4-H youth and educator with rabbits

Rabbit Skillathon

Rabbit and Cavy Skillathon

A skillathon is an event that uses the experiential learning model of doing, reflecting, and applying to test one’s knowledge. The word “skillathon” is derived from the suffix -athon, which means an event, and the prefix skill, or what is being tested at the event.

In New York, skillathons can include anywhere from five to ten stations, each taking about five minutes to complete, although stations can be changed to fit the time available. Some skillathons offer different age- or skill-appropriate stations for novice (first time participants) to juniors and seniors. Youth move from station to station attempting to perform tasks such as matching breeds with descriptions, labeling animal body parts, identifying feed samples, demonstrating safe handling techniques, etc.

Skillathons are often conducted in connection with fairs. Since 2011, over 10,000 youth in NY youth have participated in nine animal-related skillathons during the New York State Fair. Species included beef, dairy, dog, goat, horse, poultry, rabbit, cavies (guinea pigs), sheep, and swine. Although contests may have different names such as the Dairy Challenge, Hippology, Rabbit & Cavy Science Decathlon, Poultry Judging and Dog or Livestock Skillathon, they are all Skillathons.

Sample Skillathon Booklet

Stations

Participants are given 10 minutes at each station to answer verbal questions. There are 6 stations in the NYS 4-H Rabbit Science skillathon, including:

  1. Anatomy & Physiology (involves questions about mammalian digestive systems, body parts, bones etc.) 3 divisions
  2. Nutrition (involves questions about feed content, water and feed requirements, nutritional needs for different stages of development and may include identification of feed and hay samples) 3 divisions
  3. Housing & Equipment (involves questions about hutches, cages, floor space, nest boxes, feeders, ventilation, environment in general may include identification of physical equipment) 3 divisions
  4. Health & Diseases (includes questions about any health problem, identification of symptoms, treatments) 3 division
  5. Terminology (may include questions about breed standards) 3 divisions
  6. Reproduction & Genetics (involves questions about sexing, responsible breeding practices, general inheritance patterns) 3 divisions
  7. Breed Identification (All participants will identify 5 breeds of live rabbits. Novice will identify the breed only. Juniors will identify the breed, variety, body type, and fur type. Seniors will identify the breed, variety, class (4 or 6) body type and fur type.) 3 divisions
  8. Records & Project Evaluation/Management (participants MUST bring a NYS 4-H Rabbit or Cavy Project Record to the station.) They are evaluated on what they know and have recorded. Record books can be found on the Rabbit and Cavy Project page.
  9. Handling & Evaluation (Novice and Junior participants handle, examine, pose and judge their own rabbit in front of a proctor). Bring a rabbit that you can handle and one for which you know the breed standard requirements. This station resembles showmanship however should include a much broader focus on judging the animal rather than the usual showmanship "health check". Show coats are not required. Expected attire at this station will include either a long sleeve show coat of any color OR a long sleeve collared white button shirt. A live judging or culling component may be included for Seniors only.
  10. Standards of Perfection. Novice, Juniors and Seniors will have an opportunity to use a standard of perfection reference at this station. Participants should have a familiar and working knowledge of their ARBA standard of perfection. Questions about judging a rabbit will also be asked.
  11. Seniors Only will rank a live class of rabbits. They will assess which rabbit would be judged higher on certain standard characteristics. These characteristics might include head, ears, general type, fur quality, color, markings, condition or disqualifications. In addition to choosing the correct rank order, the participant will be asked to give oral reasons why the particular rabbits were selected.

Divisions

Novice Division – youth must be at least 8 and in 3rd grade by January 1 of the current year and less than 19 years of age on January 1 of the current year. This must also be their first time participating in this activity.

Junior Division – includes all eligible youths 14 and under as of January 1 of current year.

Senior Division – includes all youths who are 15 and less than 19 as of January 1 of current year. 

Team Competition – To encourage 4-H'ers to work as a team before the day of the event to prepare and study individual scores of the top 3 out of 4 team members will be combined for an average score to determine the 1st - 10th place teams in each division. Teams should be organized before the event.

 

2026 CONTEST UPDATES

*****New this year******

**To help build our question bank, each participating county will be asked to submit 20–25 questions by  August 1st  Questions may be written by coaches, volunteers, or youth and must include the correct answer, reference source, and page number.

