Types of Rabbit Clubs to Join

When we first got into the rabbit hobby, we were confused by all the different rabbit clubs-  We weren't sure which ones we needed to join and which ones were more optional.  Here is a little about each of the major rabbit club types:

1) Youth Clubs:

Get a great start with 4-H or FFA - the two main youth 'clubs' that promote agriculture and animal husbandry in the United States. 

If you are a youth, or are a parent with children interested in animals, 4-H is an excellent club to join!.  4-H clubs are organized by county and run by each state's university extension system.  Affordable and great fun, 4-H gives youth ages 8 to 19; guidance, leadership training, self-confidence, and above all - wonderful memories! 

During the fall, winter and spring, clubs participate in community activities, field trips and work on members' projects.  The summer county fair is the culmination of the year's work.

FFA is a school-based agricultural training program for youth between 12 and 21 years old, who are already enrolled in an agricultural science class.

2) Join the American Rabbit Breeders Association!

ARBA or the American Rabbit Breeders Association, is the parent club of all rabbit and cavy clubs in the United States (and in many parts of the world). 

This is the first club you should join as some other breed and state rabbit clubs may require your membership in ARBA before you can join!  In order to enter rabbits in any national ARBA convention, you must be a member of ARBA. 

Membership gets you a very nice book about Raising Better Rabbits and Cavies and the Yearbook which lists member and judge info, show rules, and other interesting data.  Members can register their rabbits and cavies, increasing their worth, plus apply for Grand Champion status for them when earned. 

3) Join your State's Rabbit Breeder's Association!

Most US states have an all-breed statewide rabbit club.  Through your state club, you can participate in the sweepstakes points race, meet other breeders in your state and compete in the annual state convention show.  These are fun clubs to join and encourage members to actively participate in association elections, state rabbit-based education and youth royalty and projects. Visit the ARBA website to find your state club!

4) National Breed Clubs:

All breeds recognized by ARBA have their own national or worldwide club.  ARBA only approves ONE national breed club per breed of rabbit. 

Cavies usually do not have individual breed clubs - The American Cavy Breeders Association oversees all the ARBA-recognized cavy breeds. 

Through national rabbit breed clubs you can compete in national breed points sweepstakes and in your breed's yearly national convention show! 

Join as many breed clubs as breeds you have - you can even join national breed clubs if you don't own any of that breed- just to show your support or interest in that breed!

Again, the ARBA website lists all the sanctioned national breed clubs through their Chartered Club search function. 

5) Regional or Local Breed Clubs:

These are similar to the national breed clubs but they are smaller clubs, for one breed or a small group of similar breeds (such as lops).  Membership may span several counties, states and even regions!  Some even put on shows and track points sweepstakes like the larger parent clubs do.  I am a member of the Wisconsin Polish Rabbit Club, which falls under this category.

6) Local All-Breed Rabbit Clubs:

These are your local or area rabbit clubs that do all the hard work putting on rabbit shows!  These are usually free or very low-cost to join and most hold periodic meetings to plan yearly or semi-yearly rabbit shows. 

Help at shows is always needed - everything from setting up and tearing down, paperwork and advertising, working the raffle booth and manning the various entry tables, show tables and such on show day.  There are many 'behind-the scenes' jobs to do also - working on a club website, making and sending newsletters, and more. 

These local clubs are tremendous fun to be part of - find a local rabbit club to join and help promote our hobby!

There you are - six basic types of common clubs to join in the rabbit hobby.  There are even more clubs for specific purposes such as raising and processing meat, fur or wool rabbits.

So which ones do you join first?  If you can afford it, join ARBA and your national breed club right away so any points you earn showing will at least count on the national level. 

Join your state rabbit club as soon as you can as they also run a points sweeps and a yearly show or convention.

I try to pay all my club fees during the same month of each year, otherwise it can be difficult to track when all your club memberships expire!

Take your time and go to several shows in your area before you choose a local club to join - Since joining a local club means you'll most likely be helping put on a rabbit show, you'll want to join one that is convenient for you - location wise and such.

All ARBA chartered clubs can be found at the ARBA website: on the homepage left, choose the link that says CLUBS from which a search page comes up - you can fill in any search criteria you want.