In 1990, there were nineteen all-breed and specialty clubs. They were as follows: Indian Hills RBA, Fur and Fun Club, Council Bluffs RBA, Iowa Lop RC, Cedar Rapids RBA, Mississippi Valley RBA, Northwest Iowa RBA, Iowa New Zealand Rabbit Fanciers, Western Iowa RBA, Iowa Rex RC, Waterloo Area RBA, Iowa Dutch RC, South Central Iowa RBA, Eastern Iowa RBA, North Central Iowa RFA, Southeast Iowa RBA, Iowa Californian Rabbit Specialty Club, Iowa State Angora Club, and Midwest Netherland Dwarf. Dave Tjarks was President, Norm Breyfogle was the Vice President, and Kay Chia was the Secretary/Treasurer. Cliff Amdahl was the editor of the Hawkeye News.
The 1990 ISRBA State Convention was to be held in the cattle barn of the Iowa State Fairgrounds, but due to a double booking, the fair allowed the show to be held in the 4-H building, where the show continued to be for many years. There were over 1614 rabbits and cavies entered for the 1990 State Convention, which is pretty impressive considering back then the State Convention was a single show and was held for two days- four class rabbits would show on one day and six class rabbits would show on the other day. In 1990, four class was on Saturday and six class was on Sunday- every year the line-up would rotate. So, for example, the 1991 State Convention had six class showing on Saturday and four class was on Sunday. Specialty breed shows were dubbed ‘Two for Ones,’ and there were a few held that year. Brent Rice was the show superintendent, and Kay Chia was the show secretary, with help from Deb Brown (side note for those of you who remember Deb and Brian Brown- they showed Florida Whites, Giant Chins, and Palominos- I had seen in the local paper that Brian passed away this past June. He was 68). Judy McMain and Norm Breyfogle ran the raffle table both days, Ken Smalley handled the banquet arrangements, Bob Wallace and Eugene Johnston, Jr. lined up ‘outstanding’ trophies according to Tjarks. Norm Breyfogle and Rosemary Ridgeway handled the sweepstakes awards. There were also breed chairmen for the State Convention (their names were not listed, however). There was a quote that I would like to include from Kay Chia’s secretary report: “Thanks to Deb Brown, Ray and Carmel Kline, Ron Papenburg, Lean Tjarks, and Randy Stoen (yes, Randy was sorting [comment] cards).” Just reading this about Stoen sorting comment cards made me smile.
Best in Show for the 1990 State Convention open show was a Rex owned by Kirk and Traci Seltz of Badger, Iowa. Best six class was a Californian owned by Mike and Brad Metcalf of the Pleasantville area. The Best in Show youth winner was a Satin owned by Megan Becker of Davenport, and Best four class was a Holland Lop owned by Brent Luloff of Cedar Falls. Exhibitors came from Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Missouri, and Illinois.
The youth activities at the State Convention did not begin until 1994. However, the Iowa State Fair hosted the Iowa State Fair Rabbit Queen contest (more on that in future articles), and Molly Farrell was first runner-up for the 1990 ISF contest. Unfortunately, who won the Queen that year is not mentioned. However, it is mentioned that on September 22, 1990, two ISRBA members participated in the Illinois State Convention Royalty Contests. The participants had to identify ten rabbits by breed and variety, judge four classes of rabbits, and take a written exam. The reigning King and Queen were Iowa residents. There is a grainy photocopied photo included of Queen Megan Becker of Davenport and a teenage David Klindt as King.