  1. The written part of the contest based on Management and Achievement will be taken prior to the state fair between August 1 and August 15th. 
    1. **Written Test-  based on management and achievement 
    2. Must be administered between August 1 and August 15 of current year by a 4-H Educator in a county office or a similar location proctored by a 4-H Educator or an approved staff person.
    3. Youth are not allowed to be assisted at any point for answer to questions by a coach, parent/adult, other youth, or county educator.
    4. If a student needs to be read questions, an educator or another person that the educator deems appropriate may do so. 
    5. If the student must have a test printed and handwritten, that test must be scanned and sent directly to the NYS 4-H Youth Livestock Specialist prior to  August 15th. 
    6. Youth cannot have any resources or other electronics with them during the test and must always stay within the test platform.
    7. If other accommodations are needed, please have the 4-H Educator reach out the NYS 4-H Youth Livestock Specialist prior to August  5th  so appropriate accommodations can be made by the August 15th deadline .
  2. This contest will be conducted at six (6) stations.  Refer to Cornell University Animal Science Website:  
    4-H Rabbits for a description of subjects and topics addressed at each station. Station topics may include: Anatomy & Physiology, Nutrition, Housing & Equipment, Health & Diseases, Terminology, Reproduction & Genetics, Breeds, Records & Management, Handling & Evaluation, Body Type using the American Rabbit Breeder’s Association (ARBA) standards. 
    1. THE NYS 4-H RABBIT AND CAVY PROJECT RECORDS ARE REQUIRED FOR THE RECORDS STATION. They are downloadable here: Rabbits and Cavies 
  3. This contest is open to all 4-Hers having any knowledge and/or interest of rabbits and cavies.  Entry will be in Novice, Junior or Senior divisions.   
  4. NOVICE participants must be participating in the contest for the very first time. The NOVICE division is designed for exhibitors who are in their first year in the 4-H rabbit project regardless of age.  The NOVICE division is available for any youth who meets the NYS Fair 4-H age eligibility criteria.  JUNIOR division includes all eligible youth 14 and under as of January 1 of the current year.  SENIOR division includes all eligible youth who are at least 15 and less than 19 as of January 1 of the current year.  
    a.    All participants will be considered as “individuals” (they do not have to belong to a “team” to participate). 

    b.    For these contests, a “team” is defined as a group of either three (3) or four (4) individuals whose contest scores will be considered as a “team score” to be determined by scores at the stations only. There will be NO team scenario station.  Overall team awards may be presented if applicable. ALL TEAMS SHOULD BE ORGANIZED IN ADVANCE OF THE COMPETITION, MULTI COUNTY TEAMS ARE ACCEPTABLE. The three highest scores will be used. 
     

2026 CONTEST UPDATES

*****New this year******

**To help build our question bank, each participating county will be asked to submit 20–25 questions by  August 1st  Questions may be written by coaches, volunteers, or youth and must include the correct answer, reference source, and page number.

  1. The written part of the contest based on Management and Achievement will be taken prior to the state fair between August 1 and August 15th. 
    1. **Written Test-  based on management and achievement 
    2. Must be administered between August 1 and August 15 of current year by a 4-H Educator in a county office or a similar location proctored by a 4-H Educator or an approved staff person.
    3. Youth are not allowed to be assisted at any point for answer to questions by a coach, parent/adult, other youth, or county educator.
    4. If a student needs to be read questions, an educator or another person that the educator deems appropriate may do so. 
    5. If the student must have a test printed and handwritten, that test must be scanned and sent directly to the NYS 4-H Youth Livestock Specialist prior to  August 15th. 
    6. Youth cannot have any resources or other electronics with them during the test and must always stay within the test platform.
    7. If other accommodations are needed, please have the 4-H Educator reach out the NYS 4-H Youth Livestock Specialist prior to August  5th  so appropriate accommodations can be made by the August 15th deadline .
  2. This contest will be conducted at six (6) stations.  Refer to Cornell University Animal Science Website:  
    4-H Rabbits for a description of subjects and topics addressed at each station. Station topics may include: Anatomy & Physiology, Nutrition, Housing & Equipment, Health & Diseases, Terminology, Reproduction & Genetics, Breeds, Records & Management, Handling & Evaluation, Body Type using the American Rabbit Breeder’s Association (ARBA) standards. 
    1. THE NYS 4-H RABBIT AND CAVY PROJECT RECORDS ARE REQUIRED FOR THE RECORDS STATION. They are downloadable here: Rabbits and Cavies 
  3. This contest is open to all 4-Hers having any knowledge and/or interest of rabbits and cavies.  Entry will be in Novice, Junior or Senior divisions.   
  4. NOVICE participants must be participating in the contest for the very first time. The NOVICE division is designed for exhibitors who are in their first year in the 4-H rabbit project regardless of age.  The NOVICE division is available for any youth who meets the NYS Fair 4-H age eligibility criteria.  JUNIOR division includes all eligible youth 14 and under as of January 1 of the current year.  SENIOR division includes all eligible youth who are at least 15 and less than 19 as of January 1 of the current year.  
    a.    All participants will be considered as “individuals” (they do not have to belong to a “team” to participate). 

    b.    For these contests, a “team” is defined as a group of either three (3) or four (4) individuals whose contest scores will be considered as a “team score” to be determined by scores at the stations only. There will be NO team scenario station.  Overall team awards may be presented if applicable. ALL TEAMS SHOULD BE ORGANIZED IN ADVANCE OF THE COMPETITION, MULTI COUNTY TEAMS ARE ACCEPTABLE. The three highest scores will be used. 
     

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