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Our featured member for the District One 'Member Highlight' in 2010 realized the rare privilege of garnering the ARBA's highest show award - ARBA National Convention, Best in Show. Linda Jinings and her husband Ron are relatively new in the rabbit game - under 10 years, but their achievements with their Holland Lops have been stellar. The name, Jinings and the phrase, 'Outstanding Holland Lops' have become synonymous. From here on in, we'll let Linda tell their story...
What a journey the last nine years have been! In February 2002, Ron and I decided I needed a hobby - thus my forever love with the Holland Lop breed began and L & R Hollands was formed.
Our original purchase of several Hollands as "pets and maybe a litter or two" evolved. After we had visited several rabbitries and gone to a show, we began to look for show bunnies within those first few litters. Our first show was in September 2002. We took a few of our bunnies from those first litters and from then on in, we were hooked! Our rabbit hobby quickly became a passion - finding the right matches for a breeding; watching the litters; enjoying the bunnies and the wonderful world of rabbit people! When we began this hobby my goal was to have fun and enjoy the Hollands. Today my goal remains the same. It is all about enjoying the friends you make and breeding the best rabbits you can.
Ron and I live in Lebanon, Oregon. Our bunny barn has approximately 70 holes, of which 52 are currently being used. (A number of those holes are occupied by some of our favorites who are now 'retired'. We have been blessed with three wonderful children: Jon, Christa, and Cate, as well as three precious grandchildren: Chandler ( 6 ), Trystan ( 5 ), and Wes ( 4 ).
Besides the rabbits, our other interests include horses and gardening. Horses have always been a part of our lives. For many years Ron was deeply involved in the Cutting Horse Industry and enjoyed competitively showing his horses. At present we have two Quarter Horse mares. Gardening has always been a hobby that I have enjoyed. However, I have discovered now that I have my Hollands, flowers are nice, but my Hollands are so much more fun!
The following is a summary of how we manage our Hollands...
Breeding - I breed year round but spread out my matings so as not to have a lot of litters at any one time. It helps to always have a few litters growing. When selecting bucks or does for the breeding program, we consider type first and foremost. After breeding this line for nine years, we can now look at a pedigree and know that we have seen and had our hands on every Holland that appears - not only on that pedigree, but for many generations behind. This is very helpful in being able to select matings that are complimentary. My advice...work with your line and get to know it very well.
Most of our breeding does are does that we have shown. Often we will show a junior doe a few times and then she goes into the breeding program. Some of these does come back to the show table between litters; others are too valuable as breeding does to ever come back out. The criteria is the same for breeding bucks as it is does. They MUST be very balanced with as few faults as possible.
Feeding - We have fed the same feed for the last nine years - Albers Rabbit 16%. There have been a few small bumps along the way, but overall, sticking with a consistent feed has been good for our herd. We feed pellets, good quality grass hay, and lots of fresh water. On occasion, the Hollands receive treats such as dried wheat bread, barley flakes, cilantro, Italian parsley, and a small piece of banana. These are treats and not part of a regular program. We have never used a special conditioning mix. It is our belief that good fur and flesh condition is basically genetic.
Winning the ARBA Convention Best in Show - The L & R McMolly story is a wonderful story of a FANTASTIC little Holland doe and a lot of WONDERFUL rabbit people.
We entered McMolly in the Minneapolis Convention even though we were not sure we would be able to attend. As it turned out, a wonderful Mini Lop breeder - Vanessa Borquez, offered to take McMolly on the plane with her as a carry-on so she could have McMolly right there with her. We met Vanessa and her mother, Tomalene, at the airport Sunday morning before Convention. Once Vanessa checked her into Convention, our friends, Colleen and Lauren Morrill (Holland breeders from New Jersey), took over the care of McMolly. As the week progressed, a team of people from all over the country became interested in taking care of our little doe and began to call themselves "Team McMolly"! When the judging began, Colleen was there and had me on the phone so I was able to hear Joey Shults's comments when he placed her 1st place Broken Senior Doe. As the day progressed, Colleen and many of Team McMolly members stayed with McMolly and I was always on the phone. It was AMAZING!
When McMolly won Best of Breed, I got chills...just incredible! The Best in Show judging was even more intense. I will always be grateful to Colleen for her whispered comments as the judging was going on. When I heard "Best in Show goes to the Holland Lop", I was SO thankful that we had given this wonderful Holland doe her chance! I have heard from many people who were there and saw that McMolly held her pose for a very long time. Photos went on for at least an hour and she never wavered. She is a champion in all that she does! She just recently weaned her first litter and was such a wonderful mom. McMolly we love you! We also love "Team McMolly" and will always be SO grateful to them.
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