UNION — The scene was delightfully paradoxical.

Rabbits at the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show were not hopping on Monday, June 5, but at least two dozen excited children and teenagers were. They were the youths who had raised the animals in the 4-H rabbit competition at the Becker Sale Barn.

Close to a dozen breeds of rabbits were represented at the competition but none were moving around the premises. All were kept in cages except when they took centerstage at the Becker Sale Barn to be judged.

Prior to being judged, youths and their parents worked diligently to get their rabbits as clean as possible. The work added a gleam to already lovable-looking creatures.

The children and teenagers who entered the competition were judged not only on the appearance of the animals but also on how much they know about the breed of their rabbits.

Judges did not ask about their rabbits’ individual personalities but the children and teenagers gladly shared stories about them before and after judging took place. T.J. Hampton, of La Grande, spoke of how his mini lop tries to trick his family members into giving her more food.

“She will beg my mom for food right after she has just been fed,” he said.

Those raising rabbits have to be careful not to give them too much food since their animals are expected to be in a weight category set for their age, according to T.J’s father, Travis Hampton.

T.J. said his rabbit is very affectionate.

“She loves being snuggled,” he said.

The mini lop, though, is most friendly after a good meal.

“She is in a good mood as long as she has a full stomach,” T.J. Hampton said.

He also said his rabbit gets along best with other females and that sometimes she can be a bit cantankerous around males.

T.J. Hampton’s mini lop is trained to use a litter box, giving her much more freedom.

“She can roam our house,” said T.J.’s mom, Britanny Hampton.

T.J. Hampton wore a long-sleeved shirt at the June 5 competition and for good reason, his father said. He explained that rabbits can scratch their handlers because of nails that can be sharp even if they are trimmed.

“That is why all of the kids are wearing sleeved shirts,” Travis Hampton said of the contest entrants.

Youths who were making return appearances at the rabbit competition include Jo Bingaman, of Imbler, who has been entering it each of the last four years. Bingaman raises rabbits for the competition because she enjoys it and because she likes the challenge of events like the one at the Livestock Show.

“I love the competition,” she said.

Bingaman will be a freshman at Imbler High School this fall, but is already thinking about the senior project she will be required to complete. She said she may take on a project related to rabbits — she said rabbits could be used in the fight against world hunger because they produce so fast and grow quickly.

Ken Patterson, a 4-H leader who helped conduct the rabbit competition, said one of the best parts of the event is that it gives young children the opportunity to begin entering animals in competition at the EOLS since rabbits are small and easy to handle. He said that many children who start by showing rabbits will go on to show larger animals.

Patterson added that taking part in the competition also gives children a chance to hone their speaking skills since they are asked to share their knowledge about rabbits.

“They learn how to interact with judges,” he said.