Department 9: Rabbits

Event Day and Date
JudgingMonday, August 15 at 9:00am
Deadline for all entriesAugust 1
Drop OffSunday, August 14 by 4:00pm
Pick-UpSunday, August 21 from 8:00am until 1:00pm
Contact Name Phone Email
SuperintendentJennifer Sartell570-557-9308[email protected]

Department Rules

Exhibitors must adhere to the General Rules for the Harford Fair listed here.

Please see entry form below for a complete listing of rules and classes.

Exhibitors must adhere to the IAFE Code of Ethics which can be found here.

The rabbits will be judged by the latest rules and standards of the American Rabbit Breeders’ Association.

  1. To enter: go to harfordfair.com and follow the link to enter online or use the Rabbit Entry Blank below and submit it with the entry fee of $1.00 per rabbit. 
  2. All rabbits must have a permanent legible ear. All ear marks must be listed on the entry blank.
  3. After 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 may be made through the Secretary's Office up until August 9,
  4. Rabbits will be fed and watered by capable help during the week of the fair, but the Harford Agricultural Society nor the Harford Fair will not be responsible for the loss of any rabbit.
  5. Rabbits must be in good Any rabbit exhibiting any signs of disease or stress (e.g. runny eyes or nose, poor flesh condition, or extreme molt) will be sent home.
  6. Entries will be accepted in the order they are received until such time as the cooping capacity has been
  7. If capacity in cooping is reached, exhibitors will be limited to 20 rabbits for
  8. In Heavy Breeds maturing over 10 , (indicated by an asterisk*), classes will be: Senior (8 mo. & over); Intermediate (6-8 mo.); and Junior (3-6 mo.). The Regular Breed Classes will be Senior (6 mo. and over) and Junior (3-6 mo.). Weight limits per class depend upon the breed. If in doubt, call the superintendent.
  9. Only rabbits entered as exhibits can be sold, but CANNOT leave the fairgrounds until 8:00 AM Sunday, August 21. Bunnies 6 weeks old to 3 months old CANNOT BE SOLD - even from the Doe & Litter exhibit.
  10. The Meat Pen Entries can only be sold as a pen.
  11. The decision of the superintendents is final.

Department 9 - Rabbits - 2022 Health Rules

Requirements for Pennsylvania Rabbits Entering the Fairgrounds:

1) A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) is highly recommended for the Harford Fair. The CVI should be written within 14 days of entrance, and shall be written by an accredited Veterinarian. The CVI should contain the following statements:

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. Please note: Vaccination of Pennsylvania origin rabbits should not exempt the participant from having to adhere to and attest to the above statements on the CVI.

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:

1) A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) is required the Harford Fair. The CVI should be written within 14 days of entrance, and shall be written by an accredited Veterinarian. The CVI should contain the following statements:

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.

For Out of State rabbits that originate from a Commonwealth, State, Territory, or Country where RHD has been diagnosed in the prior twelve (12) months or there is reasonable suspicion it exists:

1) 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 an ICVI 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) Please note: Pennsylvania allows vaccination of rabbits for RHD-2 and recognizes that other states, territories, and countries may also allow the vaccination of rabbits. However, 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.