John Imes

Inducted Hall of Fame 2003

To all members, officers, and directors of the American Dutch Rabbit Club.

I have no way of expressing how I feel about being elected to the Hall of Fame. Elated, humbled, happy, sad, etc.

I can remember when I was very young, getting rid of all my Dutch because Harry Rice said they were no good. About going to see Andy Barton and paying $7.00 for a black doe. Hitchhiking to Hunlington, WV to see George Camp and getting a blue buck for $2.00. I bought this buck home in a feed sack.

I don't know what I would have done if he had wet in someone's car, but he didn't.

The anxiety of my first litter out of this cross. 2 black, 2 blue, a steel doe, a gray buck, and boy was he a good one. This was the start of me showing grays.

Down thru the years so many good people have advised me. I can remember entry fees 25 cents and I could only show 1 or 2 rabbits. Today I show 10-20 at $2.50 and think nothing of it.

I have showed under what I call - Great Dutch Judges - Lovejoy, Gaddis, Guthrie, Bengtson, and a few more.

However today, the judging is much more consistent.

My biggest win was the 2002 Dutch Show in Indianapolis. My Gray junior doe won. At the 2003 Dutch Show I had 1st senior buck and 1st senior doe and best gray with the senior buck.

I also had best Gray at the 1995 convention with Larry Bengtson judging. I almost didn't send this junior doe.

I have only 48 holes in my rabbitry. I keep 12 gray does, 2 black does (to raise steels for fairs), and 2 chocolate does tht I recently acquired to raise some for the fairs.

I am getting just too old to travel very much.

Thanks again to everyone for selecting me to the Hall of Fame.

Jay Imes
Meadville, PA