere to the IAFE Code of Ethics which can be found here.
For a complete listing of all classes, please click on "Download the Entry Form" below.
The rabbits will be judged by the latest rules and standards of the American Rabbit Breeders’ Association.
1. To enter: go to www.harfordfair.com, click on the link and follow the instructions to enter online or use the Rabbit Entry Blank below. Please include an entry fee of $1.00 per animal.
2. All Rabbits will be judged by the latest rules and standards of the American Rabbit Breeder’s Association.
3. All rabbits must have a permanent legible ear mark. All ear marks must be listed on the entry form.
4. After the entry deadline of August 1, changes or substitutions will only be allowed within the same specific class (i.e. breed, sex, age, and variety). Changes made by made through the Secretary’s Office until August 9th.
5. All Junior Entries will be weighed at time of check-in and must meet breed weight standards to be eligible to remain in the Harford Fair Rabbit Barn for the week of the Fair.
6. Rabbits will be fed and watered by capable help during the week of the Harford Fair, but the Harford Agricultural Society will not be responsible for the loss of any rabbit.
7. Rabbits must be in good health. Any rabbit exhibiting signs of disease or stress (e.g. runny eyes or nose, poor flesh condition, or extreme molt) will be sent home.
8. Entries will be accepted in the order they are received until such time as the cooping capacity has been reached.
9. If cooping capacity is reached, exhibitors will be limited to 20 rabbits for exhibition.
10. In Heavy Breeds, maturing over 10 pounds (indicated by an *), classes will be: Senior – 8 months and over, Intermediate – 6-8 months, and Junior – 3-6 months, meeting minimum breed weight). The Regular Breed Classes will be Senior – 6 months and over and Junior – 3-6 months (meeting minimum breed weight). Weight limits per class depends on the breed. For questions, call the Superintendent.
11. THERE WILL BE NO SALES OF RABBITS OR CAVY THROUGH THE HARFORD FAIR RABBIT BARN.
12. The decision of the Superintendent is final.
Department 9 - Rabbits - 2026 Health Rules
Requirements for Pennsylvania Rabbits Entering the Fairgrounds:
1) The Animal Exhibition Sanitation Law requires attestation that a VCPR exists for all animals to be exhibited. This attestation states that the owner or caretaker of the animal has assumed responsibility to consult a veterinarian and has agreed to follow the instructions of the veterinarian in relation to animal diseases and implementing best management practices intended to reduce and prevent disease. This requirement can be fulfilled by any of the following means:
a) A Veterinarian-Client-Patient-Relationship (VCPR) form with a veterinarian’s signature, signed and dated after January 1, 2026. The VCPR must be printed out and presented for inspection as a hard copy at the time of unloading of the exhibit animals.
b) A current Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI or “health certificate”), issued within 30 days of the Harford Fair. The CVI must remain on the Fairgrounds with the exhibitor and be available at any time for inspection.
2) All animals will be inspected upon removal from the transport vehicle by the Fair Veterinarian or Department Superintendent, and must be free of infectious and contagious diseases.
3) Vaccination against RHDV-2 is strongly encouraged.
Requirements for Out of State Rabbits Entering the Fairgrounds:
For Out of State rabbits that originate from a Commonwealth, State, Territory, or Country where Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) has NOT been diagnosed in the prior twelve (12) months or there is no reasonable suspicion it exists: No rabbits or their products, such as, meat, pelts, hides, carcasses or other items, and no equipment, exposed feed, forages, or conveyances or other items or associated materials may enter the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from a Commonwealth, State, Territory, or Country where Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) has been diagnosed in the prior twelve (12) months or there is a reasonable suspicion it exists unless they meet the following requirements:
a) All live rabbits must be accompanied by a CVI and must be examined by an accredited veterinarian within the seventy-two (72) hours prior to the date of shipment to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The ICVI must include statements by an accredited veterinarian certifying that:
(i) All rabbits in the shipment have been examined for and found free of infectious, contagious or communicable diseases;
(ii) All rabbits have originated from a single premises that has no signs of infectious, contagious or communicable disease in rabbits;
(iii) There have been no movements of rabbits onto the premises of origin within the 90 days prior to the date of shipment; and
(iv) The rabbits have had no contact with wild or captive rabbits other than their cohorts in the 90 days prior to the date of shipment.
b) No rabbits or their products, such as, meat, pelts, hides, carcasses or other items, and no equipment, exposed feed or conveyances or other items or associated materials may enter the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from a premises exposed to, contaminated with or known to be affected with RHD, or where there is a reasonable suspicion the disease exists or the rabbits have been exposed to or infected with RHD.
c) Vaccination against RHDV-2 is encouraged. Vaccination of rabbits does not excuse the rabbit/rabbit products derived from/or equipment used for them from meeting our import requirements in a) and b) above with are associated with our Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Interstate International Quarantine Order.
Out of State Rabbits: For Out of State rabbits that originate from a Commonwealth, State, Territory, or Country where Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) has NOT been diagnosed in the prior twelve (12) months or there is NO reasonable suspicion it exists:
1) A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI), valid for 30 days after the date of issue, should be issued and include statements by an accredited veterinarian certifying that:
a) All rabbits in the shipment have been examined for and found free of infectious, contagious, or communicable diseases including RHDV-2 and there have not been multiple mortality events or rabbits exhibiting hemorrhages within the last 90 days. The rabbits in this shipment have not been housed or exhibited with any rabbits associated with known mass mortality or hemorrhage events.
b) In the last 90 days, the rabbits in this shipment have not been exhibited in, housed in, or traveled to, any state or territory in which RHDV-2 has been diagnosed within the last 12 months. In addition, during the last 90 days, they have had no contact with any captive or wild rabbit originating from or travelled to one of those affected states or territories